THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



Archipelago, right away to the east, 

 because it was the scene of a very re- 

 markable episode in the history of civilisa- 

 tion as promoted by Englishmen. In 

 the year 1790 nine mutinous British 

 seamen, with six Tahitian men and 

 twelve women, arrived at this little island 

 in the ship Bounty. Discord broke out 

 among the settlers, so that after some 

 years only one Englishman was left out 

 of nine, together with the women from 

 Tahiti, and a number of children. But 

 this one Englishman whose memory 

 deserves at least a monument (or a 

 picture by some great artist) repenting 

 of his evil ways and awakening to a 

 sense of his responsibility for those 

 dependent on him, set to work and 

 taught his companions to be indus- 

 trious, moral, and religious. 



The colony was several times visited 

 in later years by English and American 

 vessels. In 1825 Captain Beechey 

 found a community of sixty-six persons 

 living together in perfect harmony, a 

 happy family where crime was un- 

 known! In 1878 Rear-Admiral A. F. R. De Horsey visited the island and confirmed the 

 previous report; the inhabitants then numbered ninety. In his words, they continued " to 

 live together in perfect harmony and contentment; to be virtuous, religious, cheerful, and 

 hospitable; to be patterns of conjugal and parental affection, and to have very few vices." 



I'/iutu l,ij 11. 



A MAN WITH CALABASHES, HAWAII. 



SANDWICH ISLANDS. 



THE indigenous population of the Sandwich Islands is about 40,000, although at the time 

 when Cook was there it was said to have numbered 300,000. This great decrease in numbers 

 is rather puzzling. Neither the diseases nor the ardent spirits introduced by Europeans are 

 sufficient to account for it. Some writers consider that it is due to the missionaries, who 

 have been very zealous in forbidding native customs. The oppressive system of government, 

 the discontinuance of ancient sports, and consequent change in the habits of the people, have 

 been powerful agents in this work of depopulation. The natives are often called Kanakas, 

 but the term, a loose one, is not confined to these people. As the reader probably knows, 

 they have adopted European customs and dress. They all read and write. In recent years 

 they have excited a melancholy interest in Europe owing to the prevalence among them 

 of the terrible disease of leprosy; but neither disease nor drunkenness offers a satisfactory 

 explanation of the rapid dwindling away of this strong, healthy, and handsome race. 



From 1820 to 1860 the American Congregalionalists held the missionary field in the 

 Sandwich Islands, and now the Anglican Church has begun work here. A large number of 

 Chinese coolies have been imported into the islands for work on the plantations, and there 

 are a good many Europeans. Honolulu is the capital. In 1808 (August 13) the islands were 

 annexed by the Government of the United States. 



