INSULAR AUSTRALASIA. 



1241 



Lavella, Treasury, Shortland, and other Groups, would pass by a pretty large number of 

 beautiful islands of ever varying shape and size, many of them quite uninhal.iti-d, and 

 yet he would then have seen only a small part of the great Solomon Group. The 

 extent and beauty of many of the islands in the Russell and Rubeana Groups can only 

 be appreciated by those who, in some small steamer or sailing vessel, have traversed 

 the deep, still, land-locked water-ways which separate these lovely islands. There are feu- 

 places which present to the eye so many attractions to 'the explorer or to the yachtsman 

 as this little known but most beautiful Group. The large islands have all a high moun- 

 tain range in the interior, which is generally nearer to the south side than to the 



A NATIVE DANCE HV SOLOMON ISLANDERS. 

 From a Sketch b]i Mr. T. O Krrni. 



northern one, so that the land is steeper and more broken on the southern side. The 

 island is generally densely wooded from the very lap of the sea to the top of 

 the range. On the south side the mountains often rise abruptly from the beach, with 

 jagged and broken summits, and intersected with deep gullies and ravines which seem 

 to terminate in many instances inland at the base of steep peaks, on the sides of 

 which land-slips are plainly visible. Many small streams and rivers will be found, the 

 large beds of which show that a great volume of water must find its way down them 

 in the rainy season. On the northern side the land is generally more sloping, and often 

 comparatively flat near the coast, whilst the thick brush is often broken by large tracts 

 of open country covered with thick coarse grass. The climate is very enervating and 

 unhealthy, especially during the rainy season. It is probable, however, that after the 



