120 GEOGRAPHY. 



5. Islands in the Vicinity of the Mainland. 



1. Van Diemens Land, or Tasmania, separated from the south-eastern 

 point of Australia by Bass Strait, embraces about 19,200 square geogra- 

 phical miles, and since 1805 has been colonized by the English. It now 

 counts over 50,000 inhabitants, of which 18,700 are convicts ; cap. 

 Hobart-town, with 14,500 inhabitants. The island is divided into nine 

 districts. 2. Fourneaux Islands, at the eastern entrance of Bass Strait. 

 3. King's Island, at the western entrance of Bass Strait. 4. Kangaroo 

 Island, on the coast of South Australia. 



6. Inner Series of Australian Islands. 



1. New Guinea, north of New Holland, and separated from it by Torres 

 Strait, next to New Holland is the largest island of the south seas. It 

 includes an area of about 160,000 square geographical miles, which, 

 however, excepting a few points along the coast, is entirely unknown. The 

 inhabitants are partly Malays, under the names of Haraforas, Alfoaras, and 

 Alfakis, partly Papuas and partly Badschus (wandering fishermen). 

 2. Admircdty Islands, jiorth-esist of New Guinea, about thirty in number, 

 with the Hermit Islands. 3. Archipelago of New Britain, consisting of 

 New Britain (the largest), New Ireland (Tombara), and New Hanover, the 

 total area of which amounts to 18,000 square geographical miles. The 

 inhabitants are Papuas. 4. Archipelago of the Louisiade, south of New 

 Britain. 5. Solomon's Islands, or New Georgian Islands, south-east of New 

 Ireland. Near them lie the Arsacides. 6. Islands of Queen Charlotte^ 

 or Archipelago of Santa Cruz, east of the preceding. The largest island is 

 Santa Cruz or Egmont. To the south-east lies the island of Wanikoro or 

 La Perouse (also called Recherche). 7. The New Hebrides, nine large 

 and many small islands, south of the preceding. The largest island is 

 Espiritu Santo ; next to it comes MallicoUo. Banks and Torres Islands 

 belong here. 8. New Caledonia, south-east of the preceding, 4800 square 

 geographical miles, to the east of which lie the Loyalty, Cypress, Plant, 

 Walpole, and Matthew's Islands. 



7. Outer Series of Australian Islands. 



1. Mariannes or Ladrones, 14-20 islands, of about 912 square geogra- 

 phical miles, in possession of Spain. Only two or three of them are 

 inhabited. On the Guam, the largest and most southern, is situated the 

 capital, San Ignacio d'Agana ; the population amounts to about 5000. 2. 

 The Carolines, or New Philippines, separated from the Mariannes by the 

 Caroline Straits, a group of several hundred diminutive islands, claimed but 

 not settled by Spain. 3. The Pelews, west of the Carolines, more than 

 120 



