PELEW ISLANDS (Ger. Palauinseln, also Palao)  , a

group of twenty-six islands in the western Pacific Ocean, between 2° 35' and 9° N., and 1300 4' and 1340 40' E., belonging to Germany . They lie within a coral barrier reef, and in the south the islands are of coral, but in the north of volcanic rocks . They are well wooded, the climate is healthy, and the water-supply good . A few rats and bats represent the indigenous mammals, but the sea is rich in fish and molluscs; and Dr Otto Finsch (Journ. des Museum Godeffroy, 1875) enumerated 56 species of birds, of which 12 are peculiar to the group . The total area is 175 sq . M., the largest islands being Babeltop (Babelthuap, Baobeltaob and other variants), Uruktapi (Urukthopel), Korror, Nyaur, Peleliu and Eilmalk (Irakong) . The population is about 3100 . The natives are Micronesians, and are darker and shorter than their kinsmen, the Caroline Islanders . They usually have the frizzly hair of the Melanesians, and paint their bodies in brilliant colours, especially yellow . The men vary in height from 5 ft. to 5 ft . 5 in., the women from 4 ft . 9 W .

5 ft . 2 in . The

skull shows a strong tendency to brachycephalism . Two curious customs may be noted—the institution of an honourable order bestowed by the king, called klilt; and a species of mutual aid society, sometimes confined to women, and possessing considerable political influence . There are five kinds of currency in the islands, consisting of beads of glass and enamel, to which a supernatural origin is ascribed . 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 are administered together with the western Carolines, Yap being the administrative centre . See K . Semper, Die Palau-Inseln (Leipzig, 1873) ; J . S . Kubary, Die sozialen Einrichtungen der Palauer (Berlin, 1885) ; A .

A .

Marche, Lu¢on et Palouan (Paris, 1887) .