THE HUMAN SPECIES. 229 



rowers ; and both together are the descendants of wan- 

 derers, blown off by untoward monsoons, in like manner 

 as are still frequently witnessed, in a similar condition, 

 on most islands of the South Seas. 



While the European navigator and conqueror is in- 

 variably held to be an enemy, nothing but ancient 

 amicable reminiscences can account for the peaceful 

 passage of Chinese and Japanese traders through most, 

 if not all the seas infested by the vast pirate fleets be- 

 fore mentioned. A tacit law of common affinity binds 

 the inhabitants of the South Seas, even to the most 

 remote islands, sufficiently to receive among them the 

 shipwrecked or storm-driven wanderer on equal terms, 

 excepting where the resident population is of purer 

 Papua stock ; for these regard all others as conquerors, 

 and usually treat them in the light of victims. 



The South Sea islanders, beside feature, hair, and 

 personal conformation, show their consanguinity with 

 Caucasians most distinctly in the structure of their 

 minds. While other savages and barbarians are in- 

 curious, merely satisfied with childish surprise, or value 

 only the superior means of destruction possessed by 

 Europeans ; they alone, though so near the savage state 

 when first visited by our navigators, were struck with 

 the wonders of civilization in a right spirit. No other 

 tribe of Man was so desirous of learning the useful, the 

 peaceful, and ornamental arts of Europe. Some exam- 

 ples may be quoted of other races listening with respect 

 to the doctrines of religion, and becoming imperfect 

 proselytes ; but the Polynesians, even when they were 



