president's address — SECTION E. 130 



once penetrable, have been left undisturbed, and now it may be too 

 late to dispel them by any light which modern discovery may 

 bring to bear upon them. But, remembering what recent dis- 

 covery has done in revealing historical facts of ancient nations, we 

 will not despair of revelations yet to be made in this direction. 

 Humboldt's Researches offer considerable aid in reference to the 

 ancient American nations, and have led some to identify them with 

 the Polynesians. 



Of genealogy there have been lately published some valuable 

 records, exhumed from long hidden native traditions, myths, and 

 legends. I may particularise those from Maoriland, Samoa, 

 and the Hervey Group. Thanks to the transcribers of these, we 

 have a chain of events that bears remarkable comparison, and are 

 favorable to the formation of some links in historical evidences. 

 The Rev. J. G. Lawes is collecting another fund of interesting 

 information in New Guinea I believe there is much light yet to 

 be gathered in this direction, and I sincerely trust that every 

 literary and intelligent resident in Polynesia will take every oppor- 

 tunity for searching for such intelligence as may be procured from 

 the natives among whom he resides. Ere long the time for such 

 research will be closed, and records be lost for ever. Facts of 

 great value in the inquiry as to the origin of the Polynesian races 

 will be found in native genealogies. 



In ethnography some very interesting and valuable intelligence 

 will be found in papers supplied to this Association, and published 

 in its several volumes ; but these comprise only a portion of 

 information that may yet come before you in connection with this 

 section of the Association. There is also a large amount of 

 ethnological facts contained in various works of missionaries, 

 travellers, and residents of Polynesia that will aid the ethnologist 

 to trace a unity of origin in many distinct nationalities of the 

 Pacific islands. Time will not allow of entering into details, or I 

 might point out striking comparisons. I may say this, however : 

 I am deeply impressed with the conviction that the native customs, 

 manner of life, modes of government, &.c., point to an oriental 

 origin. The Polynesian Journal contains imjjortant and deeply 

 interesting papers, which will be highly appreciated by ethnolo- 

 gists. I would call attention to the first article published in No. 

 1 of the Journal by Mr. Eldon Best, on "The Races of the 

 Philippines." Wallace's " Malay Archipelago." though of most 

 value to the naturalist, affords available facts also to the 

 ethnologist, and it supplies aids for the investigation I have 

 suggested. Ellis's "• Polynesian Researches " is an old and 

 valuable book, and the same author's work on Madagascar will 

 be found of much use. 



Closely allied to the study of ethnology is that of folklore, a 

 subject of deep interest to many in Australia. I'olynesian myths, 

 legends, songs, and superstitions supply a large fund of folklore. 



