Almost directly east from Manihiki is a group of low coral islands of which the Caroline atoll, carrying many islets on a rim of coral surrounding a lagoon (some by 14 miles) is a type; the other members of the group being Vostock and Flint islands. The natives of the group are Polynesians and nominally Christian. The islands were mostly discovered in the 19th century and were annexed by Great Britain mainly in 1888-1889. They are now administered by New Zealand.
The Tuamotu (Paumotu) or Low Archipelago, the northern extremity of which is situated between the Society and the Marquesas islands, consists of a great number of low coral islands, or rather atolls, of very similar character and appearance, trend ing in irregular lines from north-west to south-east, the major axis of the group extending over 1,300 miles. The total land area of the group is only 33o sq.m. Pop. (1924) 3,715. The largest atoll, Rahiroa or Rangiroa, with a lagoon 45 m. long by 15 wide, carries 20 islets on its narrow rim ; Fakarava, the next in size, carries 15 islets, and its oblong lagoon affords the best anchorage in the group. Hao (Harpe or Bow) atoll, 3o m. long with a width varying from 5 to 9 m., has some fifty islets around its lagoon —which is dangerously studded with coral heads. Anaa, or "Chain island" as Capt. Cook named it, 19 m. long with an average width of 6 miles, is remarkable in that it has, or recently had, a continuous growth of coco-nut palms along its entire rim, whereas when Capt. Cook visited it in 1769 the line of palms was so in terrupted as to seem to grow from a number of regularly placed distinct islets—hence the name "Chain island"—this effect doubt less being due to the breaking of the line of trees by the great winds occasional in these parts.
The almost innumerable Tuamotu islands differ in character very little—except in size ; with two exceptions, Tikei and Ma katea, all are low coral atolls with but little natural vegetation except coco-nut palms and, occasionally a scanty undergrowth, chiefly screw-pines (Pandanus). The climate is healthy—with a lower mean temperature than Tahiti. The easterly trade wind pre vails. Rain and fogs occur even during the dry season. The stormy season lasts from November to March, when devastating hurri canes are not uncommon, and a south-west swell renders the wes terly shores dangerous. Animal life is scarce, a few rats are the only mammals; land birds are chiefly parakeets, thrushes and doves; insects are few. But marine life abounds in the lagoons and
the surrounding seas; pearls and pearl-shell, abundant in many of the lagoons, provide the natives with their chief object of in dustry and trade. The natives are not numerous but are a fine strong race of Polynesians.
The first discovery of part of the archipelago was made by Pedro Fernandez Quiros in i6o6. Many navigators subsequently discovered or re-discovered various parts of the group. The best harbour is Fakarava, the seat also of the French resident. An other harbour is Mangareva. The group passed under the protec tion of France in 1844, and was annexed in 1881 forming part of the dependency of Tahiti, and now administered jointly with other French possessions in the Eastern Pacific.
Pitcairn island (lat. 25° 4' S., and long. 13o° 19' W.) is about 'co m. south from the nearest of the Tuamotu group, differs from most of the islands in this region in that it is with out coral reefs but rises abruptly with steep and rugged basal tic cliffs. The highest point of the island is 2,000 ft., and its area is 2 sq.m. Pop. (1914) 140. The soil in the islands is vol canic and fertile ; but owing to the felling of the natural timber the liability to drought increases, as there are no streams. The climate is variable and rainy. It was discovered, uninhabited, by Carteret in 1767. Pitcairn was the name of the midshipman who first observed it. The present population are the descendants of the mutineers of the "Bounty" who occupied the island, which they found uninhabited in 179o, bringing with them from Tahiti six Polynesian men and twelve women ; but it must be recorded that the finding by these new-corners of stone implements, rock carvings, and other traces of humanity makes it certain that there had been previous inhabitants, or at least visitors, at some former time.
In religion the islanders are "Seventh Day Adventists." The island is a British colony and is administered by a council of seven members with a president (also chief magistrate), and a vice president (also Government secretary), subject to the con trol of the high commissioner for the Western Pacific since 1898. The island grows coffee, and has poultry and goats. The products include beans, sugar-cane, yams, taro, melons, sweet potatoes, oranges, pine-apples, bananas, arrowroot and other fruits and vegetables.