40 
at an interval of twenty years, and the increase, although in a place where 
the mortality had for a time been considerably above the average, had been 
at the rate of 25 per cent, for the twenty years, or, speaking roughly, 1 per 
cent, per annum. As soon as these islands have had Europeans upon them, 
they have had to stand the in-rush of our diseases, and they had also our vices 
brought amongst them. Just before I went to Tonga, whooping-cough 
visited it and swept away a very great number of the population. Two years 
afterwards it visited it again, and again carried off a great number. Now the 
disease is acclimatized, and the people take very little notice of it, although 
here and there a weakly child or an old person will be carried off by it, 
Influenza is another complaint that carried off a great number of persons — 
about 500 in three months — on that small island; now it is every year less 
virulent, and the mortality from it is not exceptional. There was a similar 
state of things in Samoa. 
Mr. WnmiEE. — Mr. Moulton has given us the state of things in Tonga. 
In the book of Mr. Wallace to which I have referred we have the latest 
information, and he tells us that the people of Tonga are dying out ; and with 
regard to Samoa, lie says the people are at present estimated at between 
30,000 and 60,000. A few years ago I published in the columns of Xature 
the latest census of the Samoan islands, and it was there stated at 34,000 and 
a few hundreds, but Mr. Wallace, in the present month, gives it at between 
30,000 and 60,000. The fact is, that the estimates of former times were 
much too high, and on this point Mr. Moulton has evidently misunderstood 
the view I hold. I believe, as fully as he does, that no dependence whatever 
can be placed on these estimates. The decrease in the population of Poly- 
nesia generally is not as great as is usually supposed ; but those who have 
arrived at preconceived opinions on these matters stick to them, and will not 
accept the facts we offer. 
The meeting was then adjourned. 
