422
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.
