300 AUSTEALASIA. 



seawards by a chain of reefs and islets whicli terminate 300 miles farther on 

 in the Louisiade group. All these lands are disposed from west-north-west 

 to east-south-east in a line with the main axis of New Guinea itself. South- 

 east Island, the largest member of the Louisiades, is surrounded by reefs also dis- 

 posed in the same direction. In the north the Calvados rocks run parallel with 

 South-east Island towards Rossel Island, whilst Saint-Aignau is similarly disposed 

 in the north-west. 



The Entrecasteaux group, lying north of the terminal peninsula of the main- 

 land, has the same conformation, and serves as the base to a semicircle of reefs 

 which encloses one of the largest lagoons in the tropical seas, often known by the 

 name of the Lusencay Lagoon, from one of its reefs. Above this reef rise the 

 Trobriand, Grandière, and other clusters of islets, all of which lands probably at 

 one time formed part of the mainland. The peninsula now terminating at the 

 eastern headland of the Finisterre range no doubt formerly extended through the 

 intervening reefs eastwards to the island of Muyu or Woodlark. 



Rivers and Islands of New Guinea. 



Although lying so near the somewhat arid Australian continent, New Guinea 

 being situated in the equatorial zone and traversed by lofty ranges, which intercept 

 the moisture-bearing clouds brought by both monsoons, receives a rainfall sufficient 

 to feed several large rivers. Of these the most copious appear to be the Amberno, 

 or Mamberan, and the Fly. The former, to which the Dutch have also given the 

 name of Rochussen, drains the snowy Charles Louis range, and reaches the coast 

 east of Geelvink Bay, where it develops a vast delta with numerous branches 

 fringed by the nipa palm and casuarina. For a long distance seawards the water 

 is white or greenish, and the mouths of the Amberno are avoided by shipping 

 through fear of the surrounding shallows. 



On the southern slope the chief artery is the Fly river, discovered by Black- 

 wood in 1845, and named after his vessel. This voluminous stream has been 

 visited by Jukes, MacFarlane, and d'Albertis, the last of whom ascended it for a 

 distance of about 500 miles to a point within sight of the lofty highlands where it 

 has its origin. All the branches of its delta have not yet been explored, and it is 

 still doubtful whether the numerous channels flowing south of the Fly exactly 

 opposite the York peninsula, Australia, are independent streams or only branches 

 of the delta. 



Islands of alluvial formation project seawards at the mouths of the rivers, but in 

 many places the coast is fringed by coral islands, for the most part clothed with 

 vegetation. Many of these being eroded by the waves look at a distance like 

 masses of verdure suspended in mid air. Off the seaboard are also several large 

 islands, which should be regarded as forming part of the mainland. Such are 

 Korrido, Biak, and Jobie in Geelvink Bay, and on the south side Frederik Hendrik 

 (Frederick Henry), which is little more than an island in appearance. It is 

 separated from the Klapper-Kust ( " Cocoa-nut Coast " ) merely by a narrow 



