MICRONESIA (from Gr. yucp6s, small, and vijaos, island), one of the three great divisions of the oceanic islands in the cen tral and western Pacific. Lying to the north of Melanesia, it embraces the following groups : Mariana, Pelew, Caroline, Mar shall and Gilbert. For full details of these various groups of islands, see Pacific Islands.
This area, besides countless small islands, comprises the Mari annes or Ladrones (Japan and U.S.A.), the Carolines, East and West (Japan) and Marshall (Japan), and Gilbert (British) groups. The people are a highly mixed stock, Melanesian to an extent, with a Polynesian influence strong in the eastern portion, whilst over all is a later infusion of Malay blood, particularly in the Western Caro lines. Their skin colour extends from brown to nearly yellow, the hair is black with a tendency to curl. Eyes are almost black, the cheek bones being highly placed. The stature of the Microne sians is only medium, nor are they so robust as the Polynesians. Everywhere the Chiefly caste is well established, although such influence is not so much hereditary as personal. In languages great differences are found. The basis, however, contains Poly nesian roots. Tattooing is much in vogue for both sexes, par ticularly on the body, slaves being debarred from this privilege. In the main they are an inoffensive and lazy people, but liable at times to get out of hand. As navigators they formerly excelled, whilst in the Marshall group the regular use of charts was com mon. These, formed from palm strips, showed the relative position of the various islands, and occasionally were elaborate affairs, several feet long. Although accurate to the extent of showing the prevailing winds and ocean swell, they were only of use from the actual island on which they were made. The Ladrones, from their discovery by Magellan in 1521, were con trolled by the Spaniards until 1898. Of the original inhabitants little remains, except numerous stone monuments, rapidly falling into decay. To-day, they form a miscellaneous and somewhat
degenerate people, of whom immigrants from the Carolines are an important section, outwardly at least, all converts of the former Catholic priests. In Guam, the largest island, records of the original Chamorro religion and social structure hardly exist, the sole records being the somewhat imperfect account of the Jesuit missionary Le Gobien, whose narrative in French was published in 1700. These people, one reads, were hardy and warlike, and opposed the Spaniards for many years and finally ceased to exist as a race. Of the Gilbert group, comparatively little knowledge of old customs remains. The people are a sturdy race, much tinged with Polynesian blood implanted on a Melanesian stock. The possession of a light coloured skin, therefore, was esteemed as occular proof of the dominant Polynesian element, and a cus tom was in vogue for marriageable girls to undergo a course of "bleaching," extending over a year or more. The chief held great power, and some, particularly the king of Apamama, as recorded by Robert Louis Stevenson, lived in great style. Polygamy was practised and maintained on harem lines, with specially appointed officials; alternatively, slavery was a regular institution; and their numbers were controlled at their masters' discretion. The ordinary method of burial was interment under the dwelling house, although with very important people the body was allowed to shrivel in the sun, and was kept indefinitely, being produced at festivals. Crania were objects of regard and were preserved in a shrine near the dwelling. This survival of a skull cult indicates that the Melanesian element was formerly strong enough to implant some of their customs on the invaders. The presence of the soul was recognized, for after death it passed away to the West, as among the Polynesian peoples. Local legend definitely states that the invaders came from Samoa, some 700 years ago.