the island of Celebes, the Moluccas, or Spice Islands, the Philippine Islands, and some smaller groups.

2. The climate is that of the Torrid Zone. The soil is productive, and yields in abundance the most valuable spices and fruits. The clove, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, and pepper, abound; also sugar, coffee, cotton, rice, tobacco, indigo, and gutta percha.

3. The commerce is mostly carried on by Europeans and Chinese. The latter, in their uncouth ships, called junks, trade in great numbers to the different islands. Tripang, sea-slug, and edible birds'-nests, luxuries not used by Europeans, are taken to China, where they bear a high price.

4. The Malays are generally of a yellowish-brown complexion. They are chiefly Mahommedans, and have a strong passion for gam. bling. Many of these people are pirates; they often surprise and capture European and other merchant-vessels. A number of Chinese emigrants have settled in various parts of Malaysia, and are noted for their industrious and quiet habits.

5. SUMATRA, the most western of the Sunda Islands, is divided into several petty native kingdoms, and is partly under the dominion of Holland. Some of the interior tribes are cannibals. Among the Battas, the punishment of several crimes, by their laws, is to be eaten by the people. They also eat the prisoners taken in war. The island of Banca, on the eastern coast, is noted for its tin.

6. JAVA is a fine fertile region, and one of the richest colonies in the world; it is remarkable for the number of its volcanoes. About threefourths of the island belong to the Dutch; the remainder is governed by two native princes, the emperor and the sultan.

7. Batavia is the capital of Java, as well as of all of the Dutch possessions in the East, It is a great commercial emporium. Samarang is the next important town. Djockokarta is the capital of the emperor's, and Surakarta of the sultan's dominions.

8. Eastward from Java are the islands of Bally, Sumbawa, Floris, and Timor. Sumbawa is noted for its terrific volcano. Timor belongs jointly to the Dutch and the Portuguese.

9. BORNEO is a large and fertile island, rich in gold, diamonds, and other minerals. The interior is inhabited by ferocious, warlike tribes. The island is divided into several distinct states. Sarawak is under the protection of Great Britain; here mission stations and schools have been established, The Dutch have considerable influence in the south

ern part of the island. Borneo and Benjarmassin are the chief towns.

10. North-eastward from Borneo are the Sooloo Islands. The people are noted pirates, Celebes is a large, irregular-shaped island; the

tain? 2. What is said of the climate? 3. Commerce? 4. The Ma lays? 5. Sumatra ? 6. Java? The natives? 7. Batavia, &c.? Sarawak? 10. Sooloo Islands?

8. Bally, &c.? 9. Borneo, &c.?

northern part is inhabited by the Bugis, and the southern by the Macassars. Macassar, the chief town, belongs to the Dutch.

11. The SPICE ISLANDS, or MOLUCCAS, belong chiefly to the Dutch; they produce cloves, nutmegs, and mace. Gilolo, Ceram, Bouro, Banda, and Amboyna, are the principal islands.

12. The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, which belong to Spain, comprise two large and a number of smaller islands. They are rich in natural resources, and furnish many valuable articles of commerce.

The inha

bitants are chiefly of the native races, the Tagalas, Bisayas, &c.

13. MANILLA, on the west side of the island of Luzon, is the capital of all the Spanish colonies in the East. It is the centre of an exten sive commerce, and its harbour is thronged with European, American, and Chinese vessels.

Map No. 31.-What great circle passes through the middle of Malaysia? Er.-In what zone is Malaysia? Td.- Which is the longest of the Sunda Islands? Sa.-The most populous? Ja.Which is the largest of the Philippines? Ln. - How long and wide is Borneo? What strait separates Sumatra from Malacca? Ma. Sumatra from Java? Sa.. Borneo from Celebes? Mr. - How wide are the Straits of Sunda?

220 AUSTRALASIA.

1. AUSTRALASIA consists of various islands lying southeastward from Malaysia: of these, Australia, New Guinea, and New Zealand, are the largest. The native inhabitants

are chiefly Papuan negroes.

2. AUSTRALIA was formerly called New Holland; it is the largest island in the world, and belongs to Great Britain. New South Wales, North Australia, South Australia, West Australia, and Victoria, are its chief divisions.

3. The climate and products of Australia are, from its great extent of latitude, extremely various. The Blue Mountains is the most extensive range, and the Murray the largest river yet discovered. Gold is found in New South Wales and Victoria, and copper in South Australia. Coal and lead also abound.

4. The aborigines of Australia are savages of the lowest order: those in the interior live on roots, grubs, worms, and what they kill in

11. What is said of the Spice Islands? 12. Philippine Islands? 13. Manilla?

Australasia. Q.-1. What is said of Australasia? 2. Australia? Its chief divisions, &c.? 3. Climate, &c.? Blue Mts.? Gold, &c.?

the chase.

Those on the coast subsist mostly by fishing, yet their

Canoes with one Man.

canoes are of the rudest kind. These are often merely a large piece of bark, folded and tied up at each end; in other cases they are hollowed out of a piece of wood just suffi

cient to hold a single person, who sits and steers with his hands.

5. A penal colony was founded, in 1787, in New South Wales, to which many thousand criminals were from time to time transported from Great Britain. But this practice was abolished in 1840, and the bulk of the population now consists of free settlers.

6. The Colony extends along the eastern coast about 700 miles. It is better adapted for grazing than tillage; sheep are abundant, and their wool and tallow form the principal exports. Cotton, sugar, and tobacco, are cultivated in the northern counties, and wheat, Indiancorn, and potatoes, in the southern. Sydney is the largest city in Australia; it has a good harbour, and considerable commerce. Newcastle and Paramatta are the next important towns.

7. In West Australia is the SwAN RIVER COLONY; in which no great improvement has yet taken place. South Australia and Victoria, in the south, are flourishing colonies. Adelaide is the chief town of the first-named, and Melbourne of the last.

4. Describe the aborigines. 5. New South Wales. 6. What is said of it? Country, &c.? 7. Swan River Colony? South Australia? 8.

8. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND, or TASMANIA, settled in 1804, is nearly equal in size to South Carolina. The climate is cooler, but the productions are nearly the same as in the southern part of Australia. About onethird of the population are convicts; none of the aborigines remain on this island. Hobarton is the capital.

9. NEW ZEALAND, now a portion of the British Empire, comprises two large islands and a small one; the area of the whole about equals that of New York and Pennsylvania. The soil is fertile, and produces Indian-corn, wheat, yams, potatoes, and flax of excellent quality.

10. The natives are a well-formed race, varying in complexion from a chestnut colour to a dingy white. They were, until recently, very warlike and ferocious, and were cannibals.

Tattooing was general, and the faces of the chiefs were almost entirely covered over with figures of various kinds. The New Zealanders make good sailors, and many of them serve on board merchantmen in that capacity.

11. In the northern island the missionaries have converted many of the natives, and taught them to read and write. Here nearly all the British colonists are settled. Auckland is the capital, and Wellington and New Plymouth the next important towns.

New Zealand Chief

12. PAPUA, or NEW GUINEA, is believed to be a very fertile island, but the interior has never been explored. LOUISIADE, NEW BRITAIN, NEW IRELAND, SOLOMON'S ARCHIPELAGO, the NEW HEBRIDES, and NEW CALEDONIA, lie in the north-east part of Australasia, and are but little known. The inhabitants, like all savages, are divided into petty tribes, and are at constant war with each other.

13. The Antarctic Continent, which lies about 2000 miles south of Australia, was discovered, in 1840, by the American Exploring Expedition, commanded by Captain Wilkes, of the United States Navy. About the same distance south of New Zealand is Victoria Land, discovered in 1841, by Captain Ross, of the British Navy. Both these regions are covered with ice and snow, and are uninhabited. (See Map No. 3.)

Map No. 31.-What great circle forms the north boundary of Aus. tralasia? Er.- What tropic crosses Australia? Cn. In what zones is Australasia? Td., S.-Te. What strait separates Australia and New Guinea? Ts. Australia and Van Diemen's Land? Bs.

Van Diemen's Land? 9. New Zealand? 10. What is said of the natives, &c.? Of tattooing? 11. Missionaries? Auckland, &c.? 12. Of Papua, &c.? Louisiade, &c.? 13. Antarctic Continent? Victoria Land?

What island is inhabited by convicts from New South Wales? Nk. Name the New Zealand Isles.*

1. POLYNESIA comprises the islands situated in the Pacific Ocean, between Malaysia, Australasia, and South America. Its climate is similar to that of the West Indies, but is more mild and regular.

2. The chief products are the bread-fruit, yam, taro root, sweet potato, plantain, banana, and cocoa-nut, besides various fruits, comprising oranges, limes, citrons, pine-apples, figs, &o.

3. The people of Polynesia are often called the South Sea Islanders; they are generally mild and gentle, yet fierce and warlike when stimulated by interest or revenge; and their wars have been carried on with such ferocity, that some islands have been entirely depopulated.

4. The LADRONE ISLANDS were discovered by Magellan, in 1521. The CAROLINE ISLANDS, or NEW PHILIPPINES, extend 2000 miles from cast to west, and comprise many groups of small islands. Both these groups belong nominally to Spain.

Polynesia. Q.-1. Describe Polynesia. 2. Products. 3. The people, &c. 4. Ladrone. Caroline. 5. Sandwich Islands. 6. What has been

* See the account on Map 31, near New Zealand.