The aboriginal Indians were estimated at 7000 in 1851; but the Superintendent of Rivers and Creeks gives 20,000 to 21,000 as more likely to be the right number.

(2.) Industries.-The chief industries are-(a.) Agriculture, mostly carried on by Coolie labour; (b.) Cutting and squaring timber.

(3.) Commerce.

(a.) The imports are butter, flour, dried fish, lumber, machinery, beer, oils, opium, pork, rice, and brandy, to a total annual value of nearly £2,000,000, i.e., nearly double the imports of 1858.

(b.) The exports are

Sugar,

£1,811,056.

Rum,

Molasses,

Rice, nearly

£313,684.

£121,985.

5,000,000 lb.

The total annual value was in 1870 £2,383,422 to the U. K. alone; also very nearly double the export of 1858.

(1.) Divisions.-The_colony originally consisted of three provinces-Demerara, Essequibo, and Berbice. These were united in 1831; since which it has had 19 Governors.

It is now divided into five electoral divisions, each of which has its kiezer or kiezers chosen for life, and one or more financial representatives chosen for two years, but eligible for re-election.

(2.) The Government is administered by a Governor, appointed by the Crown. There is no House of Assembly or Legislative Council, but the duties of these are performed by a Court of Policy dating back to 1773, and a Combined Court. The former passes all laws and ordinances; the latter regulates taxation and finance. The Roman Dutch law is in force, modified by Orders in Council. The criminal law is the same as the English, but there is no grand jury.

(3.) Towns.-GEORGETOWN, capital (originally Demerara), on the coast between Williamstown and Victoria, British

Guiana was constituted a Bishop's See in 1842, when it was separated from Barbadoes.

New Amsterdam, at the mouth of the Berbice, opposite Fort York.

6. History.

1580. This country first settled by Dutch under the Dutch West India Company. In the various wars between England, Holland, and France, it frequently changed hands. Towards the close of the 18th century, the inhabitants desired to place themselves under British rule. This was effected in 1796 when they ceded to an expedition under Major-General Whyte.

1802. Given up to Holland, "The Batavian Republic," at the Peace of Amiens.

1803. Retaken by England.

1814. Finally ceded to England.

1831. The three provinces united into one government.

II. FALKLAND ISLANDS.

(Map 16.)

1. These islands, consisting of East and West Falkland, separated by Falkland Sound, are situated in the S. Atlantic, between 51° and 539 S. ; and 57° and 62° E.

2. The coast-line is very much indented by long fiord inlets, one of which, Choiseul Sound, nearly divides East Falkland in halves. The surface is very pleasantly diversified, rather by isolated mountains than by hill ranges. The highest mountain is in West Falkland-Mount Adam--2315 ft.

3. The climate is healthy, with an equator temperature. The winter range is 30° to 50°, and the summer 40° to 65°. The dryness of the atmosphere is remarkable, and the evaporation consequently rapid. The heat of summer is greatly modified by land and sea breezes. High winds usually prevail at this season. The wind rises in the morning blows nearly a hurricane at noon, and falls away at night. In winter there is little or no wind, or the islands would be uninhabitable. 4. Productions.

(1.) Vegetable.-Potatoes, turnips, and cabbage thrive. Strawberries, currants, and gooseberries do well. There is a great variety of sweet-scented flowers. The tussac grass

in the small islets grows to the height of seven feet, and forms fattening food for cattle. Anti-scorbutics are plentiful, such as celery, sorrel, scurvy-grass, &c. Cranberries are numerous, as is also a sort of tea-plant, used by the sealers and Gauchos.

(2.) Animal.-Rabbits abound; various birds-snipe, geese, swans, wild duck and teal-are very plentiful in the numerous inlets. Wild cattle, horses, and pigs are found. Sheep have been introduced and are doing well. The wool is of excellent quality, and realises a high price in the London market. The islands are better suited for sheep than for cattle.

4. The exports consist of provisions, hides, horns, hoofs, bones, tallow, and wool. Total value-exports, £24,692 ; imports, £23,715.

Oil is obtained for export by killing and boiling down penguins. It is hoped that oil may be obtained from a fish of the mullet kind. Native guano is abundant, and though of second-rate quality, may in time pay for export. It is conjectured that the peat of the islands might be compressed and sold as fuel to steamers, &c.

5. The population is 811; capital, STANLEY.

6. The Government is administered by a Governor, Executive Council, and Legislative Council, all appointed by the Crown.

The first Governor was appointed in 1842, since which there have been five others.

Revenue, £4000; expenditure, £6000.

7. HISTORY.-1592. Discovered by the Elizabethan navigator, Davis.

1594. Visited by Hawkins.

1763. Taken possession of by France.

1820. Republic of Buenos Ayres established a settlement, which was destroyed in 1831.

1833. British Government took possession of them as a Whale Fishing Station, and since then they have continued under the Government of the British Crown.

1869. The islands constituted a Bishop's See of the English Colonial Church.

I. AUSTRALIA.

(Maps 7 and 8.)

I. INTRODUCTORY.

1. Position. Australia (smallest continent, or largest island in the world), is situated in the southern hemisphere. The parallel of 10° S. goes through Torres Strait, and that of 40° S. through Bass Strait. The meridian of 114° E. long. goes through N. W. Cape and Shark Bay, and that of 1540 passes a short distance E. of the east coast. The exact position is between 10° 43' S. (Cape York), and 39° 11′ S. (Cape Wilson), and between 153° 37′ and 112° 55′ E. long.

2. Boundaries.-On the N. and W., the Indian Ocean; on the S. and E., the South Pacific.

3. Coast-line. For so large an area, the coast has few indentations. Its length is about 8000 miles. In some places it is quite iron-bound, and in nearly all cases is surrounded by a barrier reef, which renders the coast navigation dangerous.

(a.) CAPES.-The chief capes are Capes York, at the N. extremity of Cape York Peninsula; Sandy (on island of same name); Howe (between N.S.W. and Victoria); Wilson Promontory (the most southern point); Spencer, on York Peninsula; Leeuwin (S.W. of W. Australia); North West ; Londonderry; Van Diemen on Melville Island; and Arnhem, W. of Gulf of Carpentaria.

(b.) BAYS, &c. (following the same order as the capes). There are many small bays on the Queensland coast, of which Rockingham, Halifax, Cleveland (with port Townsville), Keppel, Hervey, and Moreton may be mentioned.

In New South Wales the small inlets are usually called ports, e.g., Macquarie, Stephens, Hunter, Jackson, &c. The bays are Clarence, Botany, &c.

In Victoria are Western Port and PORT PHILIP.

In South Australia, ENCOUNTER BAY, GULF S. VINCENT, and SPENCER GULF, between York and Eyria Peninsulas. The great northern bend of the coast for the west is called the Great Australian Bight.*

Along the western part of the Bight the shore is described as consisting of stratified cliffs, about 500 ft. high. In the centre it is a low sandy shore, bordered with the never-ending scrub. Further E. cliffs occur again from 400 to 600 ft. high.

In West Australia are King George Sound, Shark Bay, &c.; and along the N. coast, Cambridge Gulf, Van Diemen Gulf, and GULF OF CARPENTARIA, named after the navigator, Peter Carpenter.

(c.) ISLANDS.-There are thousands of islands and reefs, coral and other, off the coast, in all directions. Sandy, Kangaroo, Melville, and Great Indian (in G. of Carpentaria) may be mentioned.

The names of the groups in the W. and S. are mostly Dutch or 17th century, as Buccaneer, Dampier, Dirk Hartog, Hout. mans, Recherche, Nuyts, &c. In the E. they are Englishas Cumberland, &c.

(d.) COAST NAMES.-The northern and western coasts are