Inhabitants. — This race of people, supposed at one time by certain writers to be of American origin, is now almost universally admitted to have a close af- finity with the Malays (q. v.) of the peninsula and In- dian Archipelago, and hence is classified with them by Dr. Latham under his subdivision of Oceanic Mongolidd, In physical structure and appearance, the Polynesians in general more nearly resemble the Malays than they do any other race, although differing from them in some respects, as, indeed, the natives of several of the groups also do from each other. In stature, they are generally taller than the Malays, and have a greater tendency to corpulence. In color, also, they more nearly approach that of the Europeans. The hair is often waved or curling, instead of long and straight, and the nose is frequently aquiline. These differences, however, which may all have been produced by lapse of time and differ- ent conditions of existence, offer no barrier to the strong presumption that at some long antecedent period these islands were colonized by Malay adventurers. The dis- tance between the more western groups of Polynesia and the eastern islands of the Indian Archipelago is not so great but that it could have been easily overcome by a hardy race of sailors, even although their vessels may not have been so well constructed as in modern times; and the same reasoning holds good with respect to the other groups extending still farther east, or still more to the north or south. Each island or group, as it was attained, would only form a convenient point of depart- ure in process of time for some other island or group more remotely situated. It is true that the affinities of language are not great between the Malays and the Polynesians; still some affinity has been recognised by philologists; while in their manners and customs a strong resemblance has been shown to exist, as in the institution of caste, the practice of circumcision, the chewing of the betel-nut, and other things. Many other facts might be mentioned in favor of the theory of a Malay settlement, not only of Polynesia, but of the isl- ands called Melanesia or Kelaenonesia as well ; the last mentioned being inhabited by a race almost identical with the Negritos [see Negrillos] or Pelagian Ne- groes of the Eastern Archipelago.
Dr. Latham, in treating of the Polynesians, divides them into two branches — viz.: 1. The Micronesian branch, and 2. The Proper Polynesian branch. His theory as to the probable line of migration is as fol- lows: "The reason for taking the Micronesian branch before the Proper Polynesian involves the following question : What was the line of population by which the innumerable islands of the Pacific, from the Pelcws
POLYNESIA
370
TOLYNKSIA
: [-land, and from the Sandwich Islands to New i qi inhabited by tribes different from, but still allied t". the Protonesian Malays? That line, whichever il be, « here the continuity of bui anda is the greatest, and whereon the fewest consider- able interspaces of ocean are to be found. This is t In- general answer " priori, subject to modifications from the counterbalancing phenomena of winds or currents unfavorable to the Bupposed migration. Now this an- swer, when applied to the geographical detail ing the distribution of land and sea in the great oceanic
licates the following line: Mew Guinea, New Ireland, the New Hebrides, the Fijis, and the Tonga group, etc. From hence the Navigator's [stands, the isles of the Dangerous Archipelago, the king-mill and other groups, carry the frequently diverging streams of population over the Caroline Islands, the Ladrones, the Pelews, Easter [aland, etc. This view, however, bo natural an infi rence from a mere land and sea 3un ey,
is complicated by the etl logical position of the New
Guinea, New Ireland, and Hew Hebrides population. These are Prol mi sian, and thej an
Lastly, they are not inter Liate to the two. They
break rather than propagate the continuity of the hu- man Btream— a continuity which exists geographically, but fails ethnographically. The recognition of tins conflict between the two probabilities has determined me i" consider the Micronesian Archipelago as that part of Polynesia which is most likely to have been first : ason for taking it lirst in order. The islands comprised in the Micronesian branch are the Pelew islands, the Caroline Islands, the Marian Isl- and-, and the Tarawan <»r Kingsmill group. In phys- ical appearance, the inhabitants of these groups more nearly resemble the Malays than is the rase with the Polynesians Proper. In person, they are not so tall as the latter. Their language has numerous dialects, most of which would perhaps be unintelligible to the groups farther south and east. In religion, they are pagans; but their mythology and traditions differ from those of Proper. Neither is the custom of the taboo and the use of kawa so prevalent as they are found to be among the latter.
The Proper Polynesians, so called, are found in the
Fiji Islands, but not to the same extent as in the fol-
i/.. the Navigator's or Samoan Islands, the
Society Islands, and Friendly Islands; also in the Sand-
inds, the Marquesas, the Dangerous Archipel- [n physical appi arance, thej are the hand- in i tallest of all the natives ol the Pacific islands. with the exception, perhaps, of the New Zealanders or lli'- aquiline nose i- commonly seen among them, and there are many varieties both of hair and complexion. Their face is generally oval, with largish ears and wide nostrils. In the islands nearest to the equator the Bkin is said to be the fairest, ami it is darker in the coral islands than in the volcanic. Their lan- ■ bear Bome affinity to tin- Tagala, and is spin up into numerous dialects, all. however, to a great