106 
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 
of the whole group. On Apamama, Kirby saw collected from six to 
seven thousand warriors, belonging to it, Nanouki, and Kuria: the 
joint population of these three islands may therefore be reckoned at 
twenty-eight thousand; it would seem reasonable to estimate the 
remaining twelve islands, which have been observed to be thickly 
inhabited, at the same number.* This apparently would give from 
four to five hundred inhabitants to the square mile; for, if only the 
dry land were to be taken into the account, there would not be more 
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 one hundred and twenty 
inhabitants to the square mile for support. 
These islanders have had but very little communication with stran¬ 
gers; and although they have occasionally been visited for the last 
forty years, but little change has been brought about by the inter¬ 
course. 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 pro¬ 
curable 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 advan¬ 
tage 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obtain enough iron implements to have almost superseded those of native 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 Englishman 
and an American reside on Nukunau, (Byron’s Island,) the former of 
whom had become a high chief, and acquired much influence; but it 
is believed, from his being of a bad character, that the intercourse 
* Wood estimates that of Makin at five thousand. 
