Comprise two groups of islands, viz. the Isles of Sunda and the
Philippine Islands.
BORNEO is the largest of these islands. It has an unhealthy climate,
and a fertile soil. The Ourang Outang, the largest of the monkey
species, is common in this island.
SUMATRA is a mountainous and wild country. Its forests abound with the
elephant, rhinoceros, bear, and wild boar. Bencoolen, the only European
settlement, belongs to England.
JAVA has many volcanic mountains, an unhealthy climate, and fertile
soil. Batavia is the chief town, and was founded by the Dutch.
CELEBES and GILOLO, together with many of the neighboring smaller
isles, are called the Moluccas or Spice islands. All these islands,
from their broken and rocky appearance, seem to have been formed by
volcanic agency. Earthquakes are frequent. These islands belong to the
Dutch.
The PHILIPPINE ISLANDS are very numerous, and abound in marshes, and
are frequently visited by earthquakes. Luzon is the largest of them,
and Manilla is the principal town.
The East India Islands produce in abundance rice, cotton, pepper,
camphor, coffee, sugar, nutmegs, cloves, sago, sandal wood, and
diamonds.