Vital Statistics of Ponape Island, Eastern Carolines

Murrill, Rupert I. (June 1950). "Vital Statistics of Ponape Island, Eastern Carolines". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 8 (2): 185–194. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330080213. ISSN 0002-9483.

Abstract: In the summer of 1947, as a member of the project entitled the" Co-ordinated Investigation of Micronesian Anthropology"(CIMA), I was delegated to study the physical characteristics of the natives of Ponape (Pohnpei) Island. At the same time I mas able to obtain information on vital statistics. Ponape is a high basalt island in the Eastern Carolines, approximately 380 miles east of Truk (now "Chuuk"), 900 miles southeast of Guam, 2680 miles from Honolulu and 2360 miles from hlanila. The island is about 130-145 square miles in size, with mountains in the interior rising to 2500 feet. Between the coast line and the foot of the mountains the land is mostly flat, and it is here that the natives live. It is divided into 5 Districts-Sokas, Net, U, Matolenim, and Kitti. The Districts are divided into Sections and these into farmsteads. The climate shows an annual average temperature of 80" F., humidity of 86%, arid rain-fall around 180 inches. Ponape has had many contacts with foreigners. During the years 1826 to 1886 American whaling ships visited the island, especially in the 1850's. By the 1870's there were on Ponape trading stations of three German firms, which were combined in 1887 to form the Jaluit Company. From 1886 to 1899 the island was held by the Spanish who brought in some Philippine soldiers. Between 1899 and 1914 it was a German possession....

Extra details:

QID: Q80740752
PMID: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15432629
MAG: 1994244239
OpenAlex: W1994244239
CorpusID: 20088665