34 



PHYSIOGRAPHIC GEOLOGY. 



the main body of the Archipelago (11, Fig. 27 and the chart) trends 

 off to the westward, and is a third branch, conforming in direction to 

 the Australasian system, (a to h, Fig. 27, are the same as M to G, 

 Fig. 28.) 



Fig. 28. 



A, B, C, Sumatra and Java line of islands ; D, Ceram ; E, north coast 

 of New Guinea; F, South New Guinea ; G, Admiralty Islands ; H, 

 Louisiade group ; I, Salomon ; J, Santa Cruz group ; K, New Heb- 

 rides ; L, Loyalty group ; M, New Caledonia ; N, high lands of 

 northeast Australia ; 0, New Zealand ; a b, northwest shore of Bor- 

 neo ; c d, east Borneo ; e/, west coast of Celebes ; g h, west coast of 

 Gilolo. 



In other words, the Caroline Archipelago forks at its southeastern 

 extremity, — one portion, the Gilbert, Radack, and Ralick Islands 

 (8, 9, 10 in Fig. 27), conforming to the Polynesian system, while the 

 great body of the Caroline Islands trend off more to the westward 

 (No. 11), parallel with New Ireland and the Admiralty group {g, h of 

 the same cut), and others of the Australasian system. 



(5.) New Zealand chain. — The ranges in this chain are mentioned 

 on p. 31. The whole length, from Macquarie Island, on the south, to 

 Vavau, a volcanic island terminating the Tonga range, on the north, is 

 2,500 miles. To the east of New Zealand lie Chatham Island, Bev- 

 erly, Campbell, and Emerald, which correspond to another range in 

 the chain. 



This transverse chain is at right angles with the Polynesian system 

 at the point where the two meet. Moreover, it is nearly central to 

 the ocean ; and in its course farther north lie the Samoan and Hawaian 

 Islands, two of the largest groups in the Polynesian system. 



The central position, great length, and rectangularity to the north- 

 west ranges give great significance to this New Zealand or northeast- 

 erly system of the ocean. 



The large Feejee group lies near the intersection of the three Pacific chains; and 

 hence its numerous islands do not conform to either one, though the larger islands ap- 

 proximate most nearly to the last in direction. 



