462 
COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVEL 
spirit, which, sold at the low price of 5d. the litre, does 
much to demoralise the Kanaka. Cotton has been tried 
with only partial success, but fairly large quantities oi 
copra and coffee are exported. The growth of wheat 
was at first believed to be impossible, but later experi¬ 
ments with Australian kinds have proved successful, a 
return of 42 bushels per acre having been obtained. It 
is estimated that there are about 120,000 cattle upon 
the island, and these do well. Sheep are few, the 
principal obstacle to their success being a species of 
lalang grass known to botanists as Andropogon austro- 
caledonicum , the prickly seed of which, penetrating the 
skin of the animal, buries itself in the subcutaneous 
tissues and eventually causes death. 
The imports for the year 1888 amounted to 
£366,878; the exports to £119,269. The correspond¬ 
ing figures for 1890 are £443,660 and £285,622. Both 
exports and imports sank after the year 1882, the latter 
from the reduced number of convicts, the former from the 
temporary inactivity of the mining industry, but in 1890 
a great improvement was manifest in the affairs of the 
colony. About one half of the total imports are on 
account of the penal administration. Most of the trade 
of the island is carried on with New Zealand and 
Australia in British vessels. 
New Caledonia is a colony administered by a 
Governor, in whom is vested the entire military 
authority. In the control of civil matters he is aided 
by a Privy Council. The territory is divided into five 
arrondissements, which (with the exception of Noumea, 
which is under the Governor) are controlled by “ Ad- 
ministrateurs.” There is a Chamber of Commerce and a 
Chamber of Agriculture, and public instruction is pro¬ 
vided by a college and 44 schools, which are attended by 
