424 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPIIV AND TPvAVEL 



unknown. There are no rivers of importance, and no 

 settlements of any kind even on the coast except one or 

 two solitary mission stations. Near the southern horn of 

 Milne Bay, on Samarai, a small island in China Strait, is 

 the Government station for the eastern division — an 

 unhealthy and unsuitable locality which will in all proL- 

 ability be eventually abandoned. The north-east coast 

 of the possession is imperfectly known, and has no 

 European settlements. It is a remarkable fact that no 

 lakes are known with certainty to exist in any part of 

 New Guinea, though one has been reported to lie westward 

 of Mount Yule, and another in Dutch territory near Etna 

 Bay. 



As yet, not much has been done in the way of agri- 

 culture and planting by Europeans. Such trade as exists 

 is almost entirely in natural products, and is carried on 

 only with Cooktown and other Queensland ports. Pearl- 

 shell, timber, tripang, and copra are the chief articles 

 exported. In 1892 tripang to the value of £3400 passed 

 the customs, and copra to £2084. The latter trade is 

 capable of much development, and may possibly become 

 important. A plantation of coffee in Milne Bay is 

 reported to give fair promise of success. 



The population of New Guinea has been variously 

 estimated at from one half to two millions, but it is 

 probable that it even exceeds the latter figure. In many 

 places it is very dense. The number of native inhabit- 

 ants in British territory has been roughly placed at 

 350,000. Of Europeans there are about 150. 



10. The Islands of New Guinea, 



The Dutch islands of New Guinea are numerous, and 

 in some instances of considerable size. Bemmino; at the 



