122 GEOGRAPHY. 



possession of the island since 1840 ; since when, numerous colonies have 

 started up on the northern island, including over 10,000 Europeans. There 

 are two towns. Nelson and Wellington, of which the latter is the capital. 

 •Here belongs Stewart Island, to the south of the southern island. In the 

 vicinity lie : in the north, Norfolk Island (with an English convict colony), 

 and the three Kermandic Islands ; to the south-east, Chatham Island, 

 Bounty Island, and Antipodes Island ; in the south, the Auckland and the 

 Macquarie Islands. The latter are the most southern of all the Australian 

 islands. 



2. The Sandwich Islands in the Pacific Ocean, thirteen in number, with 

 an area of 5270-6330 square statute miles, and a population of 120-150,000 

 (among them 90,000 Christians). These belong to the Malay race, are of 

 a dark color, fine figure, and far advanced in civilization, through the agency 

 of missionaries. In 1830, there were 30,000 of the inhabitants who could 

 read. The islands form a monarchy under a king (now Tameamea III.) ; 

 the Christian is the state religion. The largest island is Hawaii, or Owyhee, 

 with an area of about 4220 square statute miles, and 85,000 inhabitants. 

 On the island of Oahu, 527 square statute miles, and with a pop. of 28,000, 

 is the royal residence, Honolulu, with 10,000 inhabitants. The largest of 

 the remaining islands are Maui, area 633 square statute miles, pop. 25,000 ; 

 Tawai, area 527 square statute miles ; Morotai, area 168 square statute 

 miles ; and Ranai, area 105 square statute miles. 



4. Eastern Island, or Waihu, and the uninhabited island Sala y Gomez, 

 are the most eastern of all the Australian islands. 



122 



