332 Migrations in the Pacific Ocean. 
But the question comes up, may the Polynesians be traced any 
farther back in their history? The following paragraphs from 
the close of the discussion, offer at least a probable conjecture. 
“ That the Polynesians belong to the same race as that which peoples 
the East Indian Islands is, at present, universally admitted. If any 
doubt had remained on this point, the labors of Wm. Von Humboldt 
and Prof. Buschman, would have been sufficient to set it at rest. Having 
traced all the principal tribes of Polynesia back to the Samoan and 
Tongan groups, it next becomes a question of interest, how far the in- 
formation which we now possess will enable us to verify the supposed 
emigration of the first settlers in these groups from some point in the 
Malaisian Archipelago. From the almost total ignorance in which we 
yet remain of the dialect spoken in the eastern part of this archipelago, 
our means of forming a judgment are very limited. Nevertheless we 
may venture to offer a conjecture, based upon such an amount of evi- 
dence as may seem to bring it at least within the bounds of probability. 
“ The nations of Tonga and Samoa as has been before stated, refer 
the origin of their race to a large island, situated to the northwest, call- 
ed by the former Bulotu, by the latter Pulétu and Purdtu. As the l 
and r are used indifferently in these dialects, it would be doubtful which 
was the proper spelling; but the Feejeans, who distinguished between 
these two elements, have borrowed this and many other traditions from 
their eastern neighbors, and call the island in question Mburotu. 
Hence we may conclude that Burdtu or Purdtu is the correct form. 
Now the easternmost island inhabited by the yellow Malaisian race, in 
the East Indian Archipelago, is that called on our maps Bouro or Booro. 
It lies west of Ceram, which is occupied in the interior by Papuans and 
on the coast by Malays. Apart, therefore, from any resemblance of 
name, if we derive the Polynesians from that one of the Malaisian 
islands which lies nearest to them, we should refer them to the above 
mentioned Bouro.” 
After some additional facts and observations on this subject, 
Mr. Hale concludes by suggesting that the syllable tu may have 
the force of “sacred” or “ divine.” 
‘* It must be recollected that the natives of Samoa and Tonga, look 
upon this island not only as the country of their progenitors, but also as 
the residence of their gods. The syllable tu is perhaps that which is 
found in the Samoan aitw, spirit, and the ota, atta, etha, which in the 
different Polynesian dialects, signify divinity. Twan is the word for 
‘lord’ in Malay, and hautu for ‘spirit? in Malay, Javanese, and Bugis.” 
