171 



papers read. 



a short resume of the results of anthropological and 

 Anatomical researches in Melanesia and Australia. 



(March, 1879 — January, 1881.,/ 



By N. De Miklouho-Maclay. 



After I had left Sydney in March, 1879, 1 visited the following 

 islands : New Caledonia, Lifu ; of the New Hebrides : Tanna, 

 Vate, Tongoa, Mai, Epi, Ambrini, Malo, Vanua Lava ; of the 

 Admiralty Islands : the groups — Lub (or Hermit), Ninigo 

 (Echiquier), Trob riant ; the Solomon Islands ; the islands at the 

 south-east end of New Guinea, and the islands of Torres Straits.* 



Only a very few of the results of the journey can be com- 

 prehended in a short resume; of these, the first two of the following 

 appear to me to be the most important: — 1. Many islands of 

 Melanesiaf (especially some of the islands of the New Hebrides, 

 of the Solomon Group, of the Louisiades, New Ireland, &c, &c), 

 possess a well-marked brachycephalic population (the breadth- 

 index of many heads exceeds 80, and sometimes even 85), which 

 circumstance is assuredly not ascribable to a mixture with another 

 race, and proves that brachycephalism has a much wider range 

 in Melanesia than has been hitherto supposed. This is a result 

 of numerous careful measurements of heads and skulls]: of the 

 aboriginals of different islands of Melanesia. 2. Although in 

 some villages of the Southern coast of New Guinea there is 



*A more detailed account of the route, of the time spent at the different 

 places, with sketch maps of the routes and other details, will be found in my 

 communications to the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, in the 

 Jswestija of the Society. 



fBy the name " Melanesians," I designate exclusively the frizzy-haired 

 inhabitants of the South Sea Islands. 



Jin order to eliminate any doubt as to the correctness of the cranial 

 measurements on living individuals, I have not neglected to collect a con- 

 siderable number of undoubtedly authentic skulls from New Caledonia, New 

 Guinea, the Admiraltys, Ninigo, and Solomon Islands. 



