The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-22 00:00:00

TIDE PROPOSED NEW CONVICT SET'
i TLEMENT FOR INDIA.

(FROM THE OVERLAND REGISTER.)
For some time past the attention of her Majesty's
Government has been occupied in " looking out" for
a new renal settlement, and New Caledonia, in the
Sauthern Archipelago, as a fit and proper place, has
attracted attention,
A finer count than that she has fixed her thoughts
upon for a new cenvict settlement can hardly be
imagined. We have gained some information re-
specting it from a party who has visited it several
times, traded with the natives, and travelled over a
large portion of it.
The southern extremity of New Caledonia is in
latitude 22 deg. 30 min. S., longitude 166 deg. 50
min. E. The land is low, and not visible from the
southern part of the great reef
that surrounds it ;
the southern extreme of the reef is in latitude 23 deg.
S., longitude 166 deg. 55 min. E. New Caledonia is
seldom more than 8 to 10 leagues in breadth, but the
chain of mountains which forms the exterior extends
N.W. and S.E. about 80 leagues. On the south-west
side a coral reef extends along the whole coast, forming
a steep wall to seaward, level with the water's edge,
having no soundings within two ships' length of it,
with 160 fathoms line. There are several passages
through the reef admitting ships of the largest size,
with good anchorage inside in from 18 to 10 and 8
fathoms. The bottom is sandy near the reef, but
towards the shore changes to a blueish stiff mud. In
clear weather, and the sun at an altitude of 20, a ship
may be (with a lookout on the topsail yard) navi-
gated up and down the coast inside the reef for
nearly 75 miles. Vessels should be kept nearer the
coast line than the reef', a:, when the latter is ap-
proached, there are many spits ofcoral which vro uld not
be seen were the sun obscured, until the ship was close
upon them. The coast-line is mostly clear, and
there are few dangers but what are visible. In-
side the reef there are a number of islands of'
considerable size, situated about from three to four
miles from the mainland, forming most excellent
harbours, with a depth of water from eleven to three
fathoms. In fact, one of these harbours, to
which there is a direct entrance through the reef,
is a natural wet dock which could contain a
number of large vessels, and a more excellent
depot for the accommodation of steamers could
not perhaps be found in the world. Distant about
twelve or fourteen miles in a south-east direction,
fresh water may be obtained in many of the islands,
and an abundance of firewood. On the mainland fresh
water may always be procured, and in many places
boats can enter the small fresh water rivers and fill
from alongside. The N.E. side does not furnish more
than three good harbours, and iLrequirea great cau-
tion in approaching them, as there is a chain of reefs
fronting the whole length of the coast, with many de-
tached, diverging from one to nine miles from the
shore, with no anchorage inside of them until about
150 miles to the N.W., where the reef is continuous
for some tithe, and forms a good anchorage.
The whole coast of New Caledonie, on both sides,
has at a distance a most uninviting appearance, ex-
cept about forty miles at the N.W. end, where the
land is thickly covered with vegetation to the water's
edge. On entering the rivers a fine alluvial country
is found, and on the N.E. side, more particularly, the
scenery is grand beyond description. Most of the land
has evidently been formed from the washing down of
soil from the high lands for ages. In some places
the land is formed into small islands, with a good
boat channel between them, forming most picturesque
views seen from a height. In the valleys there are
many groves of the courie pine, growing large enough
to make spars for vessels of 300 to 400 tons, and on
the island there are many other trees of large dimen-
sions, fit for shipbuilding and other purposes.
A stranger visiting this country would imagine it
was thickly populated, in consequence of the na-
tives (generally speaking, two or three friendly
tribes), assembling together whenever Europeans
make their appearance. That it bas been thickly
populated at some time there can be little doubt,
not only from the appearance of the neglected cul-
tivation, but from statements made by the elder
inhabitants. Captain Kent, :in her Majesty's abip
Buffalo, who discovered and named Port Saint Vin-
cent in 1803, mentioned that the natives were very
numerous there; at 'the present time there are not
twenty natives to be found all round that fine bar-
the coast W.N.W.,
bour. For many miles round the south end, and on
fifty miles from Port Saint Vin-
cent, there is nut a native establishment to be seen.
The natives are more numerous at the N.W. end of
the island, and there is a conderable number re-
siding on the adjacent islands
.inside the
reefs on the S.W. side, generally employed fishing,
who are all subject to the chiefs on the mainland. The
whole population of New Caledonia would probably
not be under-rated at 25,000, although the French
Roman Catholic missionaries have stated the popula-
tion to be 60,000, but these gentlemen reside in that
part of the Weed w here the popuiation is most nu-

merous, and have not travelled much into the interior.
There are now residing at Balade harbour eleven

F;ench missionaries.

The traveller finds great inconvenience from the
many different dialects spoken by the inhabitants, dif•

fering considerably at places not more than twenty
miles distant from each other, yet the chiefs visit each

other from greater distance6sod seem to converse

familiarly. The language does not seem to partake of
the Alblayan, nor of the New Hollander% nor of the
New Zealanders, and re ems to be distinct from that of

any of the contiguous islands.
The climate is very salubrious, by reason of the
cool S.E. winds blowing from April to October.
There are frequent gales of winds from November to
March, accompanied with heavy rains from the N.E.,
the wind veering round to N.W. and S.W. When it
a
gets to the southward of S.W. the weather becomes
fine and serene, and the wind settles to the south-
ward and eastward, with moderate weather, until the
change of the moon, when an alteration takes place,
and the same expositions of winds are observed, in
the latter part of November, and nearly all De-
cember, there is much lightning and heavy thunder,
with vast quantities of rain, but these storms seldom
last beyond thirty-six hours. At these periods,
the water inside the reef on the S.W. side is
deeply coloured from the great
acquainted withity of
the
soile
commander
washed down from the high lands all along the coast,
'unless th
e
a nd i
varioust
mi
is p
saythbe
channels.en lookeda rti
le dangerousunfloarr Februaryy and Marchp
hurri-
caneswtthey seldomi rage with
tob u
move
e ash
ll c
the fury which they do at the Mauritius,
the same parallel. Nor are they UB, which is in
are at that island, as several so 2 frequent as they
without one being known. Ti,3"" may pass over
eY commence from the
same point of the compass as thos:i at the Mauritius,
and there is about the same interval of calm, but
they soon resolve themselves into moderate gales.
At least, such has been the character of those expe-
ri.nced the past six
years
; during which time only
three have occurred
Many of the natives live to a ripe old age, which can
only be attributed to the salubrious nature of the cli-
mate, as they endure many privations from their im-
providence; for although nature ature is most bountiful in
the crops, they do nut
ti; thick of storing food to supply
themselves during winhter
.mhonbths.. Whenfi friendly
harvest is gathered in,e
tribe invites the other teoa.feansetigwithouirtingendriennonye
round of feasting the whole is consumed., their only
care being to reserve seed enough for the ensuing
reason. During the rest of the year the natives live
upon the bark of trees, wild roots, and fish. The
several tribes are almost constantly engaged in
' exterminaing wars, which is the principal cause
of the falling off of the population. In these
wars many lives are lost, end the conquering
parties do not. hesitate to make use of their
slain foes for food. So many men being killed in
these fights, the result is that the females greatly pre-
ponderate in number. These are made to perform
:ill the heavy work in cultivating the soil, cooking,
&c , and for the slightest offence are often put to
death. The men are generally tall, powerfully made,
and athletic; and when used in a kind manner by
European visitants, are harmless and inoffensive.
They are not subject to many diseases, and those
they do suffer from are generally of a cutaneous
nature; elephantiasis is somewhat common among
them. Like all other people in a savage state, they
have a belief in spirits, and use propitiary sacrifices
at harvest, death, and other times.

Beside the wood formerly noticed, the indigenous
productions of the island consist only of yam,, tars,
sugar-cane, cocoa-nuts, and plantains., Various kinds
of fish are found iu abundance around the coast, aspe.
cially on the S.W. side, where, in the shoal water, large
duck. Of
and fine mullet abound—so, much so, that often at
night, when a boat is going rapidly through the water,
great numbers will jump in. There are found also
in the fresh water various kinds of fish, and amongst
them perch and carp. The lagoons are frequented
very small rat. Not one island, there '
four
-footed
31' curlew
indigenous
taon
the
wilde
only one—a venemouis
tile is to be found. The sugar-cane grays very
rep.luxuriantly ; the natives use it for food, eating WS
very
its green state. No doubt, mostly oi t eating it in
would flourish on the Mind, and tropical plants
from experiments which have been made,
only so, but
dian corn, turnips, and
such like en made, wheat, In-
to thrive. Cotton has also been vegetables, are found
grow luxuriantly, though , tried, and is found to
have a sample of it in
our
office.short in the staple. We
We have been indebted
to Captain Edward w for the above information
of Hobart Towo, wdin, of the barque Eleanor,
Majesty's ship whol further informs us that her
Clptain Erkhine avennah, under -the command of
country when lately
a considerable part of the
account ofaely in these seas, and by him a mi.
doubtless this
magnificent island will have bees
banded to her Majesty's Government.