380 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
Andes. This great range appears to run approximately 
along the 4th parallel of latitude, and it may possibly 
be continuous with the lofty ranges in German New 
Guinea. That it does not extend farther south is proved 
by the fact of the Fly Eiver having been ascended more 
than half-way across the island in a low country with 
but very small hills. Everywhere on the south of the 
island, west of Torres Straits, the coast is low and 
swampy, and no hills are visible. Passing Torres Straits 
and reaching the eastern side of the Gulf of Papua, we 
find hilly ground, which soon gives place to fine moun¬ 
tains. Prom about 8° S. to the terminal south-east 
point of the island the country inland rises in an almost 
unbroken series of magnificent ranges, from the Albert 
Mountains in 146° E. long, to the Stirling Eange, which 
ends at East Cape. The chief feature of these highlands 
is the Owen Stanley Eange, which according to present 
measurements exceeds 13,000 feet. Many peaks exceed 
9000 feet, six are between 10,000 and 11,000 feet, 
three between 11,000 and 12,000, and two over 12,000. 
Most of them are, however, not isolated mountains, but 
the culminating pinnacles of ranges. The scenery is here 
very grand, the country being extremely broken and 
rugged, and cut up by deep gorges. 
The northern shores of British New Guinea are for 
the most part bold, but the great ranges are not here so 
conspicuous, being situated closer to the southern than 
to this side. As the boundary between the British and 
German possessions is passed the mountainous character 
of the interior becomes increasingly marked, and at no 
great distance inland from the Maclay Coast are three 
separate ranges of great height, of which one—the Bis¬ 
marck Eange—is reported to be snow-covered, while the 
peaks of the others do not fall far short of 12,000 feet. 
