MELANESIA. (Greek, melas, black nesos, island), in which the reference is to thr extreme blackness of the people rather than of the islands themselves, is the designation ap plied to the islands of the western region 0 Oceanica. They extend northwestward n three interlacing chains, from New CalednMa on the south to the Bismarck Archipelago et the north. East of New Caledonia lie the Loyalty Islands, northeast of the Loyalty Island begin the New Hebrides, and these are sTMc ceeded by the Santa Cruz, the Banks Swallow groups. A little to the west of these begin the Solomon Islands, and considerai6 east of this archipelago lies a chain of sera islands which are geographically to be classe! in Melanesia, but ethnologically are distinc-h Polynesian. In the partition of the among the European powers New Cakdonn and the Loyalty Islands belong to France, thr New Hebrides are held jointly by France any Great Britain, the Santa Cruz and the Solotwv Islands form a British protectorate. Borwpin ville and Buka, the northernmost of the Solo mon Islands, joined for purposes of tration with the Bismarck Archipelago, fonnod a part of the German colony of Kaiserwilhelab land; this colony was captured in September and October 1914, by the Australian coati gent, on its way to the World War. Econom ically, Melanesia has been but little exploited The French in New Caledonia have worker with considerable success extensive minera' operations, the garnierite being the riches1 known ore of nickel and being found in beq which in general may be worked as open quar ries. In the New Hebrides the French hare established extensive plantations with ertrr promise of future industrial success. The other islands of Melanesia remain in almost unrix4 fied savagery, and only within the last fen years has any considerable attempt been made to utilize their extensive groves of coconut Missionary effort in Melanesia has for the most part followed the flag; Catholic missionaries are engaged upon the conversion of the New Caledonians, Presbyterian missions have en gaged with the southern New Hebrides, the Melanesian Mission of the Church of England is active in the New Hebrides and the Solo mons, and in the Bismarck Archipelago the Australian Wesleyan Connection had a, flourish ing mission at Mioko before the German an nexation, after which they were paralleled by the efforts of German missions, both Catholic and Protestant. The inhabitants of Melanesia
vary so considerably in form and language as to lead to the conclusion that probably three dis tinct racial types are to be found within the area, in addition to a certain admixture of Papuan characters which have filtered into the northern areas of the region. Between island and island, even between village and vil lage on the same small island, the difference of speech amounts to complete incomprehensibility. In general it is to be said that the Melanesians are very close to the lowest level of savagery ; polygamy, infanticide and cannibalism are constantly practised, yet the people are of an agreeable disposition and very attractive to all such as are brought into contact with them. The cultural position of the Melane sians is markedly distinct from that of the Polynesians in several important particulars: The bow is in use. the art of pottery is very generally practised, the loom is found in one area, the taboo does not exist in any sense of moral control, the authority of chiefs is very limited and scantily invested with the idea of hereditary succession, shell money is used as a circulating medium, and over a large and in creasing area of Melanesia sirih (betel) chew ing is extensively practised. Consult Codring ton, R H.,