Timor

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

the most important of the chain of islands which stretch E. from Java; length 300 miles; area 17,698 square miles; pop. approximately, 119,239. A chain of wood-clad mountains runs throughout its entire length; one peak, Allas, near the S. coast, being 11,500 feet in height. It is less volcanic than its smaller neighbors of the Sunda group, but it contains some quiescent or extinct volcanoes. Magnetic iron, porphyry, gold, copper, and sulphur are found. Otherwise the natural wealth of the island is not great, the comparatively dry climate producing ng a much less luxuriant vegetation than in Java. The exports are mainly maize, sandalwood, wax, tortoiseshell, and trepang. Separated from the Australian region by the Arafura sea, the island shows few Australian types among its fauna and flora, which resemble those of Java, Celebes, and the Moluccas. The population is mainly Papuan, mixed with Malay and other elements. The smaller W. portion belongs to the Dutch, with its capital at Kupang; the E. part is Portuguese, capital Delhi; but native chiefs really govern the island. TIMORLAUT (te-mor'lout) ("Timor lying to seaward"), a small group of islands in lat. 6° 40′-8° 23′ S., lon. 130° 26′-132° E, 260 miles E. of Timor. It consists of eight considerable islands of volcanic formation and a great number of coral islets. The chief islands are Yamdena, Larat, and Selaru; the first, by far the largest, has an area of 1,100 sq. m. All three are very mountainous. The group lying within the range of the damp S. E. winds which blow through Torres Strait has a much more humid climate than Timor, and luxuriant forests ascend to the very summits of the mountains. The natural wealth of the islands is as yet undevel- -de-mer oped, and tortoise-shell and beche are the chief articles of trade. The natives resemble those of Northwestern New Guinea in appearance, and are fierce and treacherous.