416 
DLXXXVIIL—BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS. 
According to the Colonial Office List, 1897, p. nee these islands 
were placed under British protection in 1893, a da Resident has 
lately been appointed. His head-quarters will be at Tale a 
small island which has been purchased for the purpose of estab- 
lishing a Residency. The British or Southern Solomon Islands 
“consist of the Islands of New Georgia, peace canar, Malaita, 
San Christoval and ped islands in the vicinity of the above 
lying between the 7}th and 13th degrees of south latitude, and 
the 150th and 163rd date of east longitude. The natives are 
Melanesians. They are treacherous,and most of them are cannibals. 
There are a few resident traders, mostly of British nationality. 
large number of natives used to go to work in plantations 
in Queensland, Fiji, and Samoa, returning after the hs of 
three Feats but the number is less than formerly. 
“The principal articles of trade are copra, pearl shell, and 
tortoise shell. The climate is not a good one. 
uring the last few years the botany of the Solomon Islands 
has been studied at Kew, and oni actione of dried plants have 
been received from the Rev. R. B. Comins, Dr. H. B. Guppy, and 
from the officers of H.M.S. “ Penguin,” S eR by Admiral 
Sir W. J. L. Wharton, K.C.B., F.R.S., Hydrographer of the 
Admiralty. The more interesting plants have been described in 
the Annals of Botany we v. (1891), pp. 501-508, t. 27 ; vol. v 
eee pP 203-210, ig 11-14) ; Journal d p Linnean Società y 
(vo (1894), pp. 163- — and 211-217, tt. 9-11): Hooker's 
onas. Plantar um (th series, iii. (18 94), tt. 2907, 2247, and 2248) ; 
and the Kew Bulletin (1892, 105; 1894, 211-215 ; 1895, 132-139, 
159-161). 
An account of the present condition of the Solomon Islands is 
contained in the Colonial gara (Miscellaneous, No. 8, 1897) by 
BAY, UR 5 he t British Resident. The following 
d is extracte d :— 
* From inquiries instituted, both in Sydney and in the Pro- 
Mec I find that the exports to Sydney for 1895 and for the 
present year will stand approximately as follows :— 
{ 
Year. | Copra. | Ivory Nuts.| Pearl Shell. | Turtle Shell. | Beche de Mer. 
Tons. Tons. Tons. Cwt. lbs. Tons. Cwt. 
1895 1,200 586 6 10 891 7 18 
1896 1,383 610 8 9} 1,379 3 15 
COPRA. 
* Copra always has been, and is SAMT for many years to come 
to supply, the chief article of export. Solomon Islands copra is 
known as smoke-dried and ‘consequently does not com- 
mand so good a price by from 10s. to 1/. a ton ael b ey as 
sun-dried copra in consequence of its dirty appeara was, 
however, informed by an expert in Sydney that Balon Island 
