Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/474

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THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — NEW GUINEA

is coconut growing. There are numerous plantations around the coast near Kaewieng. Total population of the island, 200 Europeans, chiefly German.

The Admiralty Islands are the most important of the small groups. The chief island is Taui or Manns, sometimes called Great Admiralty Island. The chief town is Lorengau (European population, 50) on the north-east coast. The native population of the jjroup is 4,000. Coconuts are the chief article of culture, and there are valuable pearl and other shell fisheries.

3. Solomon Islands. — Germany owned part of this group, including the islands of Bougainville (area 3,500 square miles, native population 15,000) and Buka (area 300 square miles, native population 2,000), but Choiseul, Isabel or Mahaga, and various smaller islands to the east of Bougainville were transferred to Great Britain November 14, 1899. These islands are very mountainous. Of the several volcanic cones, Bagano is the only active volcano. -The highest mountain is the dormant volcano, Mount Balbi, 10, 170 ft. high, which is situated in the centre of the island. Both peaks are in the Crown Prince range. The principal harbour is Kieta, situated on the east coast of Bongainvillp, where there is a Government station. Other good harbours are : Rawa and Tinputz on the north-east coast of Bougainville. There is a good harbour on the west side of Buka, named Carola Hafen. Missionary work amongst the natives is carried on by the Marist Brothers of the Roman Catholic Mission. As the plantations are only new there is com- paratively little export trade. The natives grow bananas, coconuts, taro, and sweet potatoes. They are skilful fishermen. The European population is 60, chiefly males.

The following figures relate to the late German New Guinea possessions : —

1917-18

1918-19

1919-20

&

a

Import Duty ....

41,507

35,101

58,608

Export Duty ....

24,085

18,597

38,247

Chief Imports :—

Groceries ....

83,771

67,410

190,441

Hardware and machinery

94,949

48,949

64,912,

Drapery and boots.

52,264

74, MIG

7|>,9S5

Tobacco .....

16,868

16,168

36,100

Wine, spirits and beer.

16,079

16,081

31,744

Oils and kerosene.

10.199

14,083

21,884

Total Imports

258,040

'.'7 1,801

006,767

Gliiuf Exports :--

Corra

309,637

214,814

745,057

Shell

It, 494

14,065

61,843

Birds of Paradise.

—

100

34,183

Coco*

11,159

8,404

15,530

Total Exports

404,504

269,000

849,422

The quantities of copra exported in 1919-20 were 22,707 tons; shell, 649 tons ; cocoa, 189£ tons.

Books of Reference.

Heme- WarUgg (E. von), Samoa, Bitmarokarchipel und Neu Guinea. Leipzig, 1902.

Krieger (M.), and Others, Neu-Guinea. Berlin, 1899.

Naoliiiclilnii liborKaimi Wilholm's Land uudden Bismarck-Archipel. Herausgegi'beti von der Neu-Gulnea Etouipaupie. Berlin.

Park<nton (R.), Drcissig Jalirc in drr Sttdsee. Land und Leute, Bitten und Qtbriiiu he anf deiii Bismarck Arclnpel. Stuttgart, 1909.

Schnrt (H.), Bilder ana der Sudsee (Bismarck Archipelago). Berlin, 1904.