486 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 



as 121,180. Of these 105,800 were natives, 7468 

 Indian coolies, 2267 "Polynesians," 2036 Europeans, 

 and 2219 natives of Eotuma. 



Various lines of steamers connect Fiji with the other 

 British Australasian colonies, running to the ports of 

 Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, and other places. Inter- 

 insular communication is carried on by small steamers 

 and numerous sailing craft. Carriage -roads are few, but 

 bridle-roads intersect the islands in every direction. In 

 addition to the Government gazettes, two newspapers are 

 published, one at Suva and one at Levuka. There are 

 numerous hotels and banks, a Literary Institute, a 

 Planters' Association, jails, hospitals, and a lunatic 

 asylum. The police consists of an armed native con- 

 stabulary. A Botanic Experimental Garden has been 

 established for the introduction of species likely to prove 

 of value, and the general furtherance of economic botany. 

 The number of live stock in the colony at the beginning 

 of 1892 was about 10,000 horned cattle, 6000 sheep, 

 and 1000 horses. 



Eotuma, a small island of volcanic origin lying about 

 300 miles north of the Fiji group, was annexed by the 

 British at the expressed desire of its chiefs in 1880. It 

 is about 8 miles long by 2 wide, and is rather thickly 

 populated by friendly n9,tives of mixed sub - Papuan 

 stock, who are said to number about 2500. About the 

 same number have settled in Fiji. All are Christians, 

 having many years ago been converted either by the 

 Tongan Wesleyans or the Eoman Catholics. The island 

 is described as being suitable for the cultivation of sugar 

 and cotton, but there are at present no planters, and the 

 natives are a race of sailors rather than agriculturists. 



