NEW GUINEA AND THE J'APUANS 411 



Eiver until the longitude of 141° is readied, when this 

 meridian is taken as the limit. The territory thus acquired, 

 although it will be long before Holland can develop it, 

 must be regarded as the most promising of the three 

 portions into which the island has been divided. That of 

 Germany labours under the disadvantage of remoteness, 

 while British New Guinea consists very largely of low, 

 flat, unhealthy land, which is not adapted for European 

 residence or cultivation. The Dutch have an abundance 

 of good harbours and fertile highlands ; and a certain 

 amount of trade, which is capable of considerable develop- 

 ment, has for over three centuries been carried on with 

 the Moluccas. Their portion forms part of the system 

 of the Netherlands India, and offers fewer difficulties to 

 administration and settlement than does the rest of the 

 island to their neighbours. As yet, however, there are 

 no settlements in any part of the territory, if we except 

 those of the few missionaries in Geelvink Bay. In 1827, 

 as before mentioned, a small fort and garrison was estab- 

 lished in Triton Bay, but it was soon abandoned. 



The Malays, who trade in paradise-birds, pearl-shell, 

 and a few other natural products with the natives of 

 Dutch Papua, recognise certain subdivisions of the 

 country. The two great north-western peninsulas go by 

 the name of Papua Onin, the northern Ijeing called Onin 

 dibawa or Lower Onin, and the southern Onin diatas 

 or Upper Onin. The natives of the western coast of 

 this part have a bad reputation, and the Bugis and 

 Goram men who trade with them never go unarmed, 

 and say that if they cannot agree on a bargain they have 

 to fight. Of all the places in Dutch New Guinea, Dorei 

 is the most important. It was here that Mr. Wallace 

 lived in 1858 ; and various explorers, Beccari, D'Albertis, 

 Meyer, and others made it their starting-point on their 



