THE ELLICE GROUP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1338, 10 September 1886, Page 2

THE ELLICE GROUP.

Regarding the Ellice Empire, “ A Former Resident on the Group ” reads t) the Sydney Telegraph the following description : There are eight islands in all, commencing with the first, Nukulealea, a small, lowlying island with a population of a’most ninety. No harbor. On this island the fi:m of Goddefroy and Sons, of Hamburg and Samoa, have for many years had a trading station. The next island is that of Funafuti. This is not, strictly speaking, one island, but a chain of islands enclosing a magnificent and spacious lago'n, with two good ship passages from the south-east and northwest. There are no less than four or five agendas he>e of British, German, aod American firm?. A large amount of copra is made in Funafuti (although the population is only about 250), and is shipped to Auckland, San Francisco and Samoa The next Island la Valtupu, a smalt but populous and thriving little place ; no harbor, but small craft may anchor at the reef with a spring in good weather. After leaving Vaitupu t'e next lanl made is Nukofetaa, which p'ssesses'a good lagoon and anchorage. H.M.S. Emerald and other large ships have anchored in this lagoon. The passage is somewhat dangerous, owing to the

current which sets thtough it like a mill race; population about 350 ; several ‘traders are located here, and do a fair

business. The next is Nui, the most thickly populated of the group ; alrnt 6JO Inhabitants ; no harbor. Vessels loading here bare to He off and on, and send their boats ashore for the copra After Nni we come to the pretiy little island of Nanomaga, or Hudson's Island, about four miles in circumference and yet supporting a population of nearly 400 ; no harbor. Sevrnty miles due east of Nanomaga Is NnHan, or Speiden’s Island ; population is 400 to 500 ;no harbor. The last of I the group in Nanomaa, or St A nguatine’s ! Island ; no harbor, but doing the most trade of the group, this island being especially prolific of the cocoanut; population fOO or 600. The natives of eevec of these islands claim to be, and no doubt are, an c ffshoot of the Samoan race, their language, habits and personal appearance being very similar. The one exception is that of the island ot Nni, whose inhabitants are a bran h of the Gilbert, or Klngamill, Island people, the language and appearance being much like any one of the Gibert Group. The London Missionary Society commenced their labors In this Group more than twenty years ago. At this present day there is on every island a resident Samoan teacher, churches, and schools. Nearly every man, woman, and child can read and write. Their educational books, Bibles, etc., are in the Samoan language, which is gradually superseding their own dialect. They are not a tatooed race, nor are their canoes of an inferior description, being, in fact marvels of ingenuity, and skill. They are essentially a maritime race, and until lately it was a common practice for canoes to voyage from one island to another. I have myself made a voyage In one of their little canoes, with a crew of four, from Hudson Island to Nanomea, and met with heavy, squally weather, our only chart the stars, and after a stormy passage arrived safely. In 1866 two Peruvian slavers almost depopulated Nuknlaelae and Gunsfutl by stealing over ICC of these simple Natives and carrying them to work to their lives’ end on the Chincha Island guano deposit). I only know of two who ever returned to their |

homes. I believe that Funafuti would make a good naval whaling depot, having good, safe, and commodious anchorage. The lagoon Is twenty miles in width. This is the only group in the Pacific (n which no white men have been killed (chat is within the past thirty or forty years), the utmost amicable relations always having existed between the white traders and Natives.”