Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/124

 FEANCE.

Colonies.

The Colonial Possessions of France, dispersed over Asia, Africa, America, and Polynesia, embrace, inclusive of the so-called ' Pays proteges,' or Countries under Protection, a total area of 1,205,950 square kilometres, or 463,827 English square miles. Not comprised in the list is Algeria, which has a government and laws distinct from the other Colonial Possessions, being looked upon, partly from its proximity to France, and partly from serving as camp and practice- field of a large portion of the standing army, as a more immediate annex of the mother country. The estimated area and population of the various Colonies and Countries under Protection, together with the date of their first settlement, or capture, is shown in the subjoined table, compiled from the latest official returns.

I. Colonies.

Asia : —

Possessions in India. Cochin-China, old provinces „ new provinces

Total of Asia Africa : —

(Senegal settlements.

Gold coast and Gaboon

Island of Reunion, or Bourbon.

„ „ St. Marie. Islands of Mayotte and Nossi-Be

Total of Africa. America : —

Guiana, or Cayenne. Guadeloupe and Dependencies. Martinique .... St. Pierre and Miguelon.

Total of America. 'Polynesia : —

New Caledonia .... Loyalty islands. Marquesas islands

Total of Polynesia. Total, colonies

Date of Acquisi- tion

Area.

Square

kilometres

Population

1679 1861 1867

509 22,380 33,864

227,063 502,116 477,000

1637 1843 1649 1635

1 S ! ;■!

1604 1634 1635 1635

1854 1864 1841

56,753

1,206,179

250,000

20,000

2,511

910

520

607,398

186,133

207,886

6,110

20,717

273,941

1,028,244

90,854

1,645

988

210

24,432

151.594

139,109

3,799

93,697

318,934

17,400 2,147 1,244

29,000 15,000 10,000

20,791

54,000

1,114,782

2,607,357