.8,,. EXPLORATION IN NEW GUINEA. 769 



Hatzfeldt Haven shows its monthly maximum (14-88 inches) in the 

 summer. Finsch Haven is, on tne other hand, sheltered from the 

 monsoon, but lies open to the trade wind, which reaches its greatest 

 development in the Southern winter, and strikes the east side of Huon 

 Gulf, and of the peninsula which juts out north of it. Thus the 

 monthly maximum of rain falls there in July. The north-east 

 coast, although not so directly swept by the trade wind as the east 

 coast, is not altogether outside its influence. Thus we find here a 

 secondary maximum of rain-fall in July, Avhen the trade wind is at 

 its height. - 



This short summary has been suggested by the perusal of 

 the latest addition to the list of works on New Guinea, a volume 

 just published by Messrs. Philip and Son, entitled " British New- 

 Guinea," by J. P. Thomson, of the Royal Geographical Society 

 of Australasia. " The author having during the past six or seven 

 years (so he tells us in his preface to the English edition) contributed 

 numerous papers on subjects connected with New Guinea to the 

 Geographical Societiesof Australasia, England, Scotland, and France," 

 has now essayed to place "before his numerous and distinguished co- 

 workers in the department of Geographical Science an authentic record 

 of our knowledge of Her Majesty's youngest colonial possession — a 

 modest contribution to the British reader." He has been good 

 enough to inform us that he bases his qualification for undertaking a 

 volume on "the physic:al and broad geographical aspects of New 

 Guinea " and picturing truly its Melanesian inhabitants, on his being 

 in Fiji a surveyor and fellow-officer of the "distinguished Admini- 

 strator" of the Possession ; and he has an " intimate acquaintance with 

 Polynesians and other coloured races." In order also to produce a 

 " book different from the ordinary narrative of travel — something of a 

 representative character — " he was fortunate in obtaining the co- 

 operation of workers eminent in geology, botany, zoology, and the 

 languages of the country. 



Adequately impressed by tnese remarks, we turned, with much 

 expectancy, to the book itself. After reading the very meagre 

 historical sketch which forms the first chapter, we proceeded to 

 the second, headed '• Explorations in the Louisiade Archipelago." 

 To our amazement, we discovered that they were not the explora- 

 tions of the author of the " numerous papers on New Guinea," but 

 the explorations of " a beloved administrator," compiled by Mr. 

 Thomson. Nowhere in the book could we find that the compiler 

 himself had ever been in New Guinea. The title page would have 

 been less misleading if it had run : — British New Guinea : the 

 Explorations of " His Honour the Administrator of the Possession 

 and others," paraphrased out of the official reports and papers else- 

 where by J. P. Thomson. The only original portions of the book 



■jProc. R.G.S., 1S91, p. 17G. 



3c 



