Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/125

 MONEY, WEIGHTS, AND MEASUKES.

II. Protected Countries.

8 9

Asia : — ■

Kingdom of Cambodge Polynesia : — ■

Tahiti and Dependencies.

Touamotou islands.

Gambier ,,

Touboua'i and Vavitou

Total, protected countries. Total, colonies and protectorates

Date of Acquisi- tion

Area.

Square

kilometres

Population

1862

1841 1844 1844 1845

83,861

1,175

6,600

30

103

1,020,000

13,847

8,000

1,500

550

91,769

1,043,897

1,205,951

3,631,354

The commercial intercourse of the Colonial Possessions of France is almost entirely with the mother country, being restricted by special legislation to this channel. But the only colonies possessing commercial importance are the islands of Reunion, or Bourbon, on the coast of Africa, and Martinique and Guadeloupe in America. The value of the imports of Reunion averages 1,300,000/. per annum, and of the exports 950,000/., while Martinique receives imports of the annual value of 1,000,000/., and sends away exports to the amount of 900,000/. and Guadeloupe with its dependencies has imports averaging 800,000/., and exports of the value of 700,000/. The remaining colonies have very little trade except that derived from being military and naval stations. It is calcu- lated that the total number of natives of France, not in the army and navy, settled throughout the whole of the Colonial Possessions, is under 2,000. A large penal settlement was formed in the colony of Guiana during the years 1852-60, but the greater number of persons, chiefly political prisoners, that were transported, perished under the unhealthy climate.

Slavery was abolished throughout the whole of the Colonial Pos- sessions of France by a decree of the Provisional Government of February 24, 1848.

For an account of the government, revenue, population, and com- merce of Algeria, see the part Africa of the Statesman's Year-book.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

The money, weights, and measures of France, and the British equivalents, are —

The Franc, of 100 centimes

Money. . Approximate value \0d., or 25 Francs to

£1 sterling.