SANGIR ISLANDS lie to the n. of Celebes, in 2° to 4° n. lat.. are upwards of 50 in number, of various sizes, and nearly all inhabited. Pop. 30,000. The three largest islands, Great Saugir, Sjiauw, and Tagolandang, with those which surround each, form as it were separate groups. 'In the Sangir islands are many mountains, which, except the volcanoes, are clothed to their summits with a rich vegetation. Great Sangir has an area (4'273 sq.m., and is divided into four kingdoms. The usual anchorage is on the w. side, in 3° 28' n. lat., and 125° 44' e. long. Pop. 13,000. In the u.w. is a volcano,• called Abu, or the "Ash mountain," which has frequently caused great devastation. In Mar., 1856, the streams of lava and boiling water carried away the rich plantations, and 2.806 lives were lost.
Sjiauw lies in 2° 43' n. lat., and 125° 28' 0. long., is also mountainous; a volcano, on the u.e. coast, being 6,200 ft. high. Pop. 3,000 The chief town is Uluw.
Tagolandang, in 2° 20' n. lat., and 125° 30' e. long., is populous, and the center of the missionary- work which has been carried on successfully in the Sangir islands. A
small ship belongs to the station, in which to visit the scattered converts and schools.
In all the islands, the areng (saguaros or borassus gomotus), the sago, cocoa-nut, ard the finest sorts of timber trees abound. Maize, rice, katjank (a species of bean), tobacco, cocoa, and the sugar-cane are cultivated.
The Sangirese belong to the Malay race, are well made and brave, but cunning, lazy, and dirty in their habits. This, and scarcity of pure drinking-water, make them liable to a loathsome skin disease. There are four rajahs in Great Sangir, one in 'l'agolandang, and one in Sjiauw. The government is monarchical, somewhat limited by a council.
Toward the end of the 15th c. the Sangireso became Mohammedan; a century later, under the Portuguese, they were brought over to Christianity. These islands, forming now a Netherlands dependency, have several Dutch missionaries, and 24 churches, which are also used as schools. Government supports 8 teachers, the villages 16.