1220 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



Regulation Board controls aboriginal affairs, under the sanction and with the approval 

 of the Administrator and the Legislative Council. 



The flora and fauna of New Guinea consist of both Australian and Indo-Malayan 

 types. The flora of the same level on the different parts of New Guinea which have 

 been visited, seems to be nearly the same. Much interest attaches to the exploration 

 of the higher altitudes, on account of the new forms of vegetable life which may be 

 found there. Near the south-east coast the eucalypti are the distinguishing feature of 

 the open forest country, while the sides of the hills skirting the coast are covered with 

 coarse grass, gum-trees and cycas palms. Mangroves of various kinds are found in great 

 abundance, especially in the creeks and round the protected bays. In the Gulf of Papua 

 the sago-palm is very plentiful, and tons of sago are every year prepared by the 

 natives. The forests are very numerous, and in them all tropical vegetation luxuriates ; 

 beautiful creepers interlace and intertwine about the gigantic trees ; magnificent crotons 

 and variegated dracena adding a pleasing variety to the scene. Graceful palms wave 

 their feathery plumes, and the noble banyan stretches far its grateful shade. Ferns and 

 orchids have here their home, while a carpet of lovely moss refreshes and delights the 

 eye. On the mountain ranges the vegetation is equally rich and beautiful. Edible 

 fruit-trees are not numerous. The wild mango is, however, plentiful. The bread-fruit, 

 chestnut, and rose apple are widely distributed, while many smaller fruits are eagerly 

 sought by the natives. At the east end of New Guinea, and also at Astrolabe Bay, 

 are found species of Bassia. That at the east end has been named by Baron von 

 Mueller, Bassia Erskineana, in honour of Captain Erskine, who, as Commodore of the 

 Australian Squadron, visited the south-east coast in H.Jlf.S. Nelson, and proclaimed at 

 various places the British Protectorate. The native gardens produce taro, yams, sugar- 

 cane and bananas. Sweet potatoes, maize, cassava, pumpkins, melons, pine-apples, oranges, 

 lemons and the papaw, have been introduced by the missionaries. A good cucumber is 

 indigenous in some parts. Cocoa-nuts are plentiful .on the coast, and where the soil is 

 good, the arcca palm flourishes, and is much sought after for its fruit, the arcca or 

 betel nut. Wild nutmegs are common in some districts. Turmeric, ginger, and the piper 

 mythisticum (the kava of the South Seas) are also found. Tobacco is indigenous on the 

 south-east coast, and was smoked by the natives before the advent of white men. The 

 Australian character of the fauna is strongly marked. The wallaby, cuscns, bandicoot 

 and echidna, with other marsupials are found in all parts of New Guinea that have 

 been visited. No placental mammal is found larger than the wild pig, which is of a 

 peculiar species. It has also been domesticated, but is now in many places on the 

 coast crossed with a foreign pig introduced by white men. A dog resembling the dingo 

 is indigenous, but it is only found in domestication. It does not bark, and to compensate 

 for this, howls hideously. Flying phalangers of various kinds abound in the forests, and 

 (lying-foxes are very numerous every-where. Snakes and lizards are in great variety. 

 Two or three species of the former are venomous, and held in great fear by the 

 natives. The avi-fauna is particularly rich and interesting, and comprises both Australian 

 and Indo-Malayan types. No country in the world possesses so many beautiful and 

 gorgeously plumaged species. About twenty species of birds of paradise have now been 

 discovered, and an immense variety of kingfishers, parrots and pigeons, including some 



