THE CAEOLINES. 



283 



also affords shelter to some lizards and iguanas, while the sandy beach is visited 

 b)^ turtles during the season. 



The population of the Carolines is variously estimated at from twenty thousand 

 to thirty thousand souls, two-thirds of whom are concentrated in Ruk, Ponapé 



Fig. 124.— Rtjk Islands. 



Scale 1 : SOX.OOO. 



to 25 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



25 to 50 



Futhoms. 



500 Fathoms and 

 upwards. 



18 Miles. 



and Yap. Owing to its proximity to the Philippines, Yap has been chosen as the 

 centre of the administration for the Western Carolines -and the Pelew Islands. 

 Although the great majority of the natives are of Indonesian stock crossed by 

 sundry foreign elements, the various insular groups present considerable contrasts 



