Pohnpei has about 150 resident whites and 30–40 ships a year; Kosrae has only four whites.

What happened

Between 1840 and 1860 Pohnpei was visited by up to 40 whaleships a year, and its large beach community of foreigners organized trade with the ships. Kosrae had far fewer white residents because its single paramount chief dealt with ships himself and could evict foreigners he did not want.