pˈɜːlɚz ɪstˈæblɪʃt bˈeɪsᵻz ɔnðɪ ˈaɪlənd dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti z ænd baɪ ðɪ ˈɜːli wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi z ðɪ ˈaɪləndɚz wɜː bᵻkˈʌmɪŋ dᵻpˈɛndənt ˌɔn wˈeɪdʒᵻz ˈɜːnd æz lˈʌɡɚ kɹˈuːz.
Pearlers established bases on the island during the 1870s and by the early 1880s the islanders were becoming dependent on wages earned as lugger crews.