chiefly for pressing the coco-nut kernels. The island contains extensive forests, in which, besides the more ordinary descriptions of timber, the growth of those latitudes, there is a great variety and profusion of beautiful woods, well adapted for the use of the cabinet-maker.

Among the animals of Ceylon, most of those found on the opposite continent are native to the island. Elephants are numerous, and sometimes do great injury to the growing crops. Under the kings of Candy these animals were trained to perform the office of public executioners.

The trade of the United Kingdom with Ceylon is not distinguished in the Custom-house accounts from that to the continent of India. A trade is carried on with Bengal, to which presidency it exports betelnuts, chank shells, cordage, cocoa-nuts, and various minor articles; while it imports from that quarter cotton piece goods, sugar, rice, wheat, and gunny bags.

Mauritius, commonly known as The Mauritius, is an island in the Indian Ocean, about 120 miles north-east from the island of Bourbon, and four times that distance east of Madagascar. Its greatest length from north to south is forty miles, and its greatest breadth is thirty-two miles; its area is about 700 square miles. This island was discovered early in the sixteenth century by a Portuguese navigator; and in 1598 a Dutch admiral made a landing upon it, and gave it the name of Mauritius, in compliment to the then Prince of Orange. Its earliest inhabitants were pirates; but no serious attempt for its colonization was made until 1720, when it was occupied by some settlers from the French island of Bourbon. Its name was then changed for that of Isle of France, and the property in it was given by the King of France to the French East India Company. The island was fortunate in being early intrusted to the government of a very intelligent man, M. de la Bourdonnais, under whom it made great progress in cultivation.

Mauritius was taken by an English force in 1810: its possession was ratified to us at the peace of 1814, and it has since remained under the dominion of the crown of England.

The population in 1849 consisted of—

In 1838 the people of African blood, who were then not wholly emancipated, were distinguished; they consisted of 53,230 persons (34,994 males and 18,236 females).

Properly this island should be classed with British Possessions in Africa; it is mere convenient, however, to place it in connexion with our Asiatic possessions.

The chief exportable produce of the island is sugar, the cultivation of which has been so profitable that the inhabitants are content to import nearly all their provisions in order to devote themselves more exclusively to sugar planting. This state of things is owing to the boon granted to the island in 1825, by admitting its produce to consumption in England at the same favourable rate of duty as was charged upon West India sugar. The following statement, showing the exports of sugar from Mauritius, in each year from 1820 to 1849, will show the effect of this measure in stimulating production :—

The quantity of Mauritius sugar imported into the United Kingdom alone, in each year from 1838 to 1849, was as follows:

The number of acres planted with sugar cane, which in 1825 was 27,639, was increased in 1836 to 57,127, and in 1844 amounted to 73,863 acres.

The value of British produce and manufactures exported to Mauritius, in each year from 1827 to 1849, was

A considerable trade is carried on between this island and the British possessions in India, whence the imports are chiefly of grain, rice, and live stock. France still retains a great part of her trading connexion with Mauritius, one-eighth part in value of the total imports into the colony being from that country. The principal articles thus imported are wine, spirits, silk manufactures, apparel, and books. The payments both to France and India are almost wholly made in bills of exchange on England.

The shipping that entered and cleared from Port Louis, the only harbour of any importance in the island, and which embraces all its external trade, in each of the years from 1837 to 1839, and in 1844 and 1849, was as follows:

CHAPTER IV.

SETTLEMENTS IN AUSTRALASIA.

General Description-Times of Settlement. NEW SOUTH WALES: Population-Disparity of Sexes-Immigrants-Sales of Waste Lands-"Bounty Emigrants"-Agricultural Emigrants - Convicts - Revenues - Productions - Wool-Whale Fishery - TradeShipping. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND: Population - Disparity of Sexes ProductionsWhale Fishery - Export of Wool - Manufactures, &c.-Trade-Shipping. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Population-Shipping-Stock. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Population - Sales of Public Lands. NEW ZEALAND: Population-Trade Shipping.

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THE settlements under the dominion of England in Australasia are, in the strictest acceptation of the term, colonies. They are formed on the islands of New Holland, Van Diemen's Land, and Norfolk Island. The first-named of these islands extends between 10 and 39 S. lat. and 115 and 153° E. long. It extreme length from east to west is (in round numbers) 2400 miles, and its extreme breadth from north to south is 1700 miles. The mean breadth is computed at 1400 miles, which would give for the area of the island 3,360,000 square miles; being more than twenty-eight times the area of Great Britain and Ireland.

The British flag was first raised on this island in January, 1788; and the rapidity with which the colony of New South Wales has advanced may be inferred from the fact, that in less than half a century from that date land was sold in the town of Sydney, the capital, at the rate of 20,000l. per acre. This settlement is on the east coast of the island. It extends coastwise about 500 miles, between 28 and 36' S. lat.; its boundary inland is undefined.

The settlement of Western Australia, or Swan River, was begun in August, 1829, and in the following January thirty-nine locations had been effected. The number of resident inhabitants was then 850, and non-residents 440. This settlement includes all of the island of New Holland which lies west of 129 of E. long. It is therefore in length from north to south about 1300 miles, and in mean breadth from east to west about 800 miles.

Another settlement on this great island, called, from its position, South Australia, was formed under the provisions of an Act of Parliament in 1836. The limits of this province extend from the 132nd to

the 141st degree of east longitude, and from the south coast, including the adjacent islands, northwards to the tropic of Capricorn. Its area is therefore nearly 200,000,000 acres.

Van Diemen's Land, or Tasmania, is divided from the south-east coast of New Holland by Bass's Strait. It lies between 40' 40' and 43 40' S. lat., and between 144° 40′ and 148' 20' E. long. Its greatest length from north-west to south-east is 210 miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west is 190 miles; its mean breadth is about 120 miles, and its area about 25,000 square miles.

Norfolk Island, lying off the east coast of New Holland at the distance of about 700 miles, was first colonised in 1791 by the then governor of New South Wales, his object being to grow supplies for the markets of Sydney, the soil being very fertile. It is now used solely as a receptacle or prison for the worst description of male convicts, who are sent thither from New South Wales to work out the remainder of their lives in chains.

An account of the population of the colony of New South Wales was taken in 1828, and declared to consist of

and the excess in the number of births beyond deaths, according to registers then not very carefully kept, was in the same five years 1254. In 1833 another census was taken, and the numbers found were:—

A census was taken in March, 1841, and exhibited the following