THE HERVEY ISLANDS 509 



three-fourths of the population of the ishiinl of Xukulaihii 

 were kidnapped by Peruvians, under the pretence that 

 they were expected missionaries from Samoa. All tliese 

 islands are coralline atolls of only a few feet elevation, 

 covered with coco-nuts, and supplying only these, ]»an- 

 danus fruit, and yams in the way of food. 



7. The Hervey Islands or Cook's Archipelago. 



South-east of Samoa about 700 iniles is the scattered 

 Hervey or Cook Archipelago, consisting of nine islands, 

 either volcanic or coralline, and rendered difficult of 

 access by dangerous reefs and the absence of harbours. 

 Earotonga, the largest, is volcanic and hilly, with fertile 

 and well-watered valleys. It is about 30 miles m cir- 

 cumference, and its peak has an altitude of 2900 feet. 

 It is inhabited by people who have legends of their 

 migration from Samoa, and speak a closely allied language. 

 They say they found black people on the island ; and tlie 

 fact that they have more pronounced features, more 

 wavy hair, and are darker and more energetic than the 

 Samoans, is quite in accordance with this statement. In 

 Mangaia, farther south, this Melanesian type predominates, 

 the people being dark brown, with wavy or frizzled hair, 

 and well bearded. They have still more prominent 

 features than the Earotongans, and wilder manners, and 

 forty years ago were fierce man-hunters and cannibals. 



The natives of this group are now in an advanced 

 state of civilisation. They all read the Bil)le, dress after 

 the European fashion, and live in stone dwellings grouped 

 in little townships under separate chiefs. They number 

 at present scarcely more than 11,000, of whom 3500 

 are in Earotonga alone. They petitioned in 1864 for 

 annexation to Great Britain, and a protectorate was 



