GEOGRAPHY. 205 



NEW GUINEA. 



In a recent number of the Zeitschrift of the Berlin Geo- 

 graphical Society is an interesting paper by Captain Von 

 Schleinitz on the geographical observations in New Guinea, 

 in New Britannia and Solomons Archipelago, made by the 

 Prussian expedition in the Gazelle. 



The exploration of New Guinea is going steadily forward, 

 and the Australian colonists are discussing its annexation. 



Signor d'Albertis, whose first exploration of the Fly River 

 was so successful, has made a second visit to that river, and by 

 means of it has penetrated to the centre of the island, reach- 

 ing a point in 5 30' south latitude, 141 30' east longitude. 

 He reports that the whole country is flat and marshy, the 

 land nowhere rising more than two hundred and twenty-five 

 feet. The natives resemble those of the eastern part of the 

 island in appearance, manners, customs, etc, but differ wide- 

 ly from the blacks of the northwest. Bananas, taro, and to- 

 bacco are cultivated to a certain extent. 



The vicinity of Port Moresby is described as a well-watered 

 and fertile country. 



In M. Cora's Cosmos are published the reports of M. Mi- 

 klucho-Maklay and of Signor d'Albertis regarding their re- 

 cent explorations. 



In the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society is 

 an account by the Rev. S. Macfarlane of a journey made by 

 him along the southern coast of New Guinea in March, 1877. 

 Two fine harbors were discovered, and several good anchor- 

 ages alono* the coast. The natives were friendlv and nu- 

 merous. Mr. Macfarlane found many errors in the published 

 charts. 



During the last summer the Dutch expedition for the ex- 

 ploration of Sumatra has traversed the island from west to 

 east, and explored a large tract of country lying to the north 

 of Padang. 



It is understood that this expedition is preliminary to set- 

 tlement and occupation on a large scale, the annexation of 

 this great island to the Dutch East India possessions having 

 for some time been urgently pressed upon the authorities at 

 Batavia. 



