1274 A ( 'STRALASIA 1 1. 1. ( r STRA 7V:/). 



year. The alienation of land by sale or mortgage is prohibited. All land claims by 

 aliens are to be settled by a commission of three persons, one to be named by each 

 of the Signatory Powers. These commissioners are to be assisted by an officer called 

 the Natives' Advocate. The Port of Apia is to be constituted a municipal district, 

 import duties and taxes are to be levied, and the apportionment of the revenue is 

 defined. The sale of fire-arms and ammunition to natives is prohibited, and also the 

 selling or giving of any intoxicating drink to them, or to any South Sea Islander. 

 Under the treaty, M. Conrad de Cedercrantz was selected by the King of Sweden and 

 Norway as Chief Justice, and was duly appointed by the Signatory Powers. He arrived 

 in the Group in December, 1890, and was heartily welcomed by both whites and natives. 

 Apia has for many years been the centre of German trading operations in the 

 Pacific,' as it is for all practical purposes the capital of Samoa. Although a fairly large 

 commercial interest has its centre in this flourishing Group, the record of its transactions 

 lias never been kept, and no accurate statistics can be obtained as to the exports and 

 imports. The principal article of export here, as in most of the islands of the South 

 Seas, is copra, of which large quantities are produced in the Group, in addition to that 

 which is collected from adjacent aud distant islands. The population of the entire Group 

 is about thirty-five thousand, including about three hundred foreign residents. 



TONGA, OR THE FRIENDLY ISLANDS. 



THIS Archipelago is situated between fifteen degrees and twenty-three degrees thirty 

 minutes south latitude, and one hundred and seventy-three degrees to one hundred 

 and seventy-seven degrees west longitude, these being . the boundaries fixed by proclama- 

 tion. It consists of three well-defined divisions, trending from north to south, which are 

 generally known as the Tonga, the Haabai and the Yavau Islands, and the Nuias and 

 Pylstaart Islands. Tongatabu, or Sacred Tonga, the largest island, is the present seat of 

 Government, and gives its name to the Group. The next island of importance in the 

 southern division is Eua, a fine island, which rises to the height of one thousand two 

 hundred feet, and has the only running streams which are to be found on these islands. 

 There are also several other islands in this division, known as Eueiki, Atata, Bagaimotu, 

 and a number of small islets. Haabai, the middle group, is separated from the nearest 

 island in Tonga by about forty miles of open sea. Tofua (active volcano), Kao (active 

 volcano in this generation, but now quiescent), Lifuka, Haano, Foa, Lofanga, Moungone, 

 I ilia, Fonoiftia, Uoleva, Noinuka, Haafeva, Tugua and Fotuhaa are the principal 

 islands in this division. Between Tonga and Haabai are two remarkable islands, called 

 Huga Tonga and Huga Haabai, which from their height and prominent position are always 

 mentioned by the early navigators. . Between Haabai and the northern division there is 

 another active volcanic island called Late. The northern group, called by the natives 

 Haafuluhao, is generally known by the name of its chief island, Yavau. It comprises 

 also Falevai, Bagaimotu, Huga, Niuababu, and a number of small islets. Farther to 

 the north-east are the islands of Fonua-lei, " Niua Tobutabu and Niua Foou, all of 

 which are comprised in the kingdom of Tonga. The Group was first discovered by 

 Tasman in 1643. He sighted Eua, which Island he called Middleburgh, and Tongatabu, 



