PREFACE. 984f 7981 cop. 2 Some years ago, it was the author's privilege to become interested, in a small way, in trade with the South Sea. Although not of great personal profit or benefit at the time, so many and varied were the commercial interests presented, that a journal was kept, of the ups and downs of trade and adventures among the Pacific Islands. These notes by the wayside, are merged in the following pages. From the movements taking place among the great maritime powers of the world, England, Germany, France and America, in regard to the islands of the Pacific Ocean, with all of which the intelligent reader is familiar, the author is strengthened in the hope that a work relating to a region of such vast prospective benefits to the United States, and the world at large, may be read with some degree of interest as well as profit. The immense field encompassed within the boundaries of Oceanica, together with many island groups 3 83170 lying beyond its limits, would make it, almost impossible to visit and survey in the lifetime of any one person. From this fact, I am sure the writer will be dealt lightly with, for the necessary frequent reference made to the valuable writings, notes and personal experiences of others. In the endeavor to brush away the cobwebs of time, or brighten up or throw light on the dark shadows cast over many portions of Oceanica by the veil of romance and tradition, I may perhaps be engaged in a herculean task. The truth, however, I am sure will prove "stranger than fiction," and a good deal more profitable. In this respect some pains have been taken to make the following work in regard to history, discovery, ethnology, biography, chronology, geography, area, population and products, standard and reliable. N CONTENTS. Galapagos Group.-Marquesas Group.-Island of Juan Fer- andez.-The Home of Crusoe.-Pitcairn Island-The Austral Isles.-Gambier Group.-Society Islands.-Tahiti. -Tonga or Friendly Islands.-Hervey or Cook's Marshall Islands. -Gilbert Islands.-The Marshall Is- landers as Mariners.-Languages of Micronesia.-Flora and Fauna of the Marshall and Gilbert Groups.-Mic- ronesia. Religious Beliefs.-Phoenix, Ellis, Union and Kermadec Groups. -Navigator (Samoa) Islands.- Physical Features of Samoa.-Climate.-Products.— Inhabitants.-Religion. - Meteorological.- Banks Is- lands.-Santa Cruz Islands.-Solomon Islands................... Caroline Islands.-The Great Atoll of Hogoleu.—Inhabit- Coral Reefs.-Analogy of Coral Growth to Vegetation. Java.-General Features.-Michelet on Java.-Topography. -Climate.-Little Java.-Coffee.-The Island of Bor- neo.-Topography. The Rivers of Borneo.—Vege- Sumatra. Topography.-Animal Life.-Flora.-Climate. Inhabitants.-Singapore.-Island of Celebes.-The Sangir Group.-Mollucca Islands.-History.-The Nut- New Guinea.-Admiralty Islands.-New Ireland.-New Britain. Louisade Archipelago.-Phillippine Islands. Topographical Features.-Minerals.- Animals.-The Islands of the Chinese Empire.-Hainan.-Formosa.-Is- lands of Japan.-History.-The Japanese as Early Navi- gators. Topography.- Earthquakes. -Mineral and Floral Kingdoms of Japan.-The Inhabitants.-The Tea Plant. The Camphor Tree.-Government and Relig- PAGE. |