Ellice Islands

Ellice Islands, N. of Fiji, extend 360 miles from NW. to SE. between 5½° and 11° S. lat. and 176° and 180° E. long. They consist of nine groups of atolls or coral islands, one of which groups was discovered in March 1819 by the American Captain Peyster. Another of the atolls had previously been discovered in 1781. The population of the whole archipelago, exclusive of Samoan missionaries and a few white traders, has been given at about 2500 Polynesians, mostly Christianised. Like the people of Samoa and Tonga, they have a fine physique, and are peaceable in disposition. The islands grow little but cocoa-nut trees, copra being the main export. A little guano also is exported. They were annexed by Britain in 1892, and are subject to the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific.