INTRODUCTION. 51 



The Malay r.iee is the most widely scattered ; it exhibits greater 

 variety in its institutions and social condition than all oilier races 

 combined ; and it is truly a maritime race. A marked peculiarity 

 is the elevated occiput, which gives to the 1. in front, a 



broader appearance than in Europeans ; there is a tendency also to 

 tion of the upper maxilla. There is a great variety of 

 stature among them : some of the Polynesians (as the Taheitians) 

 are the largest of mankind, while the East Indian tribi 

 small stature, — this may dep< ad mi food, though in both it is prin- 

 cipally vegetable; tin- fonm r (where almost unknown) live 

 on farinaceous roots and fruits, the latter live almost entin 



Speaking of the beautiful submarine creation of the coral islands, 

 he says it . mimal life, even ma tables 



nearly wanting. Tin' mineral kingdom was also absent ; noth- 

 ing hut immem of the debris of animals. Myri 

 ids and th i-palms announced uninb 

 islands ; so, on binding, did ti;. of the house-fly, and of the 

 Morinda, though the with the I' which 

 spreads without human aid. The vegetable prod these 

 islands are limited to about thirty Bpecies, of remarkable uniformity 

 over graphical distance. 



Among tlie Polynesian customs is the salute by rubbing noses 

 together. He calls the Californians, Mexicans and West Indians, 

 as; a Bingle glance satisfied him of their Malay 

 affinity. At th 



distinguish native Polynesians from tin- half-civilized Californians. 

 Tie- hair, howei I I the' former being waved ami 



inclined to curl, while that of the latter i> invariably straight. The 

 Californians have not the custom of scalping, nor do they use the 

 tomahawk. The p of two aboriginal races in America 



recalls certain historical coincidences. The Toltecs, the 



tinted with agriculture and 

 nauufactures. Now, such cultivation could not have been derived 

 from the northern Mongolian population, who in their parent coun- 

 tries were by climate prevented from being agriculturists. If, then, 

 this art was introduced at all from ahroad, it must have come by a 

 southern route, and, to all ap] . through the Malay race. 



This is not incompatible with an ancient tradition, attributing 

 '■ the origin of their civilization to a man having a long beard ;'" ho 

 could not have been a Mongolian ; he might have been a Malay. 

 '• if. h ny actual remnant id' the Malay race exists in the- 



eastern pan of North America, it is prohahly to be looked for among 



