RRIJPTION. MANNA LOA, HAWAIL
OCEANIA.
Area, 4,200,000 square miles, or one-twelfth part of the land surface of the globe ; population, about 38,000,000.
Oceania is the name usually given to a fifth great smaller islands. The Spaniards possess the greater part
division of the globe. It includes the vast number of of the Philippines. The British have possessed the small
islands lying to the south-east of Asia, and those in the island of Labuan, Of the coast of Borneo, since „1846.
Pacific Ocean. They are generally small, though col- The Dutch possessions were captured by the British in
y are generally small, ughı co "—— ;
. : the beginning of this century. but were restored at the
lectively they comprise an area somewhat larger than the peace of 1814,
whole of Europe. These islands are divided into Müulny- Sumatra is a long narrow island, upwards of 1,000
zu, or the East Indian Archivelaxo, Avstralasin, and miles in length, Iying to the south-west and south of the
Polynesia. Malay Peninsula, from which it is separated by the Strait
of Malacca, The island is about the size of Quebec, and is
directly under the equator. It is traversed by chains of
‚ofty mountains, one of their summits rising over 12,000
feet in height. Most of the surface is covered with dense
forests, affording 2 retreat to numerous wild animals.
Between the mountain ranges are large and fertile plains,
oroducing coffee, pepper, rice, and camphor, which are
largely exported. The Dutch possess all that part of the
island lying south of the equator ; the remainder i8 0c0u-
pied by native States. The principal Dutch towns are
Palembang, Padang, and the seaport of Bencoolen, The
islands of Banca and Billiton, off the east coast, belong
to the Dutch, and contain valuable tin mines.
Java lies to the south-east of Sumatra, from which it
is separated by the Strait of Sunda. It is about one and
one-fourth times the size of Newfoundland, and is the
most populous and fertile of the Malaysian Islands. It
is traversed hy a lofty chain of volcanic mountains, and
has numerous fine harbors and bays. Large quantities
of coffee, rice, sugar, and cinnamon are exported; and
5» 4lıe interior are extensive forests of teak. The popu-
MALATYSIA,
Malaysia, or the East Indian Archipelago, comprises
the numerous islands lying to the south-east of Asiu,
The principal are: Sumatra, Jara, Borneo, Celebes, the
Philippine Islanıls, the Molureas, or Snica Talands. Flores,
Timor, ete.
These islands are volcanic in their formation, and are
all within the torrid zone. They are within the range of
the monsoons; and, owing to the sea breezes, the climate
is not so hot as on the adjacent continent. The soil is
rich and fertile, and large quantities of spices, sugar,
soffee, and other tropical productions are exported.
They are peopled chiefly by Malays—an active, but
ferce and treacherous race, much addicted to piracy.
The natives of some of the islands are negritos, & Bavage
and very degraded race. 'The whole population is esti-
mated at 33,000,000. Most of the islands belong to Kuro-
pean nations. The Dutch possess Java, with portions of
Aumatra, Borneo. and Celabes. besides a number of the
