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estimated at 20,000, although other calculations give much smaller figures. I am of the opinion that in the days of the image and platform builders the population might have been even larger.
   About the year 1863 the Peruvians carried off from the island in 15 vessels, as it is alleged, 5,000 of the inhabitants as agricultural laborers in Peru and to work the guano deposits of the Chincha Islands. By reason of the odium attached to this proceeding, the Peruvian Government, some time afterwards, was induced to return those who had not succumbed to their treatment and altered conditions of life. Smallpox broke out among these on the return voyage. It is stated that all except two died, and the disease, spreading among the people ashore, ravaged the island, many deaths resulting. Of those carried off by the Peruvians one old man, Pakomeo, who was taken to the Chinchas, and whom we saw, still survives, the last of the unfortunates.
   Down to the year 1864 cannibalism is said to have been practised by the natives. In that year a Jesuit mission was established on the island, at which time the population numbered about 1,500. Through the influence and teaching of the missionaries an almost radical change was wrought in the manners, habits, and character of the people, and, to a certain extent at least, they adopted the customs of civilized life.
   When H. M. S. Topaze visited the island in 1868 there were but about 900 natives left, of whom less than 300 were females, with the numbers still rapidly declining, the proportion of deaths to births being given as 3 to 1. About the year 1875 some 500 were removed to Tahiti under contract to work on the sugar plantations of that island.
   In the year 1878 the missionaries, who had done admirable work among them, departed from the island, taking with them about 300 of the people, who settled Gambier Archipelago.
   When H. M. S. Sappho touched at the island in 1882 it was reported that but 150 of the inhabitants were left.
   On the occasion of the Mohican's visit I received from Mr. Salmon, who had a complete census, with the names of every man, woman, and child on the island, the following summary:

Natives ..................................  155
Foreigners ...............................   11
    Total number of inhabitants ................ 166
Native men ...............................   68
Native women .............................   43
Boys under 15 years of age ...............   17
Girls under 15 years of age ..............   27
    Total number of natives .................... 155
Tahitians ................................    6
English ..................................    2
Americans ................................    2
Frenchmen ................................    1
    Total number of foreigners .................  11

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