For less than a year between 1862–63, Peruvian ships, engaged in what became to be called the "blackbirding" trade, combed the smaller islands of Polynesia from Easter Island in the eastern Pacific to Tuvalu and the southern atolls of the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati), seeking recruits to fill the extreme labour shortage in Peru. While some islanders were voluntary recruits the "blackbirders" were notorious for enticing islanders on to ships with tricks, such as pretending to be Christian missionaries, as well as kidnapping islanders at gun point. The Rev. A. W. Murray, the earliest European missionary in Tuvalu, reported that in 1863 about 170 people were taken from Funafuti and about 250 were taken from Nukulaelae, as there were fewer than 100 of the 300 recorded in 1861 as living on Nukulaelae. COUNT 5
QSN1 In what years did Peruvian ships seek laborers in the Polynesian islands? ANS1 1862–63 QSN2 What was the name applied to the trade of dealing with labor hunters? ANS2 blackbirding QSN3 Who was the earliest missionary to Tuvalu? ANS3 Rev. A. W. Murray QSN4 By what means did Blackbirders often get islanders aboard their ships? ANS4 tricks QSN5 When did Murray report people missing because of Blackbirders? ANS5 1863