THE KINGS MILL ISLANDERS. 113 



others who had attempted it, but were prevented by their friends. 

 To terminate their lives they always resort to hanging on a tree. 

 The motive to this act is generally the treatment they have received, 

 or offence taken at the conduct of some person, whom affection or fear 

 renders them unwilling to injure; the mortification and grief produced 

 thereby leads them at last to suicide, which is considered by them as 

 a remedy for their evils, as well as a severe revenge upon those who 

 had ill-treated them. 



What constitutes the highest ambition among them, is to be con- 

 sidered accomplished men of the world. They have a word in their 

 language (mauda), which expresses one thoroughly instructed in all 

 their arts, a good dancer, an able warrior, versed in all their know- 

 ledge and sports, who has mixed in life, enjoyed its highest excite- 

 ments and delights, both at home and abroad. Such a man in their 

 estimation is the most exalted in character, and is fully qualified on 

 dying to enter at once upon the enjoyments of Elysium. 



There is a striking contrast between the Pitt Islanders and those of 

 the rest of the group ; and if they were originally the same people, 

 which there does not seem to be any reason to doubt, it shows what 

 a great alteration may be effected in the physical race, in the course 

 of two or three generations, by the enjoyment of peace and plenty ; 

 for while the one retains still all the savage and cruel propensities, 

 the other has become mild and humane, — proving that a life free 

 from wars, and all their harassing and distressing tendencies, even 

 among savages, brings with it the practice of virtue. 



On completing the survey of the Kingsmill Group, Captain Hudson 

 found it necessary to place his crew, and that of the tender, upon a 

 reduced allowance of provisions and water. He then steered away to 

 the northward, through the Mulgrave Islands ; and on the morning 

 of the 3d of May, they made Pedder Island of Arrowsmith. The 

 vessels passed along its west side, and through the Fordyce Passage, 

 between it and Arrowsmith's Island. Daniel Island was also seen 

 from aloft to the eastward. These islands are all of coral formation, 

 with lagoons, and are inhabited. The southeast end of Arrowsmith's 

 Island was found to be in latitude 7° 05' N., longitude 171° 23' 54" 

 E. It is twenty miles long. 



On the 5th, they made the Pescadores, which was surveyed. Its 

 position is in latitude 11° 23' 15" N., longitude 167° 36' 30" E. 

 The Pescadores is of triangular shape and coral formation; it has 

 on its reef several islets and some sand-spits : the former are covered 



vol. v. 29 



