The climate is damp and debilitating, and the rainfall is unus ually heavy. Fever and ague are prevalent on the uncleared parts of the coast ; but the highlands, where most exposed to the south east trade winds are healthier. The dry season, with north-west winds, lasts from December to May. Mangrove swamps are common on the coasts ; but of recent years large tracts of these lands have been cleared, by Europeans, for coconut cultivation.
The Solomon islanders are of Melanesian (Papuan) stock, though in different parts of the group they vary considerably in their physical characteristics. The history of the Solomon islands is treated in a separate article. The administration is based on the former division of the islands between Germany and Great Britain (convention of 1899). The boundary ran through Bou gainville Strait. Since the World War the ex-German territory is administered by mandate under Australia. The British section is administered by a resident commissioner, whose headquarters are at Tulagi, a small island off the south-west of Florida. A nominated advisory council assists in the government. The chief medium of exchange is Commonwealth bank notes. The various missions have charge of education. Coco-nuts, rubber, bananas, pine-apples and sweet potatoes are grown. Copra, trochus shell, ivory nuts and timber are exported mainly from the British Solomons. The value of the imports of the British Solomons 1925-26 was £266,943 and exports £418,818. Kieta on the east coast of Bougainville and Carola Hafen on the west side of Buka are important harbours. The plantations on these islands are, however, new.
The Santa Cruz Islands.—In the British Protectorate of the South Solomons, are a scattered group of small volcanic islands, irregularly disposed from north-west to south-east, between 8° and I I° 4o' S. and 168° E. to the south-east of San Cristoval, but separated by a deep channel from that island. The following islands are included in the group; the Duff and Matenna or Swallow islands, Analogo, Tinakula or Volcano island and others : from these a single chain curves south-east and then east con sisting of Nitendi or Santa Cruz, the largest island, Tupua or Edgecombe, Vanicoro (the scene of the wreck of La Perouse's ships), Tucopia, Anuda (or Cherry) island, and Fataka (area 38o sq.m. ; estimated population 5,000).
In Vanicoro there are volcanic mountains up to 3,030 ft. in height, and Tinakula is a still active volcano of 2,200 ft. Nitendi is of less elevation (1,215 ft. at the highest). Coral reefs are not extensive, except around Vanicoro. The islands are densely wooded, the flora and fauna being akin to those of the Solomon islands. The climate is hot and moist, and storms are frequent. The natives are of Melanesian (Papuan) stock, with an admixture of other blood, but the Duff group, Tucopia and Anuda, are in habited by pure Polynesians. The islands were discovered by Alvaro Mendana in 1595, and in 1767 Philip Carteret visited them and called them the Queen Charlotte islands—their alternative name. A British protectorate was declared over them in 1898. There is some trade in copra.
The New Hebrides, with which may be classed the Banks and Torres islands, continue the chain south-eastward from the Santa Cruz, from which they are separated by a comparatively shallow channel, consist of about 4o mountainous islands besides numerous islets and rocks (see Map, Plate 176). Estimated area 5,700 sq.m. with a native population of about 6o,000. The islands are under the joint administration of English and French officials. White population (1925) British 232, French 65o.
Irregularly disposed at the northern end are the lesser islands composing the Banks group—Gaua, Vanua Lava, Mota, Valua, etc., and the Torres islands. South from these, the main islands are arranged somewhat in the form of the letter Y, the foot of which is at Aneiteum. the south-easternmost Hebridean island. north west from which the main islands are Tanna, Eromanga, Efate (known also as Vate, Fate, and Sandwich island), the Shepherd Islands and Api or Epi. At this point the arms of the Y divide, the western formed by the large islands of Malekula (or Malli colo) and Espiritu Santo (abbreviated to Santo; native name Marina), the eastern formed by Ambrym, Arag and Maiwo (Au rora), with Aoba (Opa, or Leper island) between the two arms. Espiritu Santo, the largest island, has an area of 875 sq.m.; at its north-east side is the great bay of St. Philip and St. James— locally called "Big Bay"—first seen by the Portuguese Quiros, in 1606, when he thought he had found the shore of a great southern continent, which he named Australia del Espiritu Santo.