The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-05
The French Movement In the Pacific.

The Mac Caledonia Group ~ the Southern hrcht-
pelago-The Proposed nen French Conrtcf Settle
ment.
The New Caledonia group terminates the islands
Of the South Pacific on the west " is the last link
Of chain Of islands and groups which extends over
q space Of nearly five thousand miles. On some &C
counts it may be considered the most important of
the great island family to which it belongs, and by
its proximity to Australia is destined 1t no distant
day to become the centre and thar. OF vain able
trade and commerce between the Pacific islands and
the British colonies Of Australia and New Zealand
BY the natives OF the southeastern part of New
Caledonia from which the group takes its name, the
island is called Yuaula. There several other i'm.
portant islands belonging to the group the principal
of which are Gifa Mare Uca the isle Of Pines with
its satellites and others. New Caledonia and the
Isle Of Pines first discovered by Cook the l4,h
September, l774, after he had finished his survey of
the New Hebrides and was on his return TO New
Zealand. The island OF New Caledonia extends from
and from longitude l63 deg. 81 min. to l67 deg. IA
min. east. 1t lies nearly N. w. West and 8. +. l
East and about 260 miles long its average breadth is
about 80 miles. chain OF mountains which forms the
interior extends nearly throughout the whole island
rising to about 5000 feet il the centre the north
wooded, but elsewhere mostly arid and barren. 1t is
well watered by nuuerous streams having their
sources in the mountains, and possesses several fine
bays and harb0rs. The country bears great resem.
bance to Australia in the parallel OF latitude;
several OF its natural productions seem to be the
same, and the woods being without underwood as in
that country.
The principal rocks are granite, mica, stcalite,
green schorl, grarte, and ron-stone. Columns Of
basalt have been found, and there Is to sap
pose the existence OF rich veins of the precious
metals
The Isle of Pines lies off the south end of New
Caledonia. IL has its name from being covered with
trees of that species VIII CHI grow to the height OF
bundled feet To the east OF 1t are the isles Of Beau
pre- and Loyalty, forming group surrounded by
reef, with safe channel between them and the great
island.
On the southwest side Of New CaIedonia coral
reef extends along the whole coast, forming a steep
wall to seaward> level with the water. edge, having
no soundings wiAhin two ships length Of IL with
hundred and fifty fathoms line. There are several
passages through the reef, admitting ships Of the
largest size, with good anchorage inslde, in from
eighteen to ten and eight fathoms. The bottom is
sandy near the reef but towards the shore changes
to o blueish stiff mud. In clear weather, and the
sun at an altitude Of 20, ship may be with look
out on the topsail yard) DAvigaed up and down the
coast inside the reef for nearly Is miles Vessels
should be kept nearer the line than the reef as
when the latter is approached there are many spts
of coral which wonld not be seen we're the sun OBJ
scured, until the ship was close upon them. The
coast line is mostly clear, and there few dangers
but what are visible. Inside the reef there are
numb6DOf islands of considerable size situated about
from three to four miles from the man land forming
most excellent harbors, with depth Of water from
eleven to three fatboms. In fact Of these har-
bors to which there Is direct entrance through the
reef, is natural wet dock, shich would contain q
number Of large vessels, and q more excellent depot
I for the accomm cation of steamers could not, per-
hsps, be found 10 the world Distant about twelve or
fourteen miles in southeast direction, fresh water
may be obtained in many OF the islands, and
| an abundance Of firewoOd Ga the main land fresh
water may always be procured, and in many places
boats can enter the all fresh water rivers and I'LL
from alongside. The mort east side DIES not furnish
| Ak~rf kc-L a.
caution in approaching them, as there is chain of
reefs fronting the whole length Of the coast, with
many detached, diyerging from one TO nine miles
from the shore, with no anchorage inside of them
until about hundred and Fifty miles to the north
west where the reef IL continuous for some mites,
| and forms good anchorage.
The whole coast of New Caledonia, on both sides,
has at a distance most uninvitug appearance ex-
cept about forty miles At the W. end where the land
il thickly covexed with vegetation to the waters
edge. On entering the rivers fine alluvial couutry
is found, a,d on the N e side particularly TIE
| scenery is grand teyond desert ptiou kost Of the
| land has evidently been formed iron che washing
down OF soil from the high lands for ages. In
places the land is formed Into small Islands, with
| good boat chaDnel between then, forming most pic
turesque views seen from height In the valleys
there are mfny groves OF the courie- pine growing
large enough to make spars for vessels Of three
hundred to four bundled tons, aud on the island
,here many other trees of large d nensions, fit
for ship building and other purposes.
A stranger visiting this country would imagine
ia thickly populated, in consequence of the
natives Generally speaking two or three freni.ss
| tribes) assembling together Whenever Europeans
max. their appearance. That it has been thickly
populated at some time there be little doub.-
not only from the appearance of the neglected cult
walton, but from statements made by the elder
inhabitants. Captain Kent, in II. M ship Buffalo,
1 who discovered and named Port Saint Vincent in
1909 mentioned that the natives we're very numerous
there In 1862 there were not twenty natives to be
found oil around that fine barbor. For many mile,
round the south end, and on the coast W.NW. fifty
miles from Pot Saint Vincent there is not native
establishment to be seen The s.ives most numer-
GUS at the NV end fthe island aud there is a
siderable number residing OR the adjacent Islands
inside the reefs on the southwest side, generally en-
! ployed in fishing, who all snoject to the chiefs
on the main land. The whole population OF New
rs 900, although the French Roman Catholic ms
sioDaries have stated the population TO be go 900;
but these gentlemen reside in that part of the island
where the population Is most numerous, and have
not travelled much into the interior. Ia 1853 there
were residi g at Baade hsrbor eleven French mis-
si0Daries.
The traveller finds great inconvenience from the
many different dialects spoken by the inhabitants
differing considerably at places not more than TWEEN
y miles distant from each other yet the chiefs Vi IL
each other from greater distances, anc seem 10 con
verse tamlliarly The language does not seem to
liam, nor New Zealand and seems to be distinct from
that Of any of the contiguous Islands
The climate Is very sslubrious by reason OF the
cool b b. winds blowing from April t. October.
There are frequent gales of wind from November to
March, accompanied itn heavy rains from the ". E.
the wind veering round to N. w. and s w. When
| 1t gets t. the southwark of S w. the weather be-
comes fine and serene and the wind settles to the
southwark AID eastward, with moderate weather,
until the change Of the moon, when an alteration
takes place, and the same exposition3 Of winds are
observed. In the latter part of November, and nearly
all December, there is much lightning and heavy
thunder, with vast quantities Of rain; but these
storms seldom last beyond thirty hours At these
periods the water inside the reef the S. W. side is
deeply colored from the great quantity OF soil washed
down from the high lands all along the coast and it
is then dangerous to move ship, unless the COM
mander is particularly well acquainted with the va.
rious channels. In February and March hurricanes
may be looked for, but they seldom rage with the
fury which they do at the Mauritius which Is In the
same parallel. Nor are they frequent as they are
at thas Island, as several years may pass over with
out one being known. They commence from the
same point OF the compass as those at the Maurtus,