CUSTOMS AND SOCIAL HABITS OF THE RACES OF POLYNESIA. 485 



fact favours tliis hypothesis, tliat while theprevailing winds — south- 

 east trades — woulcl facilitate emigration from the Pacific coast of 

 America to the Soutii Sea Islands, they would oppose rudely 

 constructed vessels sailing from the Malayan Islands to the 

 Pacific. It must be borne in mind, however, that fi-om Novem- 

 ber to April these south-east trade winds are rarely met with. 

 Marsden, in his " History of Sumatra," relates that during this 

 season, the Malays made voyages to some large islands in the 

 south-east, which he supposes were New Guinea and Australia. 



The question of the origin of these distinct races is a deeply 

 interesting one, and worthy of careful research and investigation. 

 It would be vain to attempt, in the limit of this paper, to enter 

 upon even an introduction to the subject. I would now simply 

 recognise the object of the honour conferred on me by your 

 Association in asking me to read a paper on the customs of the 

 Polynesians, and confine myself to a few brief sketches of what 

 I have observed during a residence of twenty-six years among 

 people of the Malayan and Papuan races, pointing out as I 

 proceed the palpable marks of Oriental and African semblances 

 and characteristics. 



Mode of Life. — We shall consider first their mode of life. Both 

 the Malayan and Papuan natives have adopted settled abodes, 

 dwelling together in their several tribes. In this respect they 

 difi'er materially from the Australian aborigines, who are con- 

 spicuously a wandering people. The Malay races show a decided 

 preference for the sea-board, while the Papuan spread themselves 

 more diSusedly over the country. The Malays dwell close 

 together in villages, but the Papuans live in a more scattered 

 manner, occupying separate plots near their gardens or plantations. 

 In some cases, for mutual protection against the attacks or 

 depredations of enemies, they form themselves into tribal com- 

 munities, and live in a more compact state. In New Guinea, it 

 may be remarked that the natives of Malay origin occupy the sea 

 shore, or banks of the rivers near the sea, while the pure 

 Papuan (probably the original inhabitants of the country) reside in 

 the interior, and from that cause are rarely met with by ti'avellers. 

 A deadly feud evidently exists between these separate races on 

 that island. Some Polynesians occupying small coral islands are 

 accustomed to make excursions to neighbouring islands when 

 pressed by famine. This is the only form of a migratory habit 

 prevailing among this people. 



Pliy.siokxjical Characteristics. —In these there is a very marked 

 distinction between the Malayan and Papuan races. The ^lalay 

 Polynesians are generally tall, well-formed, muscular, and com- 

 paratively a handsome people, very closely resembling the Singha- 

 lese and natives of Travancore. They may readily be distinguished 

 from the Hindoos and people of Northern India. The skull of 



