28 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



observed in Polynesia by early European voyagers, we can 

 only conclude that the colonisation of that region took place 

 at an earlier date, and that connnunication between the 

 eastern and western portions of the great island zone was 

 interrupted from that time forward to the period of European 

 enterprise. If this conclusion is correct, it enables us at once 

 to understand the presence of the kumara in Polynesia and 

 its absence from the Malayan Archipelago. It may have 

 been introduced into the former region during the period of 

 isolation, but the probability of this would be better appre- 

 ciated when the ancient civilization of the eastern Polynesian 

 people comes under consideration. 



While the foreign cultivated esculents found in Polynesia 

 indicate a former connection with the islands of the Indian 

 Ocean, or with the American Continent, the only foreign plant 

 cultivated as a material for clothing is of Japanese or Chinese 

 origin. Are we then to conclude that between these countries 

 and Polynesia an intercourse also formerly existed ? 



I have already mentioned, while referring to the cultiva- 

 tion of this Japanese species, the paper mulberry {Broussonetia 

 pajjyrifera) in New Zealand, and the inferences to be drawn 

 from it— that precisely the same mode of manufacturing bark 

 cloth was until recently in vogue amongst the peoples of Poly- 

 nesia, of Central Africa, and of Madagascar, though the barks 

 used in the various places were derived from different species 

 of trees. The only possible way of accounting for the wide 

 distribution of this curious art is that it spread from some 

 central situation, where it was discovered or perfected, and 

 that it was adapted to the natural productions of the countries 

 into which it made its way. A similar diffusion of the arts of 

 spinning and weaving, and their adaptation to various descrip- 

 tions of animal and vegetable fibres in different parts of the 

 world, we know has taken place within historic times, though 

 the arts date back to prehistoric ages. 



From Ellis, the apostle of Madagascar, to whom we are 

 indebted for a description of the Polynesian toj;a. cloth and 

 the process of manufacture, we learn that when he visited the 

 great African island the manufacture and use of this bark 

 cloth was restricted to isolated localities that had little com- 

 munication with the outer world. In other portions of the 

 island the arts of spinning and weaving were understood, but 

 the machines in use were of the very rudest description. As 

 neither in Polynesia nor Central Africa the distaff, spinning- 

 wheel, or loom were known, while the bark cloth was in 

 general use, I think we may safely conclude that it is more 

 ancient than the woven fabrics, and that it has been super- 

 seded by them ; but we know that in Egypt, Babylonia, 

 India, and China the woven fabrics have been in use more 



