I N T R O D U G T I O N. 
xi 
In this letter, which contains fuller information than 
any of the others, he tells us, he underftood from the 
natives that this Archipelago was divided into five pro¬ 
vinces ; and that the Pelew Islands conftituted the fifth 
province, or divifion; but thefe firangers, who gave him 
this intelligence, faid, they had no communication with 
the people of this province, adding, that they were inhu¬ 
man and favage ; that both men and women were entirely 
naked , and fed upon human flefij ; that the inhabitants of the 
Carolines looked on them with horror , as the enemies of 
mankind , and with whom they held it dangerous to have any 
inter courfe. 
This is the only mention I find of the Pelew people, 
and a dreadful picture it is of barbarous life; but the na¬ 
tives of the Carolines evidently knew nothing of them, 
but that they exifted at a confiderable diftance from them- 
felves ; and probably the notion which they entertained, of 
their being cannibals, prevented their ever having any com¬ 
munication with them *. 
To Four-fifths of thefe iflands, which accident had 
now brought the Spaniards acquainted with, they foon gave 
* Le Fere Contova fays, that this account is conformable to the relation of Father 
Bernard Messia (probably another MilTionary); but where this relation is to be 
found, 1 know not, having in vain fearched for it. I therefore fuppofe it has not been 
publifhed, though poffibly may be preferved among the manufcript records of the Propa- 
-ganda at Rome. —Wherever it oe, it could only be colledded from fuch vague evi¬ 
dence as Contova’s ; who was himfelf, a fhort time after, killed by the people of the 
Carolines. 
the 
a 2 
