MALAYSIA AND THE PACIFIC 

 ARCHIPELAGOES 



CHAPTER I 



IXTEODUCTION 



1. Definition and Nomenclature. 



The vast region which stretches half-way across the 

 Pacific from the south-eastern extremity of Asia, com- 

 prising within its boundaries the richest and largest 

 islands in the world, has from time to time received 

 various appellations : Australasia, the Eastern Archi- 

 pelago, Oceania, etc. None of these, however, are par- 

 ticularly satisfactory, for none are inclusive. But apart 

 from the fact that some such inclusive name might 

 conveniently serve for a title-page, there is little need to 

 attempt to supply the deficiency. For the innumerable 

 islands which come under our notice in the following 

 pages by no means form a geographical unit, but exhibit 

 many diversified characteristics, and have been divided 

 into various groups, sometimes rather artificially perhaps, 



B 



