226 NATURAL HISTORY OF 



are nationally denominated Dyaks, are fairer than the 

 Malays, and most likely allied to the Joasmees before 

 noticed. They are of the Horafoura stem, also marine 

 adventurers, who, having for ages frequented the north 

 coast of New Holland, have certainly caused a further 

 hybridism among the Papuas of that region, and are 

 themselves the most mixed branch of Indo-Caucasians 

 in Australasia, with a language and religious notions 

 originally unconnected with any Malay source. The 

 tribes of Borneo, here enumerated, are evidently older 

 possessors of the soil than the Malays, and the most 

 ancient in these seas excepting the Eastern Negroes, 

 who may be regarded as absorbed by them in this great 

 island, since none of the purely woolly haired stock are 

 now known to remain in the country. 



Celebes is principally inhabited by the Boun, Bou- 

 ginee, Buges, or Bugesses, of which one nation is called 

 the Macassar, and the whole appear to be of the same 

 stem as the Horafouras. Here they are again fairer 

 than the Malays, with very long black hair, and soft 

 silky beards and whiskers. Their original language, 

 more allied to southern dialects of India, with the ad- 

 mixture of Sanscrit, is now much corrupted by the 

 Malayan. The women of this island are the hand- 

 somest and most polished of the eastern seas, setting 

 the fashions which other nations strive to imitate ; and 

 a more advanced civilization is shown in several articles 

 of their manufacture, which are carried in native 

 vessels as far as Fort Cornwallis. The male popula- 

 tion are mercantile resolute seamen ana the reputation 



