﻿J. T. Thomson. — The Whence of the Maori. _ 25 



" Journal of the Indian Archipelago " (vol. i., 1847), I gave tlie result of 

 measurements that I made on crania of the three divisions. The system of 

 measurement was explained in that journal, being by squares on a central 

 section of the head, the standard line being drawn througli the ineatus 

 auditorius and base of the nose. I then found that the brow of the European 

 equalled 88, of the Eastern Asiatic 71, and of the Negro 60. The ape of the 

 Indian Archipelago, I may add, equalled 44. 



The jet black native of Central Africa may be likened to one pole of 

 humanity, and the fair, light-haired native of Scandinavia may be likened to 

 the other, between which there are links innumerable till the chain is joined. 

 Thus, while in physical aspect there are graduations from one race or tribe to 

 another till the most remote are joined, so in language, the same law has been 

 found to appertain. Affinities of language must not only be judged of by 

 glossaries, but by phonetic systems and ideology. On this branch of the 

 subject the late Mr. J. R. Logan (than whom there was no more ardent an 

 enquirer), by a laborious and exhaustive comparison of the various languages 

 of Asia and Polynesia, has drawn the following conclusions. He says 

 (" Jour. E. I. Arch.," vol. vii.) " That there is reason to believe that the strong 

 Africanism of some of the lower South Indian castes is really a remnant of an 

 archaic formation of a more decided African character. In some places 

 Tamil books record that the original inhabitants had tufted hair, and some of 

 their customs were Africo-Papuan. The black Doms of Kumaon have hair 

 still inclining to wool. The phonetic elements of the Dravirian (South 

 Indian) formation are numerous, and some of them have a somewhat African 

 and Australian character." It is probable, therefore, he continues, " after a 

 lengthened analysis of the various languages, and on linguistic evidence alone, 

 that the Dravirians (as above described) occupied the plain of the Ganges and 

 all India before the present Gangetic tribes imported or diffused the ultra 

 Indian and Thibetan elements which are now found in their languages. 

 India, from its position and climate, was destined to receive and not to send 

 out dominant races. It has only been less recipient and passive than Asianesia." 

 Again, " the main affinities of the Dravirian formation point two ways, the 

 linguistic chiefly to Sythic, the physical chiefly to an Afiican origin or 

 fraternity." Of other Asiatic languages, he remai'ks "that the principle 

 languages, from the Fin and Hungarian in the West to the Japanese in the 

 East, have many phonetic charactei'S in common, particularly that of vocalic 

 harmony. The Sythic languages, as a whole, appear in their earlier form to 

 have embraced the entire range of the simple definitives. In this respect 

 they resemble the Thibetan, Ultra-Indian, Dravirian, Caucasian, South 

 African, and Asianesian systems. " He adds "that, ideologically, the Dravirian 

 and Sythic formations have a close agreement, and \i\ some common traits 



