318 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGEAPHY AND TEAVEL 
The Eesident of Amboina administers not only Bum 
and Ceram, but Banda, Ke, the Aru and Timor Laut 
groups, and all the small islands west of the last named 
up to, and inclusive of, Wetta. 
5. Halmahera. 
The island of Halmahera or Gilolo, although ‘almost 
as large as Ceram, is comparatively unimportant. It is 
of peculiar shape, very much resembling that of Celebes 
upon a smaller scale, and consisting of four peninsulas 
radiating from a small central mass, and divided by three 
deep gulfs on the eastern side. With the islets close to 
its coasts, it has an estimated area of 6500 square miles ; 
but it is very thinly peopled, owing to the prevalence of 
piracy until lately, and the entire population probably 
does not exceed 125,000. It is very mountainous and 
rugged, and has many volcanoes, especially in the 
northern peninsula. Four ara situated close to the 
western coast, the most important perhaps being 
Gamakora. Tolo, at the northern extremity, has also 
had several eruptions, as has the little peak of Tarakan 
(620 feet) near the town of Galela. The highest point is 
stated to be 6500 feet. But, although not much is 
known of its geology, it is probable that the island is in 
the main of ancient formation, judging from zoology. The 
interior of the northern peninsula seems to be the only part 
possessing an indigenous population, and here we find the 
people with crisp hair, taller than Malays, and with 
prominent noses; of Papuan type, but evidently far from 
pure as a race. Other Papuan affinities occur in the 
ornithology of the island, which may thus be said to be 
the meeting-ground of the races and fauna of these two 
sub-regions. The Galela district is highly cultivated, 
