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The Zulu Republic: Australia
The term Oceanica, or Oceania, is applied by geographers to what is known as the fifth division of the globe, and comprises within its limits Australia and nearly all the islands lying between the Indian Ocean and the China Sea on the W., and the American continent on the E. Its subdivisions are Malaysia, which embraces the Sunda Islands, Borneo, Celebes, the Moluccas, and the Philippines; Australasia, embracing Australia, Papua, New Zealand, etc.; and Polynesia, embracing all the islands N.-E. and E. of Malaysia and Australasia.
PAPUA, or as it is also called, NEW GUINEA, lies between lat. 0° 30′ and 10º 4' S., and long. 131º and 151° 30′ E., and comprises an area of upwards of 250,000 sq. m. It is immediately N. of Australia, and connects the Malay Archipelago with the Polynesian groups.
NEW CALEDONIA is the property of France, and has acquired considerable notoriety on account of its having been made a penal colony by that government. It lies between lat. 20° and 22° 30' S., and long. 164° and 167° E. The length of the island from N.-W. to S.-E. is 240 m., and its average width 28 m. Its area is 6769 sq. m., and the population set down at between 45,000 and 75,000.
The NEW HEBRIDES is a group of volcanic islands lying N.-E. of Caledonia, between lat. 13° 15' and 20° 10' S., and long. 166° 30′ and 170° 10' E. The area of the islands is 5700 sq. m., and the population upwards of 140,000. Of the group there are only about 20 islands which are of sizable importance, and these are Espiritu Santo, 70 m, long by 25 m. broad; Mallicollo, 60 by 28 m., and having an excellent harbor, known as Port Sandwich; Erromango, Tanna, Ambrym, Annatom, Banks, Sandwich, and Whitsuntide. The most fertile island of the group, known as Aurora, disappeared in 1871 during a volcanic agitation.
NEW IRELAND lies between lat. 2° and 5° S., and long. 150° 30' and 153º E. Between it and New Britain is St. George's Channel; and separating it from New Hanover, on the N.-W., is Byron's Straits. The island is over 200 m. in length and 20 m. broad, with an area 4300 sq. m. The population is upwards of 11,000,
The CHATHAM Islands lie about 400 m. E. of the middle island of New Zealand. They were discovered in 1791. Chatham Island, the largest, is 90 m. in circumference. The soil and climate are good. Besides the natives there are a few British colonists. The population is about 150.
POLYNESIA. -The term Polynesia has, of later years, been restricted to those islands, or groups of islands, lying between long. 100º W. and the Philippines- New Britain, etc., including the Hawaiian, Marquesas, Society, Friendly, Fiji, Caroline, Ladrone Islands, etc.
The HAWAIIAN group is one of the most important in the Pacific Ocean. The islands were discovered by a Spanish navigator in 1542. In 1792 Vancouver visited the islands and introduced cattle. The islands are 12 in number, and have a total area of 6400 sq. m. They are: Hawaii, 4000 sq. m.; Maui, 800; Kahoolawe, 65; Lanai, 100; Molokai, 200; Oahu, 500; Kauai, 640; Niihau, 95. These are habitable. In addition are Molokini, Lehua, and Nihoa, nothing more than barren rocks. The islands are all high, the rock of the entire group being volcanic. Many minerals are found, among which are sulphur, pyrites, common salt, garnet, feldspar, copperas, glauber salt, nitre, calcite, etc. There are two active volcanoes on Hawaii- Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The highest peak on Hawaii is Mauna Kea, 13,805 ft.; on Maui the highest point is Kaleakala, 10,030 ft. The soil of the low sections is fertile, and adapted to planting and grazing. There are extensive forests on the mountains. The principal product is sugar, while molasses, wool, tallow, hides, rice, and bananas are exported in considerable quantities. The climate varies greatly with the altitude. At Honolulu the average of the thermometer is 75.7°. The rainfall on the island has reached 56 in. near Honolulu, and, on the opposite side of the island of Hawaii, 61 in. The independence of the islands was recognized by the United States in 1829, and more formally in 1843, and by Belgium, England, and France in 1844. The last census shows a population of 64,131.
NEW BRITAIN. - This name is given to one large and several small islands in the Pacific Ocean, lying between lat. 4° and 6° 30' S., and long. 148° and 152° E. The main island is 300 m. in length and from 5 to 50 m. broad-its area being 10,000 sq. m. The shape of the island is that of a crescent, and it is well provided with excellent harbors and bays. The mountains in the interior are high, and in the N. portion several active volcanoes exist. The plains are fertile and covered with forests, while tropical fruits abound, and vegetables are cultivated. MARQUESAS ISLANDS.-These comprise two groups, between lat. 7° 30' and 10° 30' S., and long. 138° and 140° 20' W. The N. group is generally called Washington Islands, while the name, Marquesas Islands is confined to the S. group. Of the latter there are five islands, volcanic in origin, mountainous, and with steep coasts. The area is about 500 sq. m., and the islands belong to France. FRIENDLY ISLANDS.-These islands, which sometimes are made to include the Fiji Islands, lie in the Pacific Ocean, between lat. 13º and 25° S., and long. 172° and 177° E. There are about 150 of them-the smaller ones being of coral formation, the larger ones volcanic in origin. There are few native animals, but an abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables.
LADRONES. - The islands under this name belong to Spain. There are 20 of them, lying between 13º and 21° N. lat., and 144° and 146° E. long. Only two of the islands are inhabited-Guguan and Rota. They were discovered in 1521. The islands contain about 10,000 inhabitants.
The FIJI and CAROLINE ISLANDS also belong to this geographical group. THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. -This section, called also Malaysia, is divided into three groups. The first comprises the Molucca (or Spice Islands), Banda, Ambozna, Ternate, and the Philippines; the second group Sumatra, Java, and the small Sunda Islands, E. of Java, from Bali to Timur Laut; and the third comprises Borneo and Celebes, together with a large number of smaller islands, as Billiton, Banca, Singapore, etc. This archipelago forms the connection between Asia and Australia. The Europeans have subjugated almost the entire archipelago-the Dutch becoming masters of the greatest number of islands. The total population is about 25,000,000.
THE PHILIPPINES.-This group includes about 1200 islands situated between the Pacific Ocean and the China Sea, between lat. 5° 32' and 19° 38' Ν. The largest islands are Luzon, 51,300 sq. m.; Mindanas, 25,000; Samar, 13,020; Mindow, 12,600; Panay, 11,330; Leyte, 10,080. The total is 120,000 sq. m., about one-half of which is under Spanish rule. Population-1883-7,619,665. Active volcanoes are found throughout the entire group; earthquakes are frequent and violent. Hemp, tobacco, cotton, sugar, cinnamon, cocoa, indigo, rice, wheat, pepper, and ginger are exported. Gold, silver, coal, iron, copper, and quicksilver are found.
BORNEO.-This island lies between lat. 70° 1' N. and 4° 10' S., and between long. 108° 50' and 119° E. It is 807 m. long and 700 m. wide. The area is 289,000 sq. m. There are large navigable rivers. The climate in the low regions is very hot. Gold, tin, antimony, zinc, diamonds, iron, and coal are found. Vegetation is very luxuriant. Teak, ironwood, gutta-percha, ebony trees abound, while cinnamon, camphor, betel, pepper, ginger, cotton, and rice are produced in large quantities. The island was discovered by the Portuguese.
CELEBES.-This island is about 75 m. E. of Borneo, from which it is separated by Macassar Strait. The island lies between 1° 50' N. lat. and 5° 30' S., and long. 119º and 125° E. It is very irregular in form. Although its area is but 72,647 sq. m., it has a coast line of 2500 m. The chief town is Macassar. MOLUCCA, OR SPICE ISLANDS.-This group comprises a great multitude of islands between lat. 3º S. and 6º N., and between long. 126° and 135° E. They are all volcanic, and exceedingly fertile. Rice, sago, cotton, indigo, coffee, and sugar are grown; the nutmeg and clove are indigenous to the island, but the Dutch have confined the cultivation of the clove to Ambozna and the Uliassers, and that of the nutmeg to the Banda islands. The Dutch have possessed these islands since the beginning of the 17th century.