394 CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. 



Britain to whom this skull once belonged is the only point upon 

 which the schools of interpretation are in agreement. It is evident 

 that the determination has been made by the students of comparative 

 anatomy without employing the assistance of those who have made 

 particular examination of the use of the genioglossal muscle in human 

 speech. We are not in a position to traverse the conclusions of the 

 comparative anatomists in this matter, nor are we prepared to accept 

 their conclusions so far as they apply to problems of linguistics. It is 

 therefore respectfully submitted that this is one of the minor problems 

 of linguistics which might properly be studied by the comparative 

 anatomist and the comparative philologist in collaboration, to the 

 final determination of what the facts of the case really are. 



We now pass to the examination of the material, specifically Samoan, 

 upon which we are to base our succeeding researches into a beginning 

 of the speech of man. At this point we are to accept as estabUshed the 

 dissolution of Bopp's Malayo-Polynesian speech family, the establish- 

 ment of a syntax and art of language based upon three parts of speech, 

 the vaUdity of the Polynesian inclusions and loan material in Melanesia 

 as estabUshing the earliest type of Proto-Samoan speech. Accepting 

 these as established, we are to continue the remainder of the examination 

 on distinctly Samoan material in the manuscripts which I have taken 

 down from the speech and dictation of wise Samoans. I find myself in 

 possession of several hundred thousand words of matter which now for 

 the first time may be brought under literary and linguistic examination. 



An initial chapter in this manuscript material consists of genealogies 

 of Samoan famihes of distinction, some of which begin in a period 

 anterior to the creation of the world and extend in uninterrupted suc- 

 cession to the present time, others begin more properly within the 

 historic period and follow the line of descent to men and women now 

 living. Yet others overlap at this or at that point of the rearward 

 generations and lend confirmation each to each. The lingTiistic value 

 of these genealogies is insignificant, but they occupy a very important 

 position in establishing the traditions and myths of the Samoan people 

 in such wise that it may be possible to synchronize them with the Chris- 

 tian era of our own time-reckoning. The work \vill be intricate, but 

 we have sufficient material to enable us to synchi'onize different tables 

 of descent and thus establish here and there definite epochs of culture 

 development to which the history of the people may be correlated. 

 Furthermore, we are now able to draw upon genealogical tables in other 

 and distant branches of the Polynesian race, whereby we may obtain 

 greater accuracy in determining the critical points of their history. 

 These different genealogical tables need elaboration and synchroniza- 

 tion in order that they may be employed in the editing of the corpus 

 of myth and tradition which will yield rich material, when properly 

 understood, for the dictionary. 



