“ The large islands are mountainous and volcanic, the smaller mostly of coral formation. The climate is hot, moist, and unhealthful. The vegetation resembles that of New Guinea, and includes the mangrove, cocoanut, sago-palm, and breadfruit tree. The inhabitants (about 7000) are mostly Melanesians, though in some of the islands Polynesians predominate. They are still uncivilized and hostile to Europeans. ”