143. Answer to Mr. Crawford's letter. 



ble way of explaining the diversities that exist between 

 them, unless We attribute these diversities to the sponta- 

 neous variations which display themselves in tribes of 

 people who have inhabited from immemorial ages different 

 climates, and have existed in many respects under diffe- 

 rent physical conditions. 

 Mauritius, Port-Louis, December 1847. 



W. BOJER, Vice-President. 



L. BOUTON, Secretary. 



J. MORRIS, Vice-Secretary. 



Appendix. 

 Extracts pom Mr. Hunt's papers, £c. 



Papers on Timor, etc., Malayan Misc. — i The natives of Timor 

 re generally of a very dark complexion, with frizzled busby 

 nair, but less inclining to the Papuans than the natives of Ende. 

 They are below the middle size and rather slight in their figure ; 

 in countenance they more nearly restmble the South Sea Is- 

 landers than any of the Malay tribes. » (p. 5.) 



< Their ornaments chiefly consist of arm rings of gold, silver 

 or ivory, with feathers in their heads generally made of the 

 tail feathers of the cock. The two latter may be worn by all 

 descriptions of people, but the gold and silver ones only by 

 nobility, unless by the express permission of the Sovereign as 

 a reward for some heroic exploit, such as procuring the head 

 of an enemy in battle. The women wear arm and ankle-rings- 

 of earthen-ware of much the same make and description as 

 those worn by women in India. There does not 1 appear to be 

 any regular system of laws among them, not even traditionary, 

 the 'Will of the Sovereign being in most cases attended to. 

 Their punishments are very severe, being slavery for petty 



