. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. are like other maritime Papuans, head-hunting beingvery prevalent. Polygamy is frequent. The chiefs have more powerthan in many other islands. 9o8 THE INHABITANTS OF OCEANIA. The New Hebrides Islands, New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands,south-east of the last-mentioned groups, and north-east of Australia,Ne-w ^-i© largely or wholly under French influence, though there areH
. The world's inhabitants; or, Mankind, animals, and plants; being a popular account of the races and nations of mankind, past and present, and the animals and plants inhabiting the great continents and principal islands. are like other maritime Papuans, head-hunting beingvery prevalent. Polygamy is frequent. The chiefs have more powerthan in many other islands. 9o8 THE INHABITANTS OF OCEANIA. The New Hebrides Islands, New Caledonia, and the Loyalty Islands,south-east of the last-mentioned groups, and north-east of Australia,Ne-w ^-i© largely or wholly under French influence, though there areHetorides. many English interests in the New Hebrides, and the en-croachments of the French have occasioned much jealousy. Most of theinhabitants are of distinct Melanesian race, closely allied to the Papuan,and described as uniting the features of the Tasmanian or Australianwith the frizzly hair of New Guinea. Many are of a very low type,with few comforts, the houses being mere shelters. The natives havemuch reason to complain of their treatment both by French and Englishlabour agents. Cannibalism still prevails largely; and bows, clubs, andspears, and in recent years guns, are skilfully used. In a number of GILBERT ISLANDER. NEW CALEDONIAN. islands, especially Anaiteum, Christianity has greatly improved the people,who are becoming educated, but are decreasing fast. Some of the islandsare inhabited by pure Polynesians. The distinct languages in use inNew this large group of islands are very numerous. The New Cale-Caiedoma. ^onians have much better houses than the rest, circular inshape, with high conical roofs. They are prosperous agriculturists, andexcellent irrigators. They are however cruel, and kill each other in inter-necine wars, being still cannibals. The French have held the islandsince 1853, and send many convicts there. The Fiji or Viti islanders, British subjects since 1874, are of greatinterest owing to their almost entire conversion to Christianity, and to t
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