MALAYSIA AND THE PACIFIC 
ARCHIPELAGOES 
-♦- 
CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTION 
1. Definition and Nomenclature. 
The vast region which stretches half-way across the 
Pacific from the south-eastern extremity of Asia, com¬ 
prising within its boundaries the richest and largest 
islands in the world, has from time to time received 
various appellations: Australasia, the Eastern Archi¬ 
pelago, Oceania, etc. None of these, however, are par¬ 
ticularly satisfactory, for none are inclusive. But apart 
from the fact that some such inclusive name might 
conveniently serve for a title-page, there is little need to 
attempt to supply the deficiency. For the innumerable 
islands which come under our notice in the following 
pages by no means form a geographical unit, but exhibit 
many diversified characteristics, and have been divided 
into various groups, sometimes rather artificially perhaps, 
B 
