J. T. Tuomson.—On Barat or Barata Fossil Words. 159 
The present paper is thus principally devoted to the following question, 
viz., by analogy in fossil words or radicals, how far are we justified in 
denoting Hindustan as the original seat of the Malagas-malayo-polynesian 
race, which, for the sake of brevity and distinction, I have taken the liberty 
to term Barata. In attempting to solve this question, we must have regard 
to other theories that have been propounded by various authors. The most 
generally accepted theory, viz., that the Malagaso-polynesians were of 
Malay origin, I have already dealt with in my previous essays. Another 
theory I have since observed to be that the Malayo-malagasi had sprung 
from the Polynesian, the supporters averring that as the Polynesian was 
the more primitive and ancient section, he must have been the progenitor. 
To this the following considerations suggest themselves: 1st. Admitted 
that the Polynesian is the most primitive and ancient section, this only 
denotes that he was the first to migrate from his original seat, when that 
seat—whether in Africa, Asia, America, or Australia—was in possession of 
& primitive and ancient ancestry ; and as there have been waves of migra- 
tion from time to time, the most primitive have stretched out furthest.* 
2nd. The over-running of skilled populous and armed nations by the 
simple weak and defenceless, is contrary to all experience, ancient or 
modern. 8rd. Another theory has been suggested, that Africa was the 
original seat of the race, another that it was in Egypt; but as these have 
had little acceptation, I merely notice the same. 
Before entering into the comparison of words in different dialects or 
languages, i in order to judge of the connection of race we must hold in view 
this fact, that the radicals bear but a small proportion to the whole, thus in 
an English dictionary of 90,000 words, not more than 4000 or „y part are 
Saxon. Hence, amongst the races whose languages we are about to 
consider, and whose dictionaries do not count over 5000 to 6000 words, we 
must be prepared to find not over 800 words more or less which can come 
under the denomination of radical terms or fossil words. This fact at the 
same time facilitates the investigation, making it less laborious. 
The number of works that can be compared are further curtailed by the 
subject or object being only known in portions of the regions inhabited. 
Thus while I have gone over many full vocabularies, I have been forced to 
strike out many of the words from the above cause. For instance, the 
cocoa-nut well known to the Malay is not known to the Maori. In a similar 
manner the deer, elephant, plantain, rice, &c., are well known in some 
regions but not in others—hence, though they come under the designation of 
radical terms, they are inapplicable in our enquiry. 
—: 
* See Trans, N.Z. Inst., Vol. IV., 1871, p. 47. 
