of
the life forms on the slopes facing Australia are Australian, while on
the northerly and westerly slopes they are Asian. One cannot be certain,
however, that these islands were ever a part of the Australian
continent, or that they were ever joined to Asia. On the contrary it is
more probable that the life in question was carried by winds and
currents of the sea.

The life forms of the coral atolls are very few in number. So far as
vegetation is concerned, the cocoa-palm and breadfruit are about the
only kinds of plant life of importance. A few species of fish and
migratory birds are the only animals that may be used as food.

The names given to the various divisions of Oceania are more or less
fanciful. Australasia means Southern Asia; Malaysia, Malayan Asia;
Melanesia, the islands of the blacks; Micronesia, small islands; and
Polynesia, many islands.

During the latter half of the nineteenth century practically all of
Oceania has been divided among European powers. Australia, Tasmania, and
New Zealand are peopled by colonists from England; but they possess the
character of a great nation rather than that of colonies. A few of the
larger islands have become producers of sugar, cotton, and fruit. The
long distance from the markets for their products is offset by the low
cost of native labor. The coral islands are almost valueless for
commercial products; but a few of them are used as coaling stations,
telegraphic cable stations, or as positions of naval advantage.

CHAPTER XXIII

AUSTRALIA

Early in the sixteenth century the island of Australia became known to
the Portuguese; later the Dutch, who had valuable possessions in the
East Indies, sent exploring expeditions to spy out the new land, and
named it New Holland. But not until after Captain Cook, of the English
navy, had explored the eastern part did any one think the country to be
more than a barren waste sparsely inhabited by savages. Indeed, various
European nations who were even then seeking lands for colonization
thought it too worthless to claim.

In April, 1770, Captain Cook made his first landing on the east coast
and, finding at one place a profusion of beautiful flowers, named the
indentation Botany Bay. He spent a considerable time in exploring the
eastern coast and also the Great Barrier Reef. In going through one of
the passages across the Barrier Reef his vessel ran aground, and in
order to lighten it he was obliged to throw overboa