THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 361 



The group consists of a double row of islands extending 

 nearly 700 miles in a north-west and south-east direction. 

 The four northern islands vary from 120 to 150 miles in length 

 and from 20 to 30 miles in width. The northern point of 

 Bougainville Island (10,171 feet high), the largest, is 130 miles 

 east of -the southern point of Xew Ireland, and adjacent are 

 Choiseul, Ysabel, and Malayta Islands, the straits between 

 them varying from 15 to 50 miles in width. Parallel with 

 these and some 30 miles distant are the islands of New Georgia, 

 Guadalcanar (8006 feet high), and St. Christoval (4100 feet 

 high), the first opposite Choiseul Island, the last extending 

 nearly 100 miles farther to the south-east than Malayta 

 Island. 



The whole group is volcanic, and there is an active volcano 

 in Guadalcanar Island. 



Labourers are to be got in fair numbers from the Solomons, 

 and a good number of them are now working well for white 

 settlers in Fiji. I had for some time a Solomon Island servant, 

 and found him willing- and obedient. One thing grievously 

 offended him, and that was to tell him that if he was sent 

 home 'his friends would cook and eat him.' The Solomon 

 Islanders at present are still cannibals, but this ' boy's ' indig- 

 nation at the idea of his being eaten, shows that even the 

 Solomons are rapidly going ahead. 



A few white traders dwell in the group, and manage to 

 dwell in peace with the natives ; but the progress of the 

 Solomons is inseparably bound up with the labour-trade of 

 the Fiji Islands. Men returning from a three-year term of 

 service, well treated, and well fed, and fairly paid by white 

 men, will in the end act as first-class missionaries of civilisation 

 among these people, and prepare the way for better things. 



The Solomon Islanders are skilful in carving and canoe- 



