The British Possessions. 25 



a government monopoly, and the whnle 

 cofl*ce trade nf ilic ishuul is removed frnni 

 private enterprise. 



Sumatra is an island abont the sizc of 

 Prrnicc, with a population of four millions 

 of people. Most of the interior is unex- 

 plored, and the northwcst end of the island 

 occupicd by the Achinese, has for many 

 ycars becn devastated by a continuous war 

 with tho nativcs. in which Holland has 

 never becn ablc to suppress frcfjuent up- 

 risings. The density of the tropical forest, 

 thc profusion of animal life. the grcat num- 

 ber of snakes and swarmmg rcptilcs. makc 

 Sumatra a land for thc daring- huntcr, 

 rather than for the peaceful tourist. 



South Borneo is held by the Dutch, and 

 contains vast rcsources almost untOuehed. 

 The population is sparse, and no particular 

 effort is being made to develop what oright 

 soon to be and must ultimatcly be, the hab- 

 itat of a grcat and prospcrous pcople. The 

 German possessions in thc Caroline and 

 Solomon Islands, and a fe\v comparatively 

 tinimportant native kingdoms, forin the re- 

 maindcr of this group. 



