MARQUESAS (iniir-kit'sas) ISLANDS, or MENDARA (infin-dii'nya) ISLANDS (Fr. less Marquises). A group of islands in Polynesia, in about latitude I00 S., and longitude \V. Area. 494 square miles (Map: World, Western Hemisphere, K 7 ). The most important members of the group are Nukahiva (183 square miles), and Hiva-oa (153 square miles). With the excep tion of a few atolls, the islands are mountainous, falling abruptly into the ?ea on all sides. and reaching in Hiva-oa an altitude of 4158 feet. The summits are bare. and only the narrow valleys, terminating in small hays, and filled with luxuri ant vegetation, are inhabited. The climate is hot and generally humid, though for six months in the year there is very little rainfall. The chief product• like that of Polynesia in general, is copra; oranges are also produced. The Marque Sans form an interesting group of the Polynesian race, of which they are physiea4ly among the best representatives. TImy are very tall, with sub-dolichocephalic head-form. In language they are closely related to the Hawaiians, and some hold that the Ihtwaiian Ishuuls were peopled from Marquesas. The themselves seem to have received their human inhabitants from the Society and Friendly Islands. Among \larquesan things worthy of note are the carved and ornamented axes and oars, the figures on which recall somewhat the 'writing' of the Easter islanders; feather diadems ; cocoanut slings ; carved paddle-shaped clubs, etc. Their food con
sists verS: largely of breadfruit. The Marque sans appear to have been warlike, and traces of cannibalism lingered long among them. The stone terraces of \Vaiko are of interest in connection with similar remains elsewhere in Polynesia. The inhabitants are steadily decreasing in num bers. In the early part of the nineteenth cen tury the population was estimated at 20,000; in 1876 it was 5240, and in 1900 4300. The Mar quesans are all civilized and Christians; there are very few Europeans in the islands. The group is administered by native chiefs subject to the French Resident at Hiva-oa. The southern group of the Marquesas was discovered in 1595 by Mendafia. de Neyra, a Spanish navigator; the northern group was discovered in 1791 by an American, Ingraham, who gave it the name of Washington islands. They were left very much to themselves until 1842, when they were an nexed by France. Consult Vincendon, Iles Mar, guises (Paris, 1843).