THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 545 



3. The Marshall Islands. 



The Marshall Archipelago, running in a N.W. and 

 S.E. direction for about 500 miles, is arranged in two 

 parallel chains, that to the east being known as the 

 Eadack, and that to the west as the Ealick, group. Of 

 the entire number of forty-six islands, the eight smallest 

 only are flat coral islands encircled by reefs, all the rest 

 being atolls. The entire land area has been estimated at 

 150 square miles, and the population at about 10,000. 

 First seen by Saavedra in 1529, the group came into the 

 possession of Germany in 1885. Their rule is not par- 

 ticularly successful, heavy taxes pressing hard upon the 

 natives ; but the large copra trade renders the islands 

 valuable, and several trading firms, chiefly German, are 

 established in the archipelago. Jaluit is the capital and 

 seat of administration, if such a term can be used. 



The vegetation of the Marshall group, though luxu- 

 riant as compared with that of the barren Gilbert Islands, 

 is still inferior in exuberance and variety to that of the 

 Carolines, and continually diminishes and becomes more 

 stunted as we proceed northwards. From the coco-nut 

 and pandanus the natives draw their chief supplies of 

 food, and in some islands the bread-fruit is also found. 

 From the root of Tacca pinnatifida a sort of flour is pre- 

 pared. Yams, banana, and taro are also cultivated, and 

 some species of Hibiscus yield a strong description of 

 bast. 



The natives, who are mostly pagans, are said to be 

 decreasing rapidly in number, partly, no doubt, from 

 the constant state of tribal war which prevails. Cap- 

 tain Cyprian Bridge describes the men as tall, and the 

 women as singularly short, but often very good-looking, 



2 N 



