We talked of the sweeping away of the people of the Marquesas Islands and of all the Polynesians.  The Hawaiians are only twenty-two thousand.  When the haole set foot on shore there, he counted four hundred thousand.

Time was when so great was the congestion in these islands, as in the Marquesas and Hawaii, that the priests and chiefs instituted devices for checking it.  Infanticide seemed the easiest way to prevent hurtful increase.  Stringent rules were made against large families.  On some islands couples were limited to two children or only one, and all others born were killed immediately.  Race suicide had here its simplest form.  The Polynesian race must have grown to very great numbers on every island they settled from Samoa to Hawaii, and perhaps these numbers induced migrations.  They doubtless grew to threatening swarms before they began checking the increase.  Thomas Carver, professor of political economy at Harvard, says: 

Even if the wants of the individual never expanded at all, it is quite obvious that an indefinite increase in the number of individuals in any locality would, sooner or later, result in scarcity and bring them into conflict with nature, and, therefore, into conflict with one another.  That human populations are physiologically capable of indefinite increase, if time be allotted, is admitted, and must be admitted by any one who has given the slightest attention to the subject.  Among the non-economizing animals and plants, it is not the limits of their procreative power but the limits of subsistence which determine their numbers.  Neither is it lack of procreative power which limits numbers in the case of man, the economic animal.  With him also it is a question of subsistence, but of subsistence according to some standard.  Being gifted with economic foresight he will not multiply beyond the point where he can maintain that standard which he considers decent.  But—­and this is especially to be noted—­so powerful are his procreative and domestic instincts that he will multiply up to the point where it is difficult to maintain whatever standard he has.

Instinct early taught society everywhere protection against the irksome condition of too many people and too little food.  The old were killed or deserted in wanderings or migrations, and infanticide and abortion practised, as they are commonly in Africa to-day.  Six-sevenths of India have for ages practised female infanticide, yet India increases two millions annually, and famine stalks year in and year out.  Fifteen million Chinese are doomed to die of starvation in 1921, according to official statements.

Able-bodied adults in their prime bear the burdens of society everywhere.  The elders and their children are a burden on them, especially in primitive society, where capital is not amassed, and food must be procured by some labor, either of the chase, fishing, or gathering fruits and herbs.  Only advance in economic power has arrested infanticide.  The Greeks thought it proper; the Romans, too.  The early Teutons exposed babes.  The Chinese have always done so.