FIJI ISLANDERS. 



453 



not even a word for a " tree." Although fire was well known 

 to them, some tribes, at least, appear to have been ignorant 

 whence it was originally obtained, or how, if extinguished, it 

 could be re-lighted. "In all their wanderings/' says Mr. Dove, 



FIG. 209. 



Tasmanian Firesticks. 



"they were particularly careful to bear in their hands the 

 materials for kindling a fire. Their memory supplies them 

 with no instances of a period in which they were obliged to 

 draw on their inventive powers for the means of resuscitating 

 an element so essential to their health and comfort as flame. 

 How it came originally into their possession is unknown. 

 Whether it may be viewed as a gift of nature, or the product 

 of art and sagacity, they cannot recollect a period when it was 



a desideratum It was the part of the females especially 



to carry a firebrand in their hands, which was studiously re- 

 freshed from time to time as it became dull and evanescent."* 

 Fig. 209 represents a pair of Tasmanian firesticks, presented 

 to me by Mr. Eobinson. 



Fiji Islanders. 



The islands of the Pacific contain two very distinct races 

 of men the Negrito and the Polynesian. My space does 

 not permit me to enter into the interesting question of their 

 relationships and affinities. 



The Fijians belong to the former category, and in many 

 respects resemble Negroes. They are darker than the Poly- 

 nesians. The jaws are larger, and the hair, though not exactly 

 woolly, is frizzled. They are a powerful race, but not so grace- 



* Tasmanian Journal of Nat. Sci. vol. i. p. 250. 



