gg ETHNOGRAPHY. 



Honolulu, took down a vocabulary of such words of the native lan- 

 guage as they could remember. This is now published for the first 

 time, and it seems proper to add to it a few remarks respecting the 

 island and its inhabitants. Our information is derived from a brief 

 and unpretending narrative, published by Lay and Hussey at New 

 London, in 1828, and from the " Journal of the Cruise of the United 

 States schooner Dolphin among the islands of the Pacific," by Lieu- 

 tenant Hiram Paulding,* which contains many interesting particulars 

 related in a clear and succinct style. 



Mille is the southernmost of the Radack Chain, which consists of 

 twelve coral islets or clusters, and extends, in a north-northeast direc- 

 tion, from 6 to 12 of north latitude, and from 169 to 172 of east 

 longitude. Mille, which is in latitude 6, longitude 172, is an oval 

 ring of small islets, connected by reefs, and enclosing an inland sea or 

 lagoon one hundred and forty miles in circumference. There are 

 more than a hundred of these islets, but all of them together do not 

 probably comprise more than fifteen or twenty square miles. The 

 population is between five and six hundred. The people are of a 

 light complexion, fairer than those of the Kingsmill Group, and ap- 

 peared to Mr. Paulding a different race. They are of the middle 

 stature and well-formed, with handsome features. With a few ex- 

 ceptions, they have not the depressed noses and thick lips which are 

 found among the Polynesian tribes. They are modest and manly in 

 their deportment, and walk with an air of dignity. Mr. Paulding 

 was much pleased with their conduct on the arrival of the vessel. 

 " They gave us a most kind and hospitable reception, and freely 



offered whatever any of us expressed a wish for Nothing was 



stolen by them. They behaved in a most orderly manner, looking 

 round the deck inquiringly, or seated themselves and chatted fami- 

 liarly with our people, taking pains to make themselves understood. 

 In their look and action they appeared to be lively and intelligent." 

 Lay and Hussey give the same account of their behaviour towards 

 the mutineers, before their anger was excited by the ill conduct of the 

 latter. Both of the captives, moreover, speak of the kind treatment 

 which they experienced from the natives. The hardships which 

 they underwent were only such as were shared by their captors. 

 The island is sterile, yielding but a scanty supply of food even for its 

 limited population. The only vegetable productions fit to eat are 



* Published at New York, by G. & C. & H. Carvill, 1831. 



