president's address SECTION F. 135 



In placing before you this question I am not making any new 

 suggestion. The inquiry has already exercised the minds of many 

 intelligent, ethnologists. Some have given considerable attention 

 to the subject, and have attempted, to a certain extent, to elucidate 

 the theories which they have formed. In 1834 the late well-known 

 divine and historian. Dr. John Dunmore Lang, of Sydney, 

 published a work which has been read and pondered with much 

 interest, although it gives but little satisfaction as regards the 

 origin of the Polynesian natives, for the reverend doctor's state- 

 ments are mostly hypothetical and unsupported by historical facts. 

 One important theory the doctor seems to have established — that 

 the original inhabitants of Polynesia came from the west by way 

 of India, and not, as many supposed, from the east by way of 

 America. Dr. Lang's book may be recommended as a help in 

 following up the inquiry to a more positive and definite issue. 



At the first meeting of the Australasian Association, held in the 

 Sydney University. Dr. Carroll read a very long paper, containing 

 much historical information, in which he attempted to associate the 

 progress of the races from Asia to Polynesia with the march of 

 conquering armies from the Euphrates on to the Malay coasts. 

 But this paper, however deeply interesting, as it was, and supported 

 by historical records, satisfied only to a partial extent, that is as 

 far as the historical data proceeded, but beyond that seemingly 

 there were only vague suppositions to supply the place of sub- 

 stantial facts. 



It will be readily admitted by all who have given attention 

 to the inquiry that the investigation is by no means a hopeless 

 one, though surrounded by difficulties. A few landmarks may now 

 be found, although separated by long distances. The lapse of 

 time may have obliterated some which were plainly visible in former 

 ages. The evidences of their existence at one period, though 

 partially obscvired, are not entirely and irrecoverably lost ; and out 

 of the remaining vestiges there may be revealed some authentic 

 data which will lift the inquirer to a more solid and secure basis, 

 and clear away much of the mist which vague theories have 

 created in the mind, and also dissipate the confusion occasioned by 

 oppo.site opinions and argumenis. Diversity of opinion will exist 

 in proportion to the want of positive and scientific knowledge. 



A large amount of information has been supplied from various 

 sources and by Avriters whose authority may be safely depended 

 upon. Their contributions may be collected by a diligent student, 

 and comparisons made that will enable him to form a corollary of 

 evidences, and a clear and faithful method of tracing what is 

 evident will help in discovering what is out of sight. Difficulties, 

 indeed, may be experienced in defining what may appear to cor- 

 respond, but patient and painstaking study will help the student 

 to distinguish the correlative from the diverse. Profitable and 

 reliable research must be made with a clear unbiassed mind, free 



