Whether we study their form and distribution on maps, or actually travel from island to island, our first impression will be that they form a connected whole, all the parts of which are intimately related to each other.
Extent of the Archipelago and Islands .-- The Malay Archipelago extends for more than 4,000 miles in length from east to west, and is about 1,300 in breadth from north to south.

It would stretch over an expanse equal to that of all Europe from the extreme west far into Central Asia, or would cover the widest parts of South America, and extend far beyond the land into the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

It includes three islands larger than Great Britain; and in one of them, Borneo, the whole of the British Isles might be set down, and would be surrounded by a sea of forests.

New Guinea, though less compact in shape, is probably larger than Borneo.

Sumatra is about equal in extent to Great Britain; Java, Luzon, and Celebes are each about the size of Ireland.