318 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGKAPHY AND TRAVEL 



The Eesident of Amboina administers not only Bum 

 and Cerani, but Banda, Ke, the Aru and Timor Laut 

 groups, and all the small islands west of the last named 

 up to, and inclusive of, Wetta. 



5. Halmahera. 



The island of Halmahera or Gilolo, although almost 

 as large as Ceram, is comparatively unimportant. It is 

 of peculiar shape, very much resembling that of Celebes 

 upon a smaller scale, and consisting of four peninsulas 

 radiating from a small central mass, and divided by three 

 deep gulfs on the eastern side. With the islets close to 

 its coasts, it has an estimated area of 6500 square miles ; 

 but it is very thinly peopled, owing to the prevalence of 

 piracy until lately, and the entire population probably 

 does not exceed 125,000. It is very mountainous and 

 rugged, and has many volcanoes, especially in the 

 northern peninsula. Four are situated close to the 

 western coast, the most important perhaps being 

 Gamakora. Tolo, at the northern extremity, has also 

 had several eruptions, as has the little peak of Tarakan 

 (620 feet) near the town of Galela. The highest point is 

 stated to be 6500 feet. But, although not much is 

 known of its geology, it is probable that the island is in 

 the main of ancient formation, judging from zoology. The 

 interior of the northern peninsula seems to be the only part 

 possessing an indigenous population, and here we find the 

 people with crisp hair, taller than Malays, and with 

 prominent noses ; of Papuan type, but evidently far from 

 pure as a race. Other Papuan affinities occur in the 

 ornithology of the island, which may thus be said to be 

 the meeting-ground of the races and fauna of these two 

 sub-regions. The Galela district is highly cultivated, 



