Purrurps.— Civilization of the Pacific. 85 
and publie schools might well be combined. One great difficulty exists 
with regard to secular education. Each group of islands has not only its 
peculiar language, but in many instances distinct district dialects—the 
missionaries say, distinct languages. The Rev. H. Codrington, in one of 
his early lectures, remarks, ** It is not that each island has its own language, 
but that there are many languages, mutually unintelligible, on one island. 
I have a little chart of a part of the New Hebrides—the Shepherd Islands, 
including Tisiko and Fate; there are twelve islands and thirteen tongues, 
mutually unintelligible.” 
Western Polynesia, however, possesses a greater diversity of language 
than Eastern or Central Polynesia, in consequence of having been populated 
not only by colonies of Asiatics and Papuan negroes, but also by many 
wanderers from Polynesia itself, driven westward by the trade winds. New 
Hebrides and the Solomon Islands contain many settlements of pure Poly- 
nesians. In Eastern and Central Polynesia the different dialects of the 
parent Malayan tongue are not so numerous. They must, however, rank 
as distinct languages in consequence of the missionary clergy having been 
compelled to erect them into that position. The Sandwich, Society, Cook’s, 
Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian Islands have each their published Bibles, 
grammars, dictionaries, and vocabularies. Portions of the Scriptures have 
also been translated into some of the languages spoken in the following 
islands :—Marquesas, Caroline, Marshall, Gilbert, New Hebrides, Banks, 
. Loyalty, New Caledonia groups. The Press has indeed aided Christianity 
in the Pacific. 
Whether it is advisable to continue this bountiful supply of language is 
very doubtful. A population of little over a million does not require 25 or 
90 different languages. It would be much better for the natives to learn 
one useful language, which could be used as a medium for imparting secular 
education, than the present numerous dialects of one or two parent tongues. 
One language is amply sufficient for Eastern, Central, and Northern Poly- 
nesia, another for Western Polynesia. In my opinion two languages are 
alone required—one founded upon a Malayan, the other upon a Papuan 
basis. The subject is very important, as the future work of Government in 
the Pacific will be much aided by such a simplification, for the cost of 
ruling the islands will be increased in proportion to the number of languages. 
It is also doubtful whether the English language is suitable to the tropics ; 
the natives under our rule will pick it up, but it is much too harsh io 
become the popular language in Polynesia—French and Spanish are both 
more suitable. It would, however, be better for the English language to 
be taught than the numerous native languages which are at present being 
in a manner built up. Australia will contribute a large number of English- 
