ISLAND OF THE BLEST.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 5

ISLAND OF THE BLEST.

VISIT TO HUMPHREY ISLAND. EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. The American five-masted schooner* George E. Billings hovo-to off Humph* rey Island while on her way from Puget Sound to Sydney, and tho ship’s company held converse with the natives,, who seldom havo an opportunity of meeting people from tha outside world. Humphrey Island, an isolated little spot in the Pacific, is peopled by civilised and Christian na* tivos, who aro happy and contented, and live under a communistic system of government. < It is only'at intervals of some years that sailing vessels or xncrcluiut steamers happen to pass close to Humphrey Island, and, therefore, when tho Gtorgo E, Billings came in sight, the islanders were almost fmntio with joy, and rushed to tho benches. They hailed the strange ship lustily, and Captain Birkholm, tho master of tho George K. Billings, hove the vessel to. Several of tho islnndlers at once pub oif in a boat, and were received on board the American schooner, much to their delight. The natives stated that all was well with them on tho island, and that their plantations were pros-* :pering. Captain Birkholm presented tho natives with frosh supplies from tho stores of tho George- E, Billings* and on taking their departure from tho ship tho visitors worn most profuse in their thanks.

Humphrey Island, which at one time was known as Monahiki, is a coral lagoon island of triangular shape, with its apex to the north. It measures but six miles in length, and its greatest width is only five miles. The island is low and densely covered with cocoanut trees, which roach to a height of from 60ft to 70ft, and render the spot visible from a vessel’s decks at a distance of. twelve miles. There are about 600 natives, on this small snot, and their food consists of the fruit of the cocoanut tree and fish caught in the lagoon. The cocoanut trees are extremely productive, and great pains are taken to renew them by replanting. Each family has a certain number of trees allotted to it, and oven the lagoon is partitioned out in the same way for fishing. They are an extremely wcll-condiioted people, and have two native teachers among them, sent from the English mission station at Barotonga. Many of thd natives spoak and write the English There is a largo church) ns well as a schoolhouse, in the,village, which ij situated on the western side of the island. Tho village is described aS very clean, neat, and well-built, and paved with coral. Tho island is governed by a ohiof, who styles himself king, and_ holds some sway over tho neighbouring island of Beirson, -where (he British flap was recently hauled down. There is no entrance to ,the lagoon even for boats, hut there is a fair landing with a whaleboat bn the north-western side of tho Island, close to the village, except from January, to April, when westerly winds and unsettled weather prevail, There is no safe anchorage at any time.' Humphrey Island was discovered on October 18th, 1622, by Captain Patrickson, of tho Good Hope, and was visited again in 1863 by H.M.S.' Hecate. Tho north point of tho island is in latitude 10.20 south and longitude 161.1 west.