INFANTICIDE. 
249 
not peculiar to the inhabitants of the Pacific. It 
has prevailed in different parts of the world, in 
ancient and modern times, among civilized as well 
as barbarous nations : but, until the introduction 
of Christianity, it was probably practised to a 
greater extent, and with more heartless barbarity, 
by the South Sea Islanders, than by any other 
people with whose history we are acquainted. 
Although we have been unable accurately to 
ascertain the date of its introduction to Tahiti and 
the adjacent isles, the traditions of the people 
warrant the inference, that it is of no very 
recent origin. I am, however, inclined to think it 
was practised less extensively in former times than 
during the fifty years immediately preceding the 
subversion of their ancient system of idolatry. 
There is every reason to suppose that, had the 
inhabitants murdered their infants during the early 
periods of their history, in any great degree, much 
less to the extent to which they have carried this 
crime in subsequent years, the population would 
never have become so numerous, as it evidently 
was, not many generations prior to their discovery. 
It is difficult to learn to what extent infanticide 
was practised at the time Wallis discovered Tahiti, 
or the subsequent visits the islanders received from 
Cook ; but its frequency and avowed perpetration 
was such as to attract the attention of the latter. 
Captain Cook’s general conduct among the 
natives, notwithstanding the harsh measures he 
deemed it expedient to pursue towards the inha¬ 
bitants of Eimeo, was humane ; he took every 
opportunity of remonstrating with the king and 
chiefs, against a usage so merciless and savage. 
When the Missionaries arrived in the Duff, this 
was one of the first and most affecting appendages 
