THE KINGSMILL ISLANDERS. 107 



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 

 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 excitements 

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

 tion 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 harrassing 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 mornino - 

 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. 



