Chatham Islands

Chatham Islands, a small group in the Pacific, lying 360 miles E. of New Zealand, to which they politically belong. They are the antipodes of Toulouse in France. There are three islands—of which the largest, Chatham Island, is 25 miles long—and some rocky islets. Total area, 375 sq. m.; population (1891) 459, of whom 148 are Maoris, and 40 Morioris or aborigines. The Chatham Islands were discovered in 1791 by Lieutenant Broughton, of the brig Chatham. A large brackish lake occupies the interior of Chatham Island, which is of volcanic origin and hilly. Stock-rearing and seal-fishing are the chief industries, the islanders having no fewer than 65,000 sheep and about 500 cattle, with which they supply passing whalers. Timber of any size is unknown, so that the native canoe is merely wicker-work bound together by cordage of indigenous flax. The Morioris numbered 1200 in 1831, when 800 Maoris were landed from New Zealand, by whom the former were reduced to 90 in nine years' time.