'fKANSACTXONS OF THE SECTIONS, 1G7 



On- the AnglicizUig and Gaelicizinij of Surnames. Bi/ Hecxok MacLeax. 



It was shown tliat tlie value of surnames as tests of race, or of the proportion of 

 race-elements, in the Scottish Highlands, as well as in Ireland, was much impaired 

 hy the frequent adoption, both in the middle ages and in recent times, of translated 

 or of like-sounding surnames reciprocally by the two races in contact with each 

 other in those countries j and numerous examples were given of such changes, e.[/. 

 Maclan into Johnson. 



Explorailons in the Islands of the Coral Sea, Bi/ Kerry- Nicholls. 



Hutives of New Hebrides, Banks, and Santa- Cruz Islands. 



Tlie natives inliabiting these islands owe their origin to the same stock from 

 which the western and southern portion of New Guinea and the islands Wug im- 

 mediately to the southward of that countr}' appear to have been peopled. This 

 stock is evidently Papuan, and has by its numerous and widespreading branches 

 not only extended itself over the islands of the Coral Sea, but as far east as the 

 Fijis, in which latter country, however, the race has evidently received a strong- 

 infusion of Malay blood. 



It is probable that the islands were inhabited at a very remote period, but at 

 what era population set in, whether at the first instance it was purely accidental 

 and subsequently gradual, or whether originally it was undertaken from design and 

 accelerated at any particular period by political convulsions, cannot at present be 

 determined, as there is no date on which to rely with confidence. But whatever 

 opinion may be formed on the identity of the present race, the strilciug resemblance 

 in person, featm-e, language, and customs which prevails throughout justifies the 

 conclusion that the original population issued from the same som-ce, and that the 

 peculiarities and characteristics which distinguish the tribes or communities on 

 diflerent islands have been mainly brought about by long separation, local circum- 

 stances, and the intercourse of foreign trades and settlers. 



Physically considered these people are a well-built athletic race of savages, who 

 appear to inherit in a very marked degree all the characteristics of the Papuan 

 race. The men average about 5 feet inches in height, are erect in figure, with 

 broad chests and massive limbs, which in many instances display great muscular 

 development. The colour of the skin is usually of a dark reddish brown, but some- 

 times it is quite black, and is often covered with short curly hair, especially about 

 the breast, back, and shoulders. They have large well-formed heads, the facial 

 angle is about 4G°, while the cranium in the majority of instances betokens a fair 

 degree of mental development. The features are usually regular in form, the fore- 

 head high and massive, with a considerable prominency in the region of the frontal 

 bone ; the nose is mostly flat, but iu some instances aquiline, the nostrils wide, the 

 mouth large and firm; the lips well cut and slightly full; the teeth square, strongly 

 set and very white and even ; while the eye, large, of a dark brown colour and 

 shaded by long lashes, is not too deeply set and is quick and penetrating in its 

 glance. 



The hai:', which forms one of the most remarkable featm-es of this race, is dis- 

 tributed thickly over the head in the form of small spiral cm-Is, and when allowed 

 to grow in its natural way has a woolly appearance, and resembles at first "lance 

 that of the African negTO ; but it is in reality much finer and softer. The beai-d, 

 which is of the same crisp curly nature as the hair, is worn short. In the northern 

 islands the men go completely naked, but in the southern islands, where the climate 

 is slightly cooler, they affect a scant covering about the loins. They are fond of 

 decorating the head with flowers and feathers and of tattooing the face with red 

 and blue pigments, which imparts to them a savage and ferocious look. The form 

 of tattooing, however, varies much upon diflerent islands, and seems to serve as a 

 distinctive mark among the various tribes inhabiting them. On the island of 

 Tana the natives tattoo each cheek with big patches of red pigment, and wear- blue 

 streaks under the eves and across the forehead. On the other islands various forms 



