Some Geographical Aspects of the British Solomon Islands in the Western Pacific
1957; Wiley; Volume: 123; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.2307/1791418
ISSN1475-4959
Autores Tópico(s)Island Studies and Pacific Affairs
ResumoIhave been engaged in geological exploration of the Solomons for several years? years with never a dull moment?but I had been there for two years or so before I realized that much of what I had been seeing had not been previously recorded in publications. The realization came slowly that activity by missionaries and admini? strative officers had so largely been confined to the accessible coastlines and centres of population. Even the Japanese war had been confined almost entirely to coastal plains and foothills, though patrols crossed the mountains along the village trails. Our work took us to less known parts, as the only fresh rock exposures are to be found in the rivers themselves. My colleagues and I have found ourselves in parts which had not even been visited by the living generations of islanders: for, as a result of some discoveries, such as hot springs, wTise old men have apparently suffered loss of face with the younger generation. The double chain of the British Solomon Islands lies about 1200 miles to the north-east of Australia. Excluding Australian Mandated Bougainville in the extreme west, they stretch away in a south-easterly direction for about 1000 miles, and include the scattered islands of the Santa Cruz group in the east. Several major islands are about 100 miles long and 20 to 30 miles wide, with high and rugged mountains?in the case of Guadalcanal rising to 8005 feet above the sea. A United Kingdom Protectorate, the islands are the responsibility of the Colonial Office, and are governed by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, stationed in Honiara, the growing post-war capital adjoining Point Cruz on the northern coast of Guadalcanal.
Referência(s)