Iuka reporter., 1888-08-30
A GEM OF THE SOUTH SEA.
A sPECK OF LAND BELONGING TO
THE UNITED STATES.

Its Thirty Inhabitants wealthy
and Contentcd-IsoIated and
Hard to Find.
A San Francisco Chronicle correspond
ent has this to say about the little
South Sea island of Quiros in the Tokelan
group.
For many years the island lay deserted
Of human inhabitants. If the cocoa
palms had bean destroyed by hurricane
they grew again. Whatever its con-
dltion at the time Of its abandonment
the prolific forces of tropical nature bad
restored it-or preserved it, rs the case
may be--just as typical a ''gcm of the
sea- as it was when the ancient navi-
gator Quiro saw it and fell in love with
it. Such it was when wandering New
Englander, Eli Jennings by name, see
ing its capabilities and noting its unoc-
cupied condition, conceived the idea of
setting up kingdom in the sea all on
his own account.
Seeing that the island was going beg
ging for an owner, that it was goodly
place, and Just the right size TO main
tain family upon in all South sea
abundance and luxury, Jennings took
possession of it and brought there his
wife, native of one of the islands that
| lie to the south of his new abode, his
| children, and one or two serviceable
| people to work for him. There he set
tied, seldom leaving the islet; there he
reared his family and laid up reason
able amount of wealth, and there he
| died.
| How the natives found Quiros island
at first or returned to it after wandering
away is mystery. Navigators of Eu-
ropean race have been known to run for
| it and fail to find it. As you approach
it nothing appears at first but the tops
of the cocoannt trees, like little cloud
| against the horiZon--sea to the right,
sea to the left, and Just these palm leaves
sleeping in the sun.
You are quite close to the land before
you discern whence these trees spring.
Not only is there no mountain peak, but
there is not so much as little hill.
Probably no part of the land is ten feet
above the high tide level, and the differ
ence between high tide and low tide is
not worth speaking about. Insignificant
as is the height, SO is the extent of the
island. You go ashore and boldly
plunge into the ''interior of the coun-
try" You pass by the side of small
lagoon, push ON through the groves and
suddenly something bright CLEANS
through the trees.
1t is the ocean. You have traversed
the whole island; it is not mile across.
You turn to the right or left along the
beach and presently you find yourself
where you started from, in front of the
Jennings domicile and beside the fag-
staff from which, in honor of your visit,
floats the flag of the United States.
Length and breadth are Just about the
same; that is all there is of Quiros
Island.
This veritable speck in the ocean is
considerably more than 100 miles from
even any similar speck and mucl more
than that from land OF any considerable
extent. No isolation could bemore per-
feet. Out of the ordinary track of
trading vessels, it is scarcely ever visited
except by the craft which its present
owners annually charter to carry their
copra to market at Apla and bring back
theyear's supplies for the little settlement.
Just once in many years man of-war of
some nation calls at the island, tempted
probably out of the ordinary course of ;ts
cruise by the rumor that poultry there is
abundant and cheap. Trading shins
especially labor vessels, are by no means
welcome at Quiros Island unbidden
The presumption is that thew do NOT
come there for any good purpose. Re-.
sides they unsettlc the minds Of tbe
Younger members of the little commnn.
ity.
Not dozen years ago wonder,no
lAbor vessel Law of the island for da p
ard night. Her people were hosnitably
entertained, and the provis;ons tbay
wanted were supplied to them Wbe1
she was gone it was found that no less
than three of the islanders had d;san'
peared with her. The traders snbse.
quently protested that they had no hand
in the matter and would have returned
| the stowaways. only it was too much of
an undertaking to beat back against
wind and current when their yovage had
already been unproftablv protractsd cd
None of the runaways ever returned ~
the island. Perhaps thew were not an
much enamored of ocean solitudes as old
Eli Jennings.