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

TILE PROPOSED .NEW CONTICT SET..
TLEiIIENT FOR INDIA.

(mom THE OVERLAND xxGISTER.)
Tor some time past the attention of- her Majesty's
Government has-been occupied in " looking out" for
a new penal settlement, and New Caledonia, in the
Southern Archipelago, as a fit and proper place, has
attracted attention,
A finer country than that she has fixed her thoughts
upon for a new convict settlement can hardly be
itnegined. We have gained some information re-
specting it from a party vhb has visited it several
times, traded with the natives, and travelled over a
large portion of it.
Ttre 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 breadtb, 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 150 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 en 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, as, when the latter is ap-
proached, there are many spits ofcoral which would 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
harbourr, 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 it requires 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 time, and forms a good anchorage.
The whole coast of New Caledonia, 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. Tbat it has 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 ship
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 har-
bour. For many miles roiled the south end, and on
the coast W.N.W., fifty miles from Port Saint Vin-
cent, there is not a native establishment to be seen.
The natives are more numerous at the N.W. end of
the island, and there is a conderable Lumber re-
siding on the adjacent islands inside the
rf efs 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 island where the population is most nu-
merous, end have not travelled much into the interior.
There are now residing at Balade harbour eleven
French missionaries.

The traveller finds great inconvenience from the
many different dialects spoken by the inhabitants, dife
tering considerably at places not more than twenty
miles distant from each other, yet the chiefs visit each
other from greater distances, and seem to converse
familiarly. The language does not seem to partake of
the Malayan, nor of the New Hollanders, nor of the
New Zealanders, and seems 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
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 quantity of soil
washed down from the high lands all along the coast,
commanderand i t isth
is endang
particularlyerou sto
wellm acquainted with theov e a ships unless the
various channels. In February and March hurri-
canes may be looked for, hut they seldom rage with
the the fury Mn
which they do at the
so which
uent as they
the same parallel. Nor are they frequent
are at that island, as several years
may pass over
without one being known. They commence from the
same point of the compass as those at the Mauritius,
end there is about the same • terval of calm, but
they soon resolve themselvesin'
into moderate gales.
At least, such has been the character of those expe-
rienced the past six
Sears ; 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 is most bountiful in
the crops,e they
do not think of storing food to supply
themselves during the winter
months. When the
harvest is gathered in
each neighbouring friendly
tribe invites the other
to feast with it, and in one
round of feasting the whole is consumed, their only
care being to reserve seed enough for the ensuing
season. 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
exterminating wars, which is the principal cause
of the falling off of the population. In these
wars many lives are lost, and 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
all 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 som6what 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 yams, tars,
•
sugar-cane, cocoa.nslts, and plantains; Various kinds
of fish are found in abundance around the coast, espe-
cially on the S.W. side, where, in the shoal water, large
and fine mullet abound—so much see that
the oftenat
night, when a boat is going rapidly throug
water,
great numbers will jump in. There are d found also
amongst
in the fresh water various kinds of figb an ,
them perch and carp. frequented
k lagoons are
by largo quantitica of curlew d
v
toanthe Ild d ue"f
four-footed acinials incilienous,island, there is
only one—a Iry small ra. Not one Venomous --- rep.
nu. The sugar-cane grows
tile is to be f" ' use it .very
for
luxuriaully ; the natives hood, eating it in
s green state•
on the 'Wand • No doubt, mostly ail tropicalw
plants
would flourish $ and not only so, but
from experiments wh.ie h have been made, wheat, In-
dian corn, turnip=, and such like vegetables, are found
to thrive. Cotton has also been tried, and is found to
grow luxuriantly, though .I.:.rit itt ' w
tne staple. .. e
have a sample 01 it in our kalee.
We have been indebted f
~ or the above information
to Captain Edward ev
of Hobart Town °°°llll of the barque Eleanor,
Majesty's
ship wh01,,, further informs us that her
iavannah, under the command of
Captain. Eli.,;:c,e, explored a considerable part of the
country when lately in these seas, and by him a mi-
nute accountofthis- magnificent island •
will have been
doubtlon banded to her Majesty's Government.