196 THE CRUISE OF TEE 'CUBAQOA.' 



the midst of their cultivated patches ; but the island is, 

 uevertheless, divided into districts or settlements about sixty 

 in number. Three fearful epidemics have visited the island 

 within the last forty years. About the year ]836, an 

 epidemic like cholera carried off above one-third of the 

 population ; about 1842 a similar one took off another 

 third ; and in 1861 a third epidemic of measles, followed by 

 dysentery, scourged what was left. 



The debilitating effect of these diseases was very preju- 

 dicial to the constitution of the natives, and since that time 

 the decrease in the population has been about 300. When 

 we were there in August, 1865, the births and deaths as yet 

 had been about equal. Before the third epidemic made its 

 appearance, the mortality was about three per cent, per 

 annum ; since that time it has averaged six per cent, per 

 annum. A large proportion of children die under two 

 years of age. Previous to the first of the epidemics I have 

 mentioned, the population, it is said, could not have been 

 less than 12,000. In 1859 it amounted to 3,500. 



The language is pecuhar to the island, though allied to 

 some extent in words, and much more closely in gram- 

 matical structure, to the other dialects spoken in the New 

 Hebrides. 



The natives are docile and eager for knowledge, and 

 evince a considerable aptitude for general improvement. 

 They are naturally timid, but kind, warm-hearted, and 

 confiding. 



The morals of the people are upon the whole very cor- 



