Place of rendezvous. 

 Anaa or Chain Island. 



PAUMOTU GROUP. 



Population cf the Paumotu 

 Islands 



or Dean's Island, along which they ran the whole 

 length of its south side by daylight. The last 

 named island is for the most part a washed reef, 

 with no opening. The compact coral blocks showed 

 themselves here more conspicuously and in greater 

 numbers than before seen. 



After making the west end of Nairsa, Captain 

 Hudson sighted Krusenstern's Island, and then 

 stood for Metia Island, to the southward, on which 

 the officers landed the next day on its western 

 side. Their examination confirmed the facts al- 

 ready given relative to its appeai-ance. 



On this island the magnetic observations were 

 made, with the Peacock's instruments. Captain 

 Hudson also sounded with the deep-sea thermo- 

 meter, when within a mile of the island, in six 

 hundred fathoms ; the temperature at the surface 

 of the water was 80, that below, 44. The next 

 day they made Tetuaroa, to the northward of 

 Tahiti, formerly celebrated as the resort of the 

 Tahitians, for the purpose of recovering from the 

 bodily diseases brought on by their debaucheries, 

 &c. It is a low island, about six miles long, with 

 a few trees upon it, and a reef off its southern end, 

 extending half a mile. It is plainly to be seen 

 from the high ridges of Tahiti. 



On the 14th, the Flying-Fish arrived. She had 

 visited and surveyed King George's Group, which 

 appeared well inhabited, and have entrances to 

 their lagoons on the west side. The native name 

 of the two islands is Tiokea and Oura. The south- 

 west end of Tiokea is in latitude 14 31' 12" S., 

 longitude 145 9' 30" W.; Oura bears S. 68 W., 

 distant four and a half miles. Then the tender 

 passed to Manhii and Ahii, round the north side 

 of Nairsa, or Dean's Island, to Tahiti. 



Little appears to be known of the history of the 

 Paumotu Islands, or their inhabitants. At Tahiti 

 I obtained some information from one who had 

 been much among the group, and believe that it 

 is as authentic as can be obtained, and may be 

 relied on. 



The Island of Anaa or Chain Island, has been 

 the principal seat of power, the natives of which 

 had frequently waged war on the others, and suc- 

 ceeded in conquering all to the west of Hau or Bow 

 Island, with which they have frequently fought. 



In the reign of the first Pomare, under Tomatiti, 

 they even . attempted the conquest of Tahiti, and 

 succeeded in overcoming the small peninsula of 

 Taiarabu. The story is, that they were about to 

 continue their attack on the larger island, when 

 Tomatiti received a written letter from Pomare, 

 which caused hostilities to be suspended ; and after 

 further negotiation, finally led to Tomatiti's re- 

 tiring from the island with a large present of 

 hogs, tapa, &c. Nothwithstanding this, the Chain 

 Islanders remained nominally under the govern- 

 ment of Tahiti, and now acknowledge their de- 

 pendence on it. 



Anaa or Chain Island, is one of the smallest, 

 yet it is the most thickly-peopled island of the 

 whole group. It is said to contain five thousand 

 inhabitants, which large number is accounted for 

 by the conquest of the other islands, and taking 

 their inhabitants off as captives. In the list of the 

 islands and their population, it will be seen how 

 few remain on the other islands in comparison 

 with this number. The whole island is one cocoa- 

 nut grove, and the principal food is fish and cocoa- 



nuts. The former are caught in large quantities 

 in the lagoon. A great change has been brought 

 about in the character of these islanders within 

 the last twenty-five years, during which the Ta- 

 hitian missionaries have been established at Anaa. 

 Before this period, the inhabitants were cannibals. 

 Since the residence of the missionaries, they have 

 imbibed better tastes ; and the Christian influence 

 has also made them more peaceful. This change 

 was first evinced by the treatment of their cap- 

 tives, whom they allowed to return, if they chose, 

 to their own island ; but very many of them had 

 married at Anaa, and became permanent residents 

 there, and few have taken advantage of the per- 

 mission to return. Notwithstanding the numerous 

 population, they are said to have an abundance of 

 food. The people of Anaa still consider the in- 

 habitants of the eastern islands as cannibals ; but 

 their statement in this respect is little to be de- 

 pended upon, for they have no communication 

 whatever with those whom they class under this 

 denomination, seldom extending themselves be- 

 yond Hau or Bow Island. 



The Paumotuans are considered more warlike 

 than the Tahitians, for which reason Pomare I. 

 kept a body-guard of them in preference to his 

 own subjects. They have the reputation of being 

 an honest and trustworthy race. 



These islanders are certainly not all from the 

 same stock; and those of the Disappointment 

 Group, whom we were much struck with at the 

 time of our visit, in particular differ from the 

 others. Since we have seen all the different Poly- 

 nesian groups, these appear, however extraordinary 

 it may be, to resemble the Feejee islanders more 

 than any other. 



By all accounts, they speak a different dialect 

 from that of the Tahitian nation. The difference 

 is, however, not great, for I was told that it re- 

 quired but a few weeks for any of the natives to 

 acquire it. Mr. Hale met several Paumotuans at 

 Matavai Bay, and among them he found one by 

 the name of Tuoni, who confirmed the accounts I 

 have detailed above. 



The population of this group I have no where 

 seen given; I have therefore endeavoured to ob- 

 tain the most satisfactory information in relation 

 to it : the whole amounts, in round numbers, to 

 about ten thousand, as follows : 



Anaa 



Manhii ..... 



Aratica 



Nairsa ..... 

 Metia 



Rurick 



King George's ... 



Vincennes .... 



Raraka 



Wytoohee 



Otooho 



Bow Island 



Manga Reva, or Gambier Island 



Serle Island .... 



Clermont de Tonnerre . 



Rest of the group 



5000 



100 



60 



70 



350 



200 



700 



30 



40 



70 



40 



CO 



2000 



30 



120 



8870 

 1130 



10,000 



The advancement of civilization by their inter- 

 course with the whites, together with the missionary 

 influence, will put an end to cannibalism, and pro- 

 mote peace among all the islanders of the group; 



