548 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



J. Moss, the language spoken is pure but antiquated Maori. 

 The Polynesian custom of tattooing is universal, but the 

 pierced septum nasi and enlarged ear-lobes, together with 

 the widespread existence of club-houses, point to a con- 

 siderable Papuan influence. The people are singularly 

 good navigators — a rude kind of navigation and astro- 

 nomy being actually taught formally in schools instituted 

 by them for this purpose ; and charts are constructed 

 much after the manner of those of the Marshall islanders. 

 American missionaries have been established on the 

 group for many years, but the progress hitherto made 

 has not been great. 



The Euk Islands form the largest group of the Caro- 

 lines, with an estimated population of about 15,000, and 

 are the most densely peopled portion of the archipelago. 

 Many different tribes inhabit them, and wars are thus of 

 frequent occurrence. They are still regarded as danger- 

 ous by traders, whose vessels have not seldom been 

 overpowered and plundered. Yap is much more in 

 touch with civilisation, yet even here the natives are not 

 entirely trustworthy. On this island, which is 17 miles 

 long and of very irregular outline, are many German 

 traders, by whom the commerce of the archipelago is 

 principally carried on. The currency still appears to be 

 shell money, and — more remarkable still, since they are 

 not put to any use — large millstones or discs of arra- 

 gonite, sometimes three tons in weight and eighteen feet 

 round, which are quarried in the Pelew Islands, and 

 are generally the property of the township, not the 

 individual. 



Kusaie or Ualan, a very picturesque island over 2000 

 feet in height, with a population not exceeding 300, 

 is chiefly worthy of mention as the headquarters of the 

 American Mission. Close to it is the little island of 



