THE LOYALTY ISLANDS 4()5 



the north coast by way of Paita, Tonio, and Nakety. 

 Much of the island service is carried on by steamers, and 

 various lines aflbrd regular communication with France, 

 Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. 



Noumea, the capital, is the only town of any size in the 

 colony. It has a population of about 7000, and is beauti- 

 fully situated. The harbour, formed by Nou Island and 

 the Ducos peninsvda, both of which are the sites of 

 }»enitentiaries, is both safe and roomy. The entire popu- 

 lation of the island is probably about 44,000, of whom 

 about 22,000 are natives, 10,000 convicts, 6000 officials 

 and soldiers, 2000 imported labourers, and the rest 

 settlers. 



The Isle of Pines, which lies 30 miles from the 

 southern extremity of New Caledonia, is a raised coral 

 island about 8 miles across, which has long been 

 used as a penitentiary by the French. At one period 

 over 3000 Communists were there imprisoned. It is 

 now used for nati\'e convicts and the reUgues or those 

 condemned to life transportation. 



The Loyalty Islands, 



a natural dependence of New Caledonia, form a small 

 chain parallel to it at a distance of about 70 miles. 

 They are all upheaved masses of coralline rock, and 

 comparatively sterile, but at one time abounded in sandal- 

 wood, wdiich is now becoming extinct. They consist of 

 three principal islands, Uea to the north, Lifu, and Mare. 

 The population a few years ago was estimated at 19,000, 

 but is said to have diminished. The natives closely 

 resemble those of the New Hebrides, and thirty years 

 ago were a race of savage cannibals. Now they are, 

 especially in Mare, the most civilised of any Melanesians, 



2h 



