ELL ICE'S AND KINGSMILL GROUP. 



61 



island, and were unacquainted with the accident that had happened ; 

 but on being informed of it, they made every endeavour to explain 

 that they did not belong to the guilty town. There are fourteen 

 towns on the island, as follows, beginning at the north, viz. : 



TOWNS. 



Muribama or Tenaiay 



Te-niaroku, 



Terikiai, 



Eta, 



Utiroa, 



Tauma, . 



Kabura, 



Apamarikoro, 



Parepatu, 



Tewai, 



Tauyaia, 



Puari, 



Nukutoru, 



Taku, . 



CHIEFS. 



Tipera. 



Peia. 



Tarentoa. 



Toarimaroa. 



Tama and Moleia. 



Tebakoa. 



Tepikau. 



Payau. 



Tentaki. 



Aiiri. 



Tauraura. 



Tapare. 



Puatua. 



Putiutoa. 



Basing the calculation for the population of these towns on that of 

 Utiroa, which is estimated at from one thousand to one thousand two 

 hundred, it would give this small strip of land as great, if not a greater 

 number of inhabitants per square mile, than any portion of the globe 

 that relies upon its own resources for subsistence. 



The four northern towns are apparently united together, and hos- 

 tile to the southern ones. Between Eta and Utiroa there is a consi- 

 derable space uninhabited, which appeared to form a line of separation 

 between their territories. 



Captain Hudson made up his mind that there could be little doubt, 

 after so much time had elapsed without intelligence, and taking into 

 view the conduct of the Utiroans, that Anderson had been treacher- 

 ously murdered. He therefore believed it to be a paramount duty 

 to punish them, not only for this perfidious act, but to secure their 

 good conduct hereafter, in case of other vessels touching at this island. 



In consequence of this determination, the boats were prepared for 

 landing, and Mr. Knox was ordered to anchor the tender in a position 

 near the shore opposite the town, in order to protect them. 



The boat expedition, consisting of Lieutenants Emmons, Perry, and 

 De Haven, Passed Midshipmen Davis, Harrison, and Mr. Freeman, 

 the sailmaker, was put under charge of Mr. Walker, the first-lieu- 

 tenant of the ship, and particular instructions given to him relative to 



VOL. v. 16 



