ISLANDS OF THE ASIATIC CONTINENTAL EDGE The Ogasawara Jima (Bonin islands) are the subject of a spe cial article.
The Marianas (Mariannes or Ladrones) are situated in about 12° to N. and 145° E. and, with the exception of the island of Guam (the largest of the group) belonging to U.S.A. and the subject of a separate article, are administered under mandate by Japan. They fall into two groups—a northern of ten mainly vol canic islands, of which only four (Agrigan, Anatahan, Alamagan and Pagan) are inhabited, and a southern of five mainly coralline limestone islands (Rota, Guam, Aguijan, Tinian and Saypan), all inhabited save Aguijan. The total area (excluding Guam) is about 245 sq.m., the Japanese pop. 19,835 in 1930; the natives, mostly descendants of the Tagal immigrants from the Philippines number 49,695. They were discovered by Magellan in 1521 and his crew called them Islas de los Ladrones (Islands of the Thieves). They received the name Las Marianas in 1668 in hon our of Maria Anna of Austria, widow of Philip IV. of Spain. They were sold by Spain to Germany in 1899 and after the war of 1914-18 passed under Japanese mandate.
In the northern volcanic group an extreme elevation of about 2,70o ft. is reached and there are craters showing signs of activity. The southern islands are of slight elevation. The climate is damp and the heat not as intense as in the Philippines. Variations of temperature are not great. All the islands except Farallon de Medinilla and Uraccas or Maug (in the northern group) are more or less densely wooded and the vegetation is tropical and luxuri ant, much resembling that of the Carolines and also of the Philip pines, whence many species of plants have been introduced. On most of the islands there is a plentiful supply of water. The
fauna likewise, is similar to that of the Carolines and certain species are indigenous to both regions. Swine and oxen run wild. The former were known to the early inhabitants while the latter, with most other domestic animals, were introduced by the Span iards. Coco-nuts and areca palms, yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, coffee, cocoa, sugar, cotton, tobacco and mother-of-pearl are the chief products, and copra is the principal export.
The Island of Yap (lat. 9.35° N., long. 138.15° E.) (pop., c. 7,000) is an important cable station and the subject of a special article.
The Palau (Pelew) islands are a group of twenty-six islands lying between 2° 35' and 9° N. and 13o° 4' and 4o' E. under Japanese mandate. The largest islands are Babeltop (Babelthuap, Baobeltaob, etc.), Uruktapi (Urukthopel), Korror, Angaur, Peleliu and Eilmalk (Irakong). The total area is 175 sq.m. and the population is 9,743 (6,070 natives). The islands lie within a coral barrier reef, and in the south the islands are of coral, but in the north of volcanic rock. They are well wooded and the climate is sub-tropical and the water-supply good. A few rats and bats represent the indigenous mammals; birds are numerous and the sea is rich in fish and molluscs. The islands were sighted in 1543 by Ruy Lopez de Villalobos who named them the Arrecifos. The origin of the name Islas Palaos is doubtful. The islands were bought by Germany from Spain in 1899 and administered from Yap. After the World War they passed under Japanese mandate Further reference is made to Yap and the Palau islands in con nection with the Caroline islands below.