CHAP. VI.] POLYNESIAN LANGUAGE. 95 



Zealand, or between the latter place and Norfolk 

 Island; and it is for that very reason that they 

 make those places their whaling-grounds, although 

 I am not aware that soundings have ever been 

 taken. May not, therefore, the once vast continent 

 have sunk into the abyss of the ocean ? If we ven- 

 ture to speculate on the migrations of human races, 

 may we not be allowed to say that the high road is 

 broken by which he who is at present an islander 

 formerly reached the place of his present dwelling ? 

 It is far more credible to me that such was the 

 case than that the inhabitant of Chatham Island, 

 for instance, reached that place in a frail canoe, 

 through an always stormy and boisterous sea. Here, 

 again, we are supported by tradition. There are 

 dim recollections of important geological events 

 amongst the natives of New Zealand : they say 

 that the middle island was formerly connected 

 with the northern. The geologist and the natural 

 philosopher never despise such traditions, as they 

 serve to lead them to new truths. 



Of all existing languages that of the Polynesians 

 appears to me the most primeval and ancient in its 

 structure. In many of the islands we find the 

 native a happy child-like being, simple and innocent, 

 and living upon the free gifts of nature ; he is aware 

 of the existence of a great Spirit, but it strikes him 

 with awe, and he has not yet speculated on it. It 

 is in a great degree a pure abstract belief, resulting 

 from instinct, as we should expect it to have been 



