' FROM ISLAND UNTO ISLAND: 329 



present of what he most wants to sell to the chief. Once he 

 is seen in public with it, all his subjects desire to be like him, 

 and pay almost any price for the luxury. These islanders may 

 be very simple and very ' savage,' but they would easily per- 

 ceive the consummate wisdom of the ' Alexandra limp.' 



Near to the tenth parallel, but north of the latitude of the 

 Samoan Group, are a number of coral atolls which abound in 

 natural resources which might be turned to profitable account. 

 The nearest to Samoa is the Danger Island of Commodore 

 Byron, or the San Bernardo of Mendana, or Pukapuka as it is 

 called by the natives. It is, however, anything but dangerous 

 to the voyagers who frequent this part of the Coral Sea. It is 

 out of the track of hurricanes, and a vessel may stand off and 

 on, making fast to the reef with a kedge anchor, for nine 

 months out of the twelve, in a horse-shoe bight on the lee side 

 of the land. 



San Bernardo is a great triangular reef of about 35 miles in 

 circuit, enclosing a lagoon mostly shallow, but in some places 

 having a depth of 50 fathoms. This lagoon encloses three 

 large cays, one of which is 5 miles in circumference. Some 

 years ago it was thickly inhabited, but Peruvian slavers have 

 since carried off the great bulk of the people. 



The inhabitants are of a light copper hue and of very pleasing 

 countenance; they never tattoo themselves, and crimes of 

 violence are not known among them. 



They are simple-minded people, honest and contented, but 

 anxious to learn from white people, and speak a language 

 which approaches more closely to that of the Maoris of the 

 North Island of New Zealand than that of any other inhabi- 

 tants of the Pacific. 



They profess Christianity, and a Hervey Island teacher 

 resides among them. The products of the place are cocoa- 



