NO. II MELANESIANS AND AUSTRALIANS HRDLICKA 2/ 



can race; the tall Selk'nam, especially, show far-reaching analogies with the 

 Tehuelche of Patagonia, while the smaller, more pygmoid Yamana and Hala- 

 kwulnp resemble some of the shorter-statured Indian tribes of northern South 

 America, especially in the interior of Amazonas. However, notwithstanding this 

 more general outer equality, there appeared on closer study various unmis- 

 takable peculiarities which have the status of racial features." (Pp. 259-260.) 



On the basis of a relatively considerable amount of Australian and Fuegian 

 material it has become possible to draw the broad conclusion that in the struc- 

 ture of the individual bones, as in the total build of the cranial vault, there are 

 extensive similarities, similarities that for the most part extend also to the 

 Neandertal races. On the other hand, however, there is found, as apparent from 

 tlie dimensional determinations, a smaller series of characteristics which the 

 Fuegians share with the Neandertalers but not with the Australo-Melanesians. 

 These facts indicate in what light the relations of these groups must be appraised : 

 they point undoubtedly to an original connection ; they all denote a certain 

 original style of the structural plan, which manifests itself to small details. 

 This assumption receives further strengthening and support from the study of 

 the facial parts of the skull. (P. 266.) 



THE MELANESIANS OF BOLIVIA 



While the above reports were accumulating, a new " Melanesian " 

 focus developed in eastern Bolivia. Called to the country by the 

 University of La Paz about 1925, Dr. Richard N. Wegner visited 

 Bolivia, observed some of the native tribes of the country, and 

 believed that he saw or learned of physical types among them that 

 resembled the Melanesians. 



In 1927 he published a brief account of these types, with six photo- 

 graphs of individuals. He has not seen the people in question, the 

 photographs having been taken by Engineer R. Gerstmann, who had 

 met with a small group and who furnished Wegner both the pictures 

 and the information concerning them. They belong to certain nomads, 

 small parties of which, surrounded by Indian tribes, roam through the 

 forests of eastern Bolivia between the Piray and Grande Rivers. 

 They are described as in some instances rather tall (one man 1.78 

 meters), with markedly wavy hair and a strong growth of beard. 

 They also show thick lips, low root of the nose, flat nose with trans- 

 verse apertures, dark, Negroid skin color; but they are asserted to 

 have " not the least to do " with the now widely spread Negroes in the 

 area. To find such a " strongly differing race " among the Indian 

 tribes of the region is, in the opinion of Wegner, of " sensational " 



climatiques de ces regions, aujourd'hui si inhospitalieres, aient pu permettre le 

 passage d'une migration humaine. Dans cette hypothese, I'exode australien vers 

 I'Amerique remonterait a 6.000 ans environ." (P. 24.) 

 " " die als Rassenmerkmale sich ausgaben ". 



