Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/473

 NEW GUINEA 421

The chief towns are : Madang (white population, 243), Morobe (white population, 40), Eitape (white population, 50).

2. Bismarck Archipelago. — In November, 18S4, a German Protectorate was declared over the New Britain Archipelago and several adjacent groups of islands, and in May, 1885, they were renamed the Bismarck Archipelago. The chief islands are Neu Pommern, formerly, and now, called New Britain, area 10,000 square miles ; New Mecklenburg, formerly, and now called New Ireland, area 4,600 square miles ; Neu Hannover, 530 square miles ; Neu lauenburg or Duke of York Islands, area 22 square miles ; the Admiralty Islands (principal island, Manus), area 600 square miles. The Archipelago lies between 141 degrees and 154 degrees east longitude, and the Equator and 8 degrees south latitude. The other groups included in this Archipelago are St. Matthew Islands, Gardner Islands, Abgarris or Fead Islands, Nissan or Sir Charles Hardy Islands, The French Islands, Rook Islands, Hermit Islands, Ninigo Group, Anchorite and Commerson Islands. In these various groups there are upwards of 100 small islands. The total native population of the Archipelago has been put as high as 188,000.

New Britain, the largest island of this group, is a long island running in a crescent shape lying east and west. It has a mean breadth of 50 miles and a length of 300 miles. Ercept for the peninsula in the north, which is called Gazelle Peninsula, the island is practically undeveloped, and there are only a few isolated stations on the coast west of Henry Raid Bay. The interior of the island is little known. The native population numbers about 50,000. The European population in 1914 was 600, chiefly Germans. There are 1,200 Chinese and a few Japanese. All populations are exclusive of the occupying force. A mountain chain traverses the entire length of the island, ami in the centre consists of several irregular ranges. There are several active volcanoes, and the range shows signs of great volcanic activity in the past. The highest known peak is the Father, about 7,500 feet high, which is an active volcano. This island has very fine harbours ; the best is that of Simpson Harbour in Blanche Bay, which affords a good harbour in all weathers. Rabaul Bay and Matupi Harbour are small harbours in Simpson Harbour. Other good harbours are, Jacquinot Bay, Rugen Haven, Arawel, Lindenhafen, and Powell Haven. The only harbour visited by oversea shipping is Simpson Harbour. The principal settlement is around the shores of Blanche Bay. Coconuts are mostly grown. There are two missionary societies at work in this island : the Wesleyan with headquarters near Rabaul, and the Catholic Mission of the Sacred Heart, with headquarters at Herbertshoehe. The chief towns are, Rabaul (population 800), which since 1910 is the seat of Government. The old capital was at Herbertshoehe, now called by its native name Kokopo, which is situated 14 miles south-east of Rabaul. At Rabaul there is an anchorage for all ships and a fine jetty has been built. Rabaul is well laid out and has a fine public garden.

New Ireland, the second in size and importance of the Bismarck Archipelago, is situated north of New Britain, from which it is separated by St. George's Channel. The chief town is Kaewieng (European population, 100), at the north-west extremity of the island- The only other town is Namatanai ( European population, 40), on the south-east coast The island has a long range of mountains running through it. It is of older formation than New Britain, and does not show any signs of recent volcanic activitv. The principal harbour is Nusa, on the north coast of which Kaewieng, the seat of the local administration, is situated. The interior of the island is not very well known. The native population is about 28,000. The soil is fertile and the climate similar to that of New Britain. The chief industry