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between 1850 and 1870. The Be v. Newall relates that some 247 people were taken from Fakaofo in 1863, and Nukunono was raided about the same time, when all but 80 of the inhabitants were removed. Shortly before the arrival of a mission ship in 1868 the Peruvians had taken 116 men from Fakaofo and 30 from. Atafu. The population is now increasing steadily, and because of the traditional mode of living together on the leeward side of on.e islet, and leaving the remaining areas for plantation purposes, one island at least, Fakaofo, is becoming seriously overcrowded, and at some time in the near future it may become necessary to settle some of the population on other suitable islets. 3. Topographical The reef at each island extends only a short distance from the shore, and then descends steeply into very deep water, so that the few anchorages are not good. Vessels usually land or ship their stores and personnel in the local canoes or small boats. The landing-places on the reef on each islet are difficult to negotiate, and great skill is required on the part of the people to shoot their canoes'over the reef, except when the sea is very calm. All the inhabitants reside on one small coral islet on which the village is located; and which in each ease is on the leeward side of the atoll—i.e., the north-west, west, or south-west. This is an advantage to vessels visiting these islands, as the prevailing trade-wind, which is from the south-east, as well as the drift of the current from the east, both tend under normal conditions to cause any vessel lying off the western shore to drift away from the reef. But from time to time heavy swells or winds from other directions make the reefs unworkable. 4. Climate The (rroup lies within the hurricane belt and has from time to time experienced severe gales, though none have been reported during the last few years. Atafu suffered a westerly gale in February, 1941, Fakaofo a northeasterly gale of force 8 on 14th January, 1936, and a westerly gale of force 9 on the following day. Nukunono has on record a north-north-east gale in December, 1939, and a westerly gale in February, 1942, the latter being accompanied by a twenty-four-hour rainfall of 6-20 in. During the wet season from November' to February northerly winds are predominant, while easterlies are the prevailing winds during the drier months from May to August. The average estimated wind speed is from 5 knots to 6 knots. March, April, and May show the lowest wind velocities and July and August the highest. At Nukunono the mean annual rainfall from four years' observations was 120 in. The annual rainfall at Nukunono for the year under review was 121 in., which is approximately 20 in. lower than that of Apia. There is only slight variation of temperature during the year, July being the coolest month with 82-1° p. and May the warmest with 83-2° p. The annual mean temperature is 82-5° p. 5. Historical Swain's Island was _ probably the first of the Tokelau Group to be discovered by Europeans*. The Spanish discoverer, Quiros, landed there in 1606 in search of water, and for a time the island was known as Quiros' Island. A century and a half later, on 21st June, 1765, Atafu was discovered by Commodore Byron, R.N. The next visit to Atafu was on 6th June, 1791, by Captain Edwards, commanding H.M.S. " Pandora " in search of the " Bounty "

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