172 Physical Geography of 



PART II. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



CHAPTER I. 



G-enebal Considerations. 



Looking at a map of the earth on Mercator's projection, we observe, 

 isolated from all continents and far from the innumerable islands in 

 the Pacific Ocean, two larger islands and some smaller ones, running 

 in a south-west and north-east direction, and as my friend Professor 

 Dr. F. von Hochstetter so justly observes, " situated almost in the 

 centre of a great continental ring, which, with a rich and varied 

 world of shores, encircles the great Pacific Ocean."* 



These islands have, by Tasman, their first discoverer, been named 

 New Zealand, and although consisting of two main islands and 

 another small one, separated from the South Island by Foveaux 

 Straits, and called Stewart's Island, they must nevertheless be con- 

 sidered as forming a whole. A large longitudinal mountain chain, 

 running from south-west to north-east, forms the axis ; beginning at 

 the south-western end of the South Island, it runs to the East Cape 

 of the North Island, separated by a broad gap formed by Cook's 

 Straits. New Zealand thus forms a remarkable line of elevation in 

 the Pacific Ocean, unconnected with any other continent or island, 

 self-existing and independent in position, in fauna and flora, as if the 

 creative "Wisdom had thus indicated to mankind the high position 

 destined for it in the future, under the hand of the Anglo-Saxon 

 race. 



• New Zealand, by F. von Hochstetter. Stuttgart : J. G-. Cotta, 1867. 



