Penrhyn.
Information.
PENRHYN (also called Tongareva, Mangarongaro, Hararanga, and Te Pitaka) is the most remote and largest atoll of the 15 Cook Islands in the south Pacific Ocean. Area - 236,7 sq.km. Population - 19 569 (2006) Capital - Avarua. First Europeans landed on August 8, 1788. In 1864, Penrhyn was almost depopulated by Peruvian-Spaniard expeditions. An estimated 1,000 men, women and children were taken to South America. Promise of good pay and safe return from the slavers offered a way to obtain money for churches, but most died in exile, virtually slaves. Another source states that, in 1863, 410 inhabitants of the total population of about 500 were kidnapped by blackbirding by the Peruvian-Spaniard explorers who were assisted by four native missionary teachers, who sold the populators for 5 dollars per capita. The missionaires accompanied the slaves to Peru as their interpreters. Currency : 1 New Zealand dollar (Cook Islands dollar also used) (NZD) .
