112 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 



than one hundred and fifty square miles ; but to this should be added 

 the lagoons and sea around, from which in reality these natives derive 

 the greatest part of their sustenance : this would increase the area to 

 upwards of five hundred square miles, giving only one hundred and 

 twenty inhabitants to the square mile for support. 



These islanders have had but very little communication with 

 strangers ; and although they have occasionally been visited for the 

 last forty years, but little change has been brought about by the 

 intercourse. There is nothing to induce the visits of vessels, for little 

 is to be had in the way of refreshment : neither wood nor water is 

 procurable in any quantity, and there is nothing for a profitable 

 exchange. Of course, therefore, only a few vessels anchor in their 

 harbours ; of which, as has been pointed out, they have many good 

 ones, an advantage not possessed by other low coral islands. 



The articles of trade being but few and trifling, only a very small 

 amount of the manufactures of civilized nations have found their way 

 into these islands. The southern islands have been most visited, in 

 consequence of their lying more in the immediate neighbourhood of 

 the whaling-ground ; the consequence has been that they have been 

 able to obtain enough iron implements to have almost superseded 

 those of native construction. The people of the southern islands 

 have also imbibed an extraordinary fondness for tobacco; and these, 

 with some diseases, may be said to constitute their acquisitions from 

 the whites, to whose depraved appetites they at an early day learned 

 to administer. 



The same causes that prevent them from being the resort of vessels 

 also deter sailors from deserting ; and, as has been seen, both Kirby 

 and Wood had become disgusted with the lives they led, and were 

 glad to make their escape. From Kirby's account, there were only 

 five more white men, and one black, on the islands. An English- 

 man and an American reside on Nukunau, (Byron's Island,) the 

 former of whom had become a high chief, and acquired much influ- 

 ence ; but it is believed, from his being of a bad character, that the 

 intercourse with him has not operated favourably on the natives. 

 The other four are on Peru Island. 



In the dispositions of these natives there are some peculiarities : they 

 are said to be subject to despondency and sullenness, that sometimes 

 causes them to commit suicide. Kirby mentioned five instances on 

 Kuria, of both men and women destroying themselves, and of several 



