SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. 13 



SHOET DESCEIPTION OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW HEBEIDES. 



By D. HOBN, B.A., Queensland. 



(Eead 5th November, 1904.) 



The New Hebrides group comprises about thirty islands, twenty 

 of which are fairly well populated, and eleven of a size varying from 

 Aneityum, which is forty miles in circumference, to Santo, which 

 measures seventy miles by forty. 



The chief islands are, Santo, Erromanga, Malekula, Tanna, 

 Aueityum and Aniwa. 



The group is scattered over a distance of 400 miles, and is 

 situated about 1,000 miles north of New Zealand and 1,400 miles 

 north-east of Sydney. The islands are all volcanic in origin, but the 

 lava has been poured over a bed of coral. Active volcanoes are still 

 found on Tanna, and other islands of the group. The islands are 

 thickly clad with forests and with the luxuriant vegetation found in 

 all tropical countries. There are palms and ferns in endless variety, 

 and immense forests of Kauri pine and sandalwood. There is great 

 plenty of food plants. The banana, bread-fruit, cocoa-nut, yam and 

 taro grow to perfection. 



The population is now estimated at about 70,000, about one-third 

 of the number inhabiting the islands before the advent of the white 

 man. 



The people are of a low and degraded type, and although in 

 appearance they resemble the aborigines of Australia, they are much 

 more intelligent. They are considered to be the descendants of 

 Papuans and Malays who peopled those islands at an early date. 



In appearance the people are very short in stature, ugly, with 

 low receding foreheads, broad faces and flat noses. Some have crisp 



