INDEX TO THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. 147 



well when introduced. The climate is hot and moist, causing rapid growth of all 

 vegetation, but is healthy for Europeans. The islands are, from the southeast, 

 Maitea, Tahiti, Tetuaroa, Moorea and Tapamanu for the windward group; and 

 Huaheine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bolabola, Tubal, Marua, Mopiha and Bellingshausen 

 for the leeward group. 30. 



Socorro (Nuestra Seiiora del), see Taumaco. 



Sogaura, an island north of Saipai on the New Guinea coast. 9' 19' s., 142^ 44' E. 



Sola, see Pylstaart. 



Solander is west of Foveaux strait ; mountainous, 1075 ft. high. 46° 32' .S. Named 

 for Dr. Solander, one of Cook's naturalists. 



Solia, islet of Kia, Fiji. 



Solitaria (La), discovered b}' Mendana August 29, 1595. Native name Tayti. io°4o's. 



Solitary, in Huon gulf on the east coast of New Guinea. 7° 10' s., 147° 00' E. 



Solitary, see Ruadika of the Solomon islands. 



Solomon Islands. A large group discovered by Mendaiia in 1567. This interest- 

 ing Spaniard, in his anxiety to colonize and make his discoveries of use to his 

 countrj^, strove for many years to induce the authorities to send another expedi- 

 tion ; but it was not until 1595, when he was advanced in years, that his wishes 

 bore fruit. He was not destined to again see the islands which had been named 

 Is/as dc Salomon in hopes to attract colonists to this supposed Ophir. Mendana 

 died at Santa Cruz, and the remains of his expedition sailed on to Manila. The 

 narrative of Gallego, the pilot of the first expedition, had been suppressed, and 

 that of Ouiros, who held the same position in the second expedition, met the same 

 fate. Drake had made his name terrible in the Pacific, and the jealousy of the 

 Spaniards led to a studied concealment of their discoveries, and for two centuries 

 the memory of this group was fading and passing into legend. So it was that the 

 Spanish discoveries profited no one; and even when at last the suppressed journals 

 were brought to light they afforded little new information, for the work of discovery 

 had been done again in the meantime. In 1767 Carteret sighted outl3-ing islands 

 of the group (Gower), and also a part of Malaita, but he did not suspect that he 

 had found the Solomon islands, although he had been looking for them. The next 

 year Bougainville made more definite work, but the real discovery took many 

 years, and to the present no sufficient survey has been made. Only the shores of the 

 larger islands have been explored, and the outlines are very inexact on the charts. 

 For more than thirty years the Melanesian Mission has braved the dangers 

 of climate and savages and made it possible to land on many islands of the group. 

 Dr. Guppy says truly that the onlj- redeeming featx^re of the intercourse of the 

 white man with these islanders is this grand mission. 



The group covers an area 600 m. in length ne-SW. Most of the islands are 

 volcanic, some are calcareous, and some are both. The natives are Papuan, but 

 show traces of Melanesian, Polynesian and Malav. The^- are of medium height, 

 well-proportioned, but do not have attracflive features. The scantiest clothing is 

 worn, but ornaments are much in use, such as bracelets, anklets and nose pins. 

 Cannibals generally, they yet make good servants. 



The principal islands are, beginning at the northwest, Bouka, Bougainville, 



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