TE PITO TE IIENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. 461 



a few of these unfortunates were released, aud all but two of them died 

 upon the return voyage, from small-pox. The disease was introduced 

 on the shore and nearly decimated the island in a short time. An old 

 man called Pakomeo is ;tt present the only survivor of those returned 



from slavery, and he is eloquent in the description of the barbarous 

 treatment received from the hands of the Peruvians. In 1864 a Jesuit 

 mission was established on the island, and through the teachings of 

 Frere Eugene, the ancient customs and mode of life were replaced by 

 habits of more civilized practice. 



H. M. S. Topaae visited the island in 1808. At that time the popula- 

 tion was about 900, one-third of the number being females. In 1875 

 about 300 persons were removed to Tahiti under contract to work in the 

 sugar plantations of that island. In 1878 the mission station was 

 abandoned, and about 300 people followed the missionaries to the Gam- 

 bier Archipelago. 



Mr. Salmon took a complete census of the people just before the ar- 

 rival of the Mohican, ami we were furnished with a list containing the 

 names of every man, woman, and child on the island. The total number 

 of natives is at present 155. Of these 08 are men, 43 women, 17 boys 

 under fifteen years of age, and 27 girls of corresponding age. The popu- 

 lation has been for several years at a standstill, the births and deaths 

 being about equal in numbers. The longevity of the islanders appears 

 to compare favorably with the natives of more favored lands. The 

 oldest man among them is a chief called Mali; his actual age is not 

 known, but he must be upwards of ninety, and his wife is. nearly of the 

 same age. 



The last king was kidnaped by the Peruvians and died in captivity, 

 but his nearest descendant is a sturdy old fellow (Fig. 2) called Kaitae, 



Fig. 2. 

 k utah, nearest descendant op thp. last kln<; "1 easter island. 



about eighty years of age. The simple mode of life, frugal diet, freedom 

 from care and anxiety, with regular habits, ar.e favorable to the longevity 

 of the race. 



