Part 4

FLORIDA (Nggela).--9° 05' S, 160° 16' E. Florida, the main island in the Nggela Island Subgroup, is mountainous and except for some small grassy areas, supports dense rain forest. It is nearly 25 miles long (east-west) and nine miles wide (north-south), with a maximum elevation, at Mount Barnett, of about 1366 feet. Most collecting was at Haleta, on the southwestern coast. At this locality there were scattered mangrove swamps, rain forest, and gardens inland.

GANONGGA (Ronogo, Ronongo).--8° 03' S, 156° 35' E.

GATUKAI.--8° 47' S, 158° 12' E.

GHIZO (Gizo, Keso).--8° 05' S, 156° 59' E.

GOWER (N'dai).--7° 54' S, 160° 34' E.

GUADALCANAL (Guadalcanar).--9° 15' S, 159° 35' E. Guadalcanal is mostly of volcanic origin and has an irregular chain of mountains along the southern coast. The highest elevation is 8005 feet at Mount Popomanasiu. This large island is nearly 80 miles long (east-west) and 25 miles wide (north-south). Most of the northwestern part of Guadalcanal supports alang-alang grass. The remainder of the island is heavily wooded.

KILINAILAU (Cartaret).--4° 44' S, 155° 28' E.

KOLOMBANGARA (Duki, Kulambangara).--8° 00' S, 157° 05' E. Kolombangara, formed from an extinct volcano, is about 18 miles in diameter and nearly circular. The highest peaks, rising as precipitous cliffs in some places, reach a maximum elevation of about 5000 feet. The vegetation is mostly virgin rain forest. Mangrove swamp and small coconut groves occur along the coast. Field parties from the Bishop Museum were able to reach the highest elevations, and concentrated their work along the southwestern side of the island.

MALAITA (Mala, Malanta, Malayta).--9° 00' S, 161° 00' E. This long (104 miles northwest to southeast), narrow (about 23 miles at its widest spot) island, between Santa Ysabel and San Cristobal islands, is basically of volcanic origin with some limestone (coral) deposits along the coast. Mount Kolovrat, having an elevation of 4275 feet, is the highest point. The Bishop Museum field party lived at Dala, in dense rain forest about 12 miles north of Auki on the northwestern coast of Malaita.

MALAPA.--9° 49' S, 160° 53' E.

MONO (Treasury).--7° 22' S, 155° 35' E. This is a small island (maximum elevation 1150 feet) in the Treasury Island Subgroup just south of Bougainville. Mono is about nine miles long (east-west) and five and one half miles wide (north-south). The basic volcanic core is described in field notes as topped with coral limestone.

NEW GEORGIA (Kausagi).--8° 20' S, 157° 30' E. The New Georgia Subgroup is composed of 11 moderate-sized islands and islets. New Georgia Island, the main member of the subgroup, is 50 miles long (northwest to southeast) and from five to 30 miles wide. On the northern side several volcanic peaks attain an elevation of about 3000 feet. The entire island is forested.

NGGELA (Florida Islands).--4° 31' S, 154° 11' E. This subgroup consists of several small to medium-sized islands between Guadalcanal and Malaita. Florida is the main island.

NISSAN (Green, Sir Charles Hardy's).--4° 31' S, 154° 11' E.

NUKUMANU (Le Maira, Tasman).--4° 32' S, 159° 25' E.

ONTONG JAVA (Lord Howe Atoll, Liuniuwu).--5° 25' S, 159° 30' E.

PAVUVO.--9° 04' S, 159° 08' E.

RAMOS.--8° 16' S, 160° 11' E.

RENNELL.--11° 38' S, 160° 14' E. This island, of limestone (coral) origin, along with Bellona, is nearly 100 miles southwest of any other member of the Solomons and has been regarded, because of this distance, as an oceanic island instead of a continental island. It is about 50 miles long (east-west) and nine miles wide (north-south); its highest elevation is 500 feet.

ROVIANA (Rendova, Rovianna, Rubiana).--8° 21' S, 157° 20' E.

RUSSELL.--9° 04' S, 159° 12' E.

SAN CRISTOBAL (San Christoval, Bauro, Makira, Arussi).--11° 33' S, 161° 43' E. This island is composed mostly of ancient volcanic rock, has a maximum elevation of 4100 feet, is nearly 70 miles long (northwest to southeast) and 24 miles wide, and supports a dense rain forest.

SANTA YSABEL (George, Ysabel, San Isabel, Isbel, Mahaga).--8° 00' S, 159° 07' E. Santa Ysabel is a long (90 miles from northwest to southeast), narrow (19 miles at the widest spot), forested island, consisting of a single chain of volcanic mountains. The numerous bays and mouths of rivers provide excellent anchorages. Collecting was at Tatamba approximately two miles south of Tanambuli where the considerable area of forest was dense and bamboo thickets were abundant.

SAVO (Savu).--9° 08' S, 159° 49' E.

SHORTLAND.--7° 03' S, 155° 47' E.

SIKAIANA (Stewart).--8° 22' S, 162° 44' E.

SIMBO (Narovo, Naorovo, Naravo, Navoro, Sembo).--8° 16' S, 156° 31' E.

STIRLING.--7° 25' S, 155° 35' E.