BATAVIA, in the west part of the island, on the north coast, is the capital and seat of government of the Dutch possessions in the East Indies, and the first commercial city in Oceanica. Its streets, like those of the cities of Holland, are lined with trees and traversed by canals. Djokjokarta and Soorakarta are south-east of Batavia in order. Samarang is on the north coast. 5. BANCA, off the south-east coast of Sumatra, is noted for its tin-mines, which yield more than any other on the globe, except those of Cornwall, in England. 6. CELEBES is singularly irregular in shape, indented by three large bays, separated by four peninsulas. It is divided into a number of small independent states, and the southern part is inhabited by the most energetic and commercial people in the Archipelago. They trade with the Chinese and Dutch. The latter have some possessions along the coast. 7. The MOLUCCAS, or SPICE ISLANDS, are noted for producing those rare spices, the clove and nutmeg, to which the soil is peculiarly adapted. 8. The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS comprise Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, and numerous smaller islands, and are rich in rice, sugar, coffee, tobacco, indigo, and other valuable tropical products. They belong to Spain. The population is various, and consists of a number of distinct tribes. MANILLA, a large and well-built city, is the capital of Luzon and all the Spanish possessions in the Philippine Islands. It has an extensive commerce, and its harbor is sometimes thronged with European, American, and Chinese vessels. Mindanao, on Mindanao Island. Questions.-1. What does Malaysia comprise? 2. What is said of Borneo? By whom is the interior inhabited? What are the chief towns? 3. What is said of Sumatra? For what is it noted? What are its other productions? For what was it once noted? Where are the Dutch possessions? 4. What is said of Java? The soil? The Javanese? Batavia? 5. For what is Banca noted? 6. What is said of Celebes? How is it divided? 7. For what are the Moluccas or Spice Islands noted? 8. What do the Philippine Islands comprise? What is said of the population? Manilla? AUSTRALASIA. 1. Australasia comprises Australia, Van Diemen's Land, Papua, or New Guinea, New Zealand, and numerous smaller islands. 2. AUSTRALIA, formerly called New Holland, is the largest island in the world, and is claimed by Great Britain. It lies on the opposite side of the world from the United States, and has day when we have night, and summer when we have winter. The inhabitants are Oriental negroes, few in number, of a dwarfish size, ill-shaped, and among the most degraded of the human race. The first European settlers were convicts, transported from England to Botany Bay, in 1788. Many thousand criminals have since been added, and, within a few years, voluntary emigrants have increased the white population to nearly 100,000, who have formed settlements along the coast. The greater part of the whites are settled near Sidney, in New South Wales, which comprises the south-eastern part of the island; a few thousand in South Australia, which comprises a portion of the southern part of the island; and a smaller number in West Australia, which comprises the south-western part of the island, called Swan River Colony. The soil of the unexplored parts of the island, except some small fertile districts, is, to a great extent, unfit for cultivation, but it is well adapted to the pasturage of sheep, which yield wool of a very fine quality, the staple production, and a source of great wealth. Among the animals are the kangaroo, emeu, duck-bill, and the black swan, which are found only in Australia. SIDNEY, the capital and largest town, has one of the finest harbors in the world. Paramatta and Brisbane, nearly north of Sidney in order, and Melbourne and Portland Bay, south-west of Sidney in order, are the principal towns in New South Wales. Albany, on the south coast, Australind, west of it, and Freemantle and Perth, north of Australind in order, are the chief towns in West Australia. 3. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND is a large island, diversified with hills and dales, with a temperate climate, good soil, and fine harbors. It yields wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and, especially, fine wool in abundance. The population is nearly 75,000, of whom about one-fourth are convicts, and three-fourths voluntary emigrants from Great Britain. HOBART TOWN, the capital, is beautifully situated on a fine harbor at the foot of Table Mountain, which rises on the west side of the town to the height of nearly 4000 feet. Launceston is in the north part of the island. 4. PAPUA, or NEW GUINEA, has never been explored in the interior, and even its coast-line, in many parts, is unknown. The natives are Papuans, or Oriental negroes. The whole island, as far as explored, is covered with palm-trees, and others of a larger growth, and is the favorite abode of those beautiful birds called Birds of Paradise." 5. NEW ZEALAND consists of two fine islands, traversed by lofty mountains, and claimed by Great Britain. They have a rich soil, which produces Indian corn, yams, potatoes, and a species of strong flax. The natives belong to the Malay race, and are tall, well-formed, intelligent, and warlike savages. Many of them have been taught to read and write under the instructions of British missionaries, and are advancing in civilization. In 1840, a British colony was planted here, consisting of nearly 1000 persons. AUCKLAND is the capital, and has a spacious harbor. New Plymouth and Wellington are south of Auckland in order. Questions.—1. What does Australasia comprise? 2. What is said of Australia? The natives? Who were the first European settlers in Australia? What is the number of the white population? Where are the greater part of the whites settled? What is said of the soil? Animals? Sidney? 3. What is said of Van Diemen's Land? What does it yield? What is the population? What is said of Hobart Town? 4. What is said of Papua, or New Guinea? 5. Of what does New Zealand consist? What is said of the soil and productions? The natives? Auckland? POLYNESIA. 1. Polynesia comprises numerous small islands, scattered in groups over the central parts of the Pacific. 2. They lie mostly between the tropics, and the climate, tempered by a succession of light sea and land breezes, is uniform and delightful. The most useful productions of these islands are the bread-fruit tree, which yields an abundance of food without the labor of man, cocoa-nuts, yams, bananas, sweet-potatoes, and the taro and other nutritious roots. Oranges, limes, citrons, pine-apples, guavas, and figs also abound. 3. The FRIENDLY ISLANDS comprise the Fejee, Navigator's, and Tonga Islands, encircled by dangerous coral-reefs. The soil is exceedingly rich, producing, with very little care, the banana, bread-fruit, and yam. In the Fejee Islands, the inhabitants are savage and ferocious. In the Tonga Islands, missionaries have established schools, in which are instructed more than 2000 children, and many of the natives have embraced Christianity. 4. The SOCIETY ISLANDS are remarkable for being the first in Polynesia whose inhabitants embraced Christianity. Otaheite, or Tahiti, the largest island, and "the brightest gem of the Pacific," rises into mountains in the interior, and the entire surface, from the water's edge to the highest summits, is clothed with perennial verdure, unparalleled for its luxuriant and picturesque appearance. The Society Islanders are indolent, light-hearted, merry, and fond of social enjoyment. They can generally read and write, and in one of the islands there is a press, which has been actively engaged for many years in supplying them with books in their own language. PAPEITI is the seat of government and principal port of Otaheite. 5. PITCAIRN'S ISLAND is noted as the residence of the mutineers of the English ship Bounty, who went thither, in 1790, with Otaheitan wives, and remained undiscovered till 1825, when all the mutineers but one were dead, and he had become a pious man, and had educated the children in Christian principles. 6. The SANDWICH ISLANDS are the most important and interesting group in Polynesia. Hawaii, formerly called Owhy'hee, is the largest island, and has an area nearly equal to the State of Connecticut. It is noted for the lofty summit of Mouna Roa, 16,000 feet high, and for Kirauea, the greatest and most terrific volcano on the globe. In 1819, the inhabitants of these islands renounced their idols and embraced Christianity. American missionaries have translated the Bible and other books into the language of the natives, established churches and schools in all the principal islands, and taught the people to read and write. HONOLULU, on the island of Oahu, is the capital and residence of the king of the Sandwich Islands. It contains about 7000 inhabitants, has a good harbor, and American and European ships are always in its ports. Many of the Sandwich Islanders dress in the European fashion; books and newspapers are printed in the native language at Honolulu, and vessels built there, and manned by natives, traverse the Pacific to the north-west coast of America and to Canton. Questions.-1. What does Polynesia comprise? 2. Where do the islands mostly lie? What are their most useful productions? 3. What do the Friendly Islands comprise? What is said of the soil? The inhabitants in the Fejee Islands? The missionaries in Tonga Islands? 4. For what are the Society Islands remarkable? What is said of Otaheite? The Society Islanders? Papeiti? 5. What is said of Pitcairn's Island? 6. What is said of the Sandwich Islands? Hawaii? What change took place in these islands in 1819? What is said of Honolulu? THE END. |