Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/680

 332 THE BKiTlSH EMPIRE: — PACIFIC ISLANDS

PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Lying all round Australia and New Zealand are many small island groups, islets, and reefs which may be regarded as integral parts of these colonies. Others at a considerable distance to the south are unattached and mostly uninhabited. Among them, south from Australia and New Zealand, are Royal Company Island, Macquarie Island, Emerald Island, Campbell Island, Antipodes, and Bounty Islands.

Scattered over the Pacific are many small groups and isolated islets, many of which have been annexed to Great Britain or placed under British protection. The principal of them are the following, beginning at the east, south of the equator : —

Cook's, or Hervey Islands, between 18° and 22° S. lat., 157° and 163* W. long. There are six islands and about nine islets and reefs. The largest, Raratonga, is 53 miles in circumference, with a population of 3,000. Mangaia has 2,000 inhabitants ; Yatui, or Atui, 20 miles in circumference, 1,200 inhabitants ; Hervey Islands, three small islets. Aitutaki, 18 miles in circumference, 2,000 inhabitants. Palmerston Islands, group of islets. Other islets are Takutea, Mitiero, and Mauki. Total area of group, 142 sq. m., pop. 8,400. Laws for the group have been made since 1890 by a general Legislature and are administered by an Executive Council of which the Arikis, or native Kings and Queens, are members. At Raratonga there is a British Resident whose approval is required for all enactments. Ducie Island, 24° 40' S. lat., 124° 48' W. long. Pitcatrn Island 25" 5' S., 130" 5' W. ; area 2 sq. m., pop. 126 Manihiki Group, including Reirson or Rakoango, Manihiki or Humphry, Penrhyn or Tongarewa, Caroline, Vostok and Flint Islands, lying around 10° S. lat. and between 150° and 160° W. long. ; area of group, 12 sq. m., pop. 1,000. Suvarof Islands, 13° 14' S. lat., 163° W. long. Dudoza Island, 7° 40' S. lat, 161° W. long. ; area 2 sq. m. Victoria Island, area 2 sq. m., uninhabited. Union, or ToKELAU Group, between 8° 30' and 11° S. lat., and 171° and 172° W. long. Five clusters of islets, the principal of which are Fakaafo or Bow- ditch, Nukunono or Duke of Clarence, Oatafu or Duke of York, Nassau, Danger ; area of gi'oup, 7 sq. m., pop. 1,050. Phcenix Group, between 2° 30' and 4° 30' S. lat., and 171° and 174° 30' AY. long. Eight islands : Mary, Enderbury, Phcenix, Birney, Gardner, McKean, Hall, Sydney : area of group, 16 sq. m., pop. 59. Lagoon, or Ellice Islands, between 5° 30' and 11° 20' S. lat,, and 176° and 180° E. long. Nine islands and islet groups. The principal arc Sophia or Rocky Island, Nukulaelae or Mitchell Group, Ellice, Nukufetau, A^aitupu, Netherland, Lynx ; area of group, 14 sq. ra., pop. 2,400. Gilbert Islands, on the equator, between 172 and 177° E. long. Consist of 16 atolls. Area 166 sq. m., pop. 35,200. British Solomon Islands, a group about 8° S. and 160° W., consisting of Guadalcanar, Malaita, and otliei islands ; area 8,357 sq. ni. Copra, turtle shell, ivory nuts, &c., are exported. Coffee plantation is being tried. There is a Resident Commissioner. Santa Cruz Islands, seven large islands, the largest about 15 miles long. Duff or Wilson Islands, eleven islands, the largest about 6 miles in circumference. Starbuck Island, 5° 30' S. lat., 155° W. long. ; area 1 sq. m., uninhabited. Malden Island, 4° S. lat., 155° W. long. ; area 35 sq. m., pop. 168. .Tarvis Island, on the equator, 159° \Y., area U sq. in., pop. 30. Christmas Island, 1° 57' N., 157° 27' W. ; area 234 sq. m., pop. 100. Fanning Island, 3° 50' N., 159° W. ; area 15 sq. m., pop. 150, Washington Island, 4" 40' N., 160° 20' W., avea 6 sq. m, Palmyra, 6° N., 162° 30' W., area 1^ sq. ni,