THE GREAT NORTH-EAST. 
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island is mountainous; but there are rich and 
fertile valleys enough here, which abound in 
masses of unrestrained tropical vegetation, and 
which present very favourable conditions for 
settlement and industrial colonisation. With a 
little expenditure of ingenuity and money, the 
streams, which are seldom, if ever, quite dry, 
could be turned in any direction; and the vast 
fields, which are so unproductive solely for want 
of water, by a simple system of irrigation could 
be made to yield an enormous and profitable 
return in the shape of abundant crops of rice, 
coffee, or sugar. Splendid timber for ship¬ 
building or other purposes abounds in the forests 
around the bay of Diego Saurez; and there is 
also a very useful kind of stone, and unlimited 
deposits of iron. Coal has long been worked in 
the region of Nosibe; and beautiful specimens of 
rock crystal have been brought up to the capital 
from time to time by the natives of Yohimare; 
whilst quartz is also found in great quantities. 
The principal harbours on the north-east coast 
are the Bay of Yohimare, Port Leven, Port 
Luquez, and the Bay of Diego, or British Sound. 
An attempt was made in the beginning of the 
last century to found a British settlement in 
Port Luquez, and great care was taken to send 
forth an expedition, suitably equipped for the 
purpose by Sir R. Farquhar, then governor of 
