108 CORROBORATIVE FACTS. 



is that advanced by M. de la Perouse, namely, 

 that the Malayan language, as spoken by a 

 native of the province of Tagayan, island of 

 Luconia, whom he had on board his ship, and 

 the language spoken by the people of the Na- 

 vigators Islands, (and which is a dialect of the 

 Tahitian,) were mutually intelligible to the re- 

 spective parties. The people, also, of Freewill' s 

 Islands {placed but little to the eastward of 

 Gilolo Island,) speak a language which is per- 

 fectly intelligible to the natives of the Sandwich 

 group. 



Although the majority of Polynesian nations 

 exhibit the prominent characteristics of the Ma- 

 layan variety of man, they are, on the whole, a 

 taller and handsomer race than the Malays of the 

 Asiatic Islands. This may partly depend upon 

 the greater luxuries they enjoy, in climate, food, 

 and habits ; but here, as well as with regard 

 to language, a wide vista of speculation is before 

 us ; since the Malays cannot be regarded as a 

 type of the aborigines of the Eastern Archipe- 

 lago, of whom, comparatively speaking, we as 

 yet know little or nothing. 



Some manners and customs common to the 

 Indian and Pacific Islanders, afford strong proofs 

 in favour of an identity of people. Amongst 

 these, we may briefly notice the practice of ta- 



