]25 



CHAPTER II. 



AUSTRALASIA. 



It is not proposed to deal with the Fiji group and New 

 Guinea. Leaving these out of consideration, the area and 

 population of the remaining seven colonies are given in the 

 subjoined statement : — 



Area and 1'opulatioxV of Australasia. 



This table shows the total area to be about three million 

 stjuare miles with about four and a half million inhabitants, or 

 1^ per square mile. The population has, however, increased by 

 24 per cent, during thirteen years, and it is likely to go on 

 increasing. 



The mainland of Australia, comprising the first five colonies, 

 lies between the 10th and 39th degree of southern latitude, so 

 that about one-half is within the tropics. Tasmania lies 

 between the 41st and 44th degrees and New Zealand between 

 the 34th and 47th degrees. 



