The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-22
NEW YORK HERALD MONDAY JUNE g. l874-TRIPLE SHEET.
island seemed fertile and capable of furnishing

island seemed fertile and capable Of furnishing
Northwest OF Losap lies the atoll Mama, round
small ana without lagO0ns; fertile, crowded with
Q forest OF bread-iruit trees and cocoanuts-a
tombstone IN mld-ocean OF some buried mountain
peak The island is not put down in FIndlay's d.
rectory 1t Is some ten miles northwest rom
Losap. AS the star neared this pinhead OF an
lslanu natives were seen grouped on the shore,
Waitlng, apparently, her approach. The landing Is
evuenty on the west or lee side, over the reel In
a smooth surf But time did not permit TO send a
boat. We learned from the natives with US that
the population Is smallsome $50 or 200, r. indeed,
amounting TO that The language and people are
one Win the Islands south at which We mad
touched
THE LUKuSoR, OR GEM OF THE CORAL ISLANDS.
me Star headed away from this people for Rubu,
the nigher mountain peaks OF which were seen
near sunset; but 1t was thought best not to sail on
mrther, so she tackled about and headed Tor Luku-
nor, sister Island OF SatOan whose position is IN
LATITUDE deg. u min. north, and longitude 1873
deg ~ min. east. And here we find, n | mistake
not, the gem OF coral islands in Micronesia The
lagoon, so comparatively free from coral patches,
aud the lslets so fertile and so situated as
TO project the anchoring ground which has q
needed, and not deep, the contour OF the
atoll. the midness OF the people. all combined to
make TINS a beautiful island. There Is but one
passage, though OF easy access, on the south side
me Island may be some eighteen miles In circum-
ference. Four large islets, not contiguous nor
very widely separated crown the reel. On the main
lslet Two large taro patches were seen, evidently
highly cultivated, AMI divided or INTO sections
marking the ownership OF each. And IL was OBJ
served how much there was of a rude KIND of
fencing on the man land as il each one's little
Iarm must be definitely bounded-a little ludtcrous,
we thought, as the whole islet would not satisfy
western farmer for his plantation Wild pigeons
are more or less numerous amt small bird, with
dress and ornaments OF the people the marc and
pOncho OF the men, with the simple skirt OF the
women, and the naRedDess Oh the children, and
their language marked this people as one with the
Satoanites; aud their proximity enables them 10
have frequent communication with each other.
The population may be put down ut 1000. The
future OF the teacher located here.
IDOL WORSHIP.
Leaving this island the vessel touched at SatOan
for q few last words with the teachers there, and
then laid her course Tor Nuknwor or the Monte
verde Island, located in north latitude dogs.
55 MINIS, ana east longitude 154 degs SO minis. This
island Is discovered Dy Monteverde, Spanlard,
in 1906. 1T is sman, some twelve or fifteen miles
around. 1t has passage for small vessels. The
reef was dotted with isletS some thirty browning
and adjoining It, The natives are OF Samoan de-
scent. Their splendid forms marked this as wen
the islands OF the north. The population is
small, numbering some $50. In times past
T. mas oeen larger put 1etlclde; SO very common
ful and lively going OF to vessel at rather
yenturesome distance for barter. Idols carved
from wood are common here, very large one
being in their temple. This is probably the only
people in all Micronesia who worship idols carved
out. With all OF them are stones, trees, animals,
birds and fish, dressed and made sacred, but
without the carved image. This fact seems
to point to different origin Tor this people,
either retaining eta the customs OF their ances-
who may have drifted to them from the west. NO
opportunity was offered here to land, though the
natives are friendly. trader resides here. 1t Is
manifesty the iron age with this people, as iron
hoop was eagerly taken in exchange for their
small wares for sale.
day was fast closing up. SO telling this venturOus
ones to return home, as a light was burning for
reef and we for the more ambitious, high island,
Ponape.