222 Leading Characteristics of the Papuan, 
exactly correspond as to preclude the supposition that these peculiari- 
ties can be other than accidental.* It is difficult to account for these 
peculiarities ; but as the stout and stalwart Papuans are met with 
only among those coast tribes who have maintained their indepen- 
dence, and at the same time have acquired many of the agricultural 
and mechanical arts from their neighbours, the Malayu-Polynesians, 
while the pigmies are found only in spots where they have been 
driven to the mountain fastnesses, or have fallen under the influence 
of other races, we may conclude that their mode of life has much to 
do with this difference in point of stature and proportions. 
With regard to form, the various tribes of Papuans differ as much 
as in stature. The more diminutive tribes, whose members chiefly 
come under the notice of Europeans, from their existing in great 
numbers as slaves throughout the Moluccas, are unprepossessing 
enough in appearance, when in their natural state, but when under 
good masters, the regularity and wholesome nature of their diet, 
coupled with their apparent utter forgetfulness of their native land, 
produce a roundness in their neat clean limbs, and a sprightliness of 
action, which is rarely met with among their more civilized neigh- 
bours, the Malayu-Polynesians, On the other hand, the larger Pa- 
puans are more remarkable for their strength than their symmetry. 
They have broad shoulders and deep chests, but a deficiency is ge- 
nerally found about the lower extremities, the splay feet and curved 
shins of the Western Africans being equally or even more common 
among whom I may be allowed to term the gigantic Papuans. 
With regard to the general disposition of the Papuans, a great 
difference is found between those living in a state of independence, 
and those who exist in bondage among the neighbouring nations. 
The former are invariably found to be treacherous and revengeful ; 
and even those who have long been accustomed to intercourse with 
strangers, the tribes of the north-west coast of New Guinea, for 
example, are never to be depended upon, and the greatest precau- 
tions are always taken by those who visit them for purposes of trade. 
The wilder tribes generally avoid intercourse with strangers, if the 
force which lands is sufficiently great to cause alarm ; but if other- 
wise, they pretend friendship until an opportunity occurs, when they 
make a sudden and ferocious attack, But what distinguishes them 
most from their neighbours, the Malayu-Polynesians, and even from 
the Australians, is, the unextinguishable hatred they bear towards 
those who attempt to settle in their territory, and which is continued 
as long as a man of the tribe exists. It is, probably, this perfectly 
untameable nature that has led to their utter extermination in all 
those islands of the Indian Archipelago that did not possess moun- 
tain fastnesses to which they could retire, to lead a life similar to 
> 
* The celebrated philologist, Marsden, has adopted the term “ Negrito,” or 
“Tittle Negro,” from the Spaniards of the Philippines, and has applied it to 
the entire race. 
