“’There is one untoward but prominent object on the horizon of paternal affection, and which, though imperceptibly, yet rapidly approaches our increasing colony, and that is the imperious necessity of a separation; for so very limited are the available portions of the island, that some families who number ten or twelve persons, have not five acres of arable land to divide among them.

“’Animal food is a luxury obtained with difficulty once or twice in the week; and though we have, by dint of very hard labor, been enabled to obtain cloth and other indispensable necessaries from whale-ships, in exchange for potatoes, yet this resource is beginning to fail us; not from scarcity of visitors, but from inability on our part to supply them.

“’This is the exact state of affairs at present:  how much it will be aggravated ten years from this, may be imagined, but cannot be fully realized even by ourselves.  Whether the British Government will again interest itself in our behalf, is doubtful; if it does not, despite the most assiduous industry, a scanty allowance of potatoes and salt must be the result, and the “Tibuta” and “Maro,” will be the unchanging food and raiment of the rising generation.’”

GEORGE.  “What a pity the coral insects have not been at work there, and enlarged these poor peoples’ island; then they could have all remained together, and brought up their families.  As it is, some must migrate.  Charles, you are very ingenious; cannot you contrive a plan for overcoming these difficulties.”

CHARLES.  “Much as I should glory in benefiting mankind, I could not by any effort or sacrifice ameliorate the condition of these poor people, although I would willingly do anything in my power to testify my sorrow for their wretched destitution.”

DORA.  “I fear none of us can accord them more than our sympathy; so we must needs journey on to the Marquesas, which were discovered by the Spaniards in 1595.  There are thirteen.  The largest, Nukahiva, is about seventy miles in circumference, and is the only one generally frequented by shipping.  The coast scenery is neither picturesque nor inviting; its principal features being black, naked cliffs, or barren hills; but in the interior are grassy plains and forests filled with birds of elegant plumage.  The inhabitants, with regard to personal beauty, are superior to most of the Polynesian tribes, some of the women being almost as fair as a European; in civilization, however, they are far behind the Sandwich Islanders.  They have steadily resisted all attempts to convert them to Christianity, and have practised cannibalism within a very recent period.  The tattooing of the Marquesans is remarkable for its regularity and good taste.”

CHARLES.  “You call them Marquesans, Dora?  I thought they were Kannaks.”