462 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



spirit, which, sold at the low price of 5d. the litre, does 

 much to demoralise the Kanaka. Cotton has been tried 

 with only partial success, but fairly large quantities oi 

 copra and coffee are exported. The growth of wheat 

 was at first believed to be impossible, but later experi- 

 ments with Australian kinds have proved successful, a 

 return of 42 bushels per acre having been obtained. It 

 is estimated that there are about 120,000 cattle upon 

 the island, and these do well. Sheep are few, the 

 principal obstacle to their success being a species of 

 lalang grass known to botanists as Andropogon austro- 

 caledonicum, the prickly seed of which, penetrating the 

 skin of the animal, buries itself in the subcutaneous 

 tissues and eventually causes death. 



The imports for the year 1888 amounted to 

 £366,878; the exports to £119,269. The correspond- 

 ing figures for 1890 are £443,660 and £285,622. Both 

 exports and imports sank after the year 1882, the latter 

 from tlie reduced number of convicts, the former from the 

 temporary inactivity of the mining industry, but in 1890 

 a great improvement was manifest in the affairs of the 

 colony. About one half of the total imports are on 

 account of the penal administration. Most of the trade 

 of the island is carried on with New Zealand and 

 Australia in British vessels. 



New Caledonia is a colony administered by a 

 Governor, in whom is vested the entire military 

 authority. In the control of civil matters he is aided 

 by a Privy Council. The territory is divided into five 

 arrondissements, which (with the exception of Noumea, 

 which is under the Governor) are controlled by " Ad- 

 ministrateurs." There is a Chamber of Commerce and a 

 Chamber of Agriculture, and public instruction is pro- 

 vided by a college and 44 schools, which are attended by 



