. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. TE PITO TE IIENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. 461 a few of these unfortunates were released, aud all but two of them died upon the return voyage, from small-pox. The disease was introduced on the shore and nearly decimated the island in a short time. An old man called Pakomeo is ;tt present the only survivor of those returned from slavery, and he is eloquent in the description of the barbarous treatment received from the hands of the Peruvians. In 1
. Annual report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Smithsonian Institution; Smithsonian Institution. Archives; Discoveries in science. TE PITO TE IIENUA, OR EASTER ISLAND. 461 a few of these unfortunates were released, aud all but two of them died upon the return voyage, from small-pox. The disease was introduced on the shore and nearly decimated the island in a short time. An old man called Pakomeo is ;tt present the only survivor of those returned from slavery, and he is eloquent in the description of the barbarous treatment received from the hands of the Peruvians. In 1864 a Jesuit mission was established on the island, and through the teachings of Frere Eugene, the ancient customs and mode of life were replaced by habits of more civilized practice. H. M. S. Topaae visited the island in 1808. At that time the popula- tion was about 900, one-third of the number being females. In 1875 about 300 persons were removed to Tahiti under contract to work in the sugar plantations of that island. In 1878 the mission station was abandoned, and about 300 people followed the missionaries to the Gam- bier Archipelago. Mr. Salmon took a complete census of the people just before the ar- rival of the Mohican, ami we were furnished with a list containing the names of every man, woman, and child on the island. The total number of natives is at present 155. Of these 08 are men, 43 women, 17 boys under fifteen years of age, and 27 girls of corresponding age. The popu- lation has been for several years at a standstill, the births and deaths being about equal in numbers. The longevity of the islanders appears to compare favorably with the natives of more favored lands. The oldest man among them is a chief called Mali; his actual age is not known, but he must be upwards of ninety, and his wife of the same age. The last king was kidnaped by the Peruvians and died in captivity, but his nearest descendant is a sturdy old fellow (Fig. 2) called Kaitae,. Fig. 2.
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