﻿J. T. Thomson. — The Whence of the Maori. 39 



those of tlie Molucca group (including both Papuan and Asianesian races) 

 have the greatest affinity to the Maori — this glossarially as well as phoneti- 

 cally, and in comparison with which the latter is very remote from the true 

 Malay, as spoken at Singapore and Malacca. So, if the origin of the Maori 

 Wcis to he sought in the Indian Archipelago, it is in the Molucca group it would 

 be most reasonably placed. Yet, even if this determination were accepted, 

 the affinities of the language of Madagascar to those of the Indian Archipelago 

 are again to be accounted for before it could be acceptable to the unbiassed 

 inquirer. The theory of Crawfurd, that the Malagasi were planted on their 

 island from Sumatra by storm-clriven proas, is contrary to all experience, for 

 in no place have we confirmatory examples of such. Thus, the ocean space 

 between Africa and South America, a distance of only 1,560 geographical 

 miles, had been insuperable to the natives— equally so from North America 

 to the Sandwich. Islands, a distance of 2,400 geographical miles. How, then, 

 could a large nation, such as the Malagasi, have been implanted by distressed 

 and storm-driven natives over an open ocean distance of 3,000 miles % 



So the broad fact yet remains that the language of Madagascar is not 

 only glossarially allied to the dialects of the Indian Archipelago, Ijut 

 Humboldt (the most eminent authority on the subject) attests to its identity 

 of construction, phonologically and ideologically ; thus, these distant races, 

 notwithstanding the insuperable barriers to direct intercourse, have had one 

 focus of origin. To find this focus we are forced by the above arguments to 

 seek for another region, and South Hindostan geographically stands alone 

 as that possible common parent. Proofs of the archaic ISTegro blood and 

 language of this region, already quoted, also lead to this supposition. If, 

 then, in the first place. South India be accepted as the focus of such extensive 

 migrations, we must see what proofs there are to support this new aspect. 



Looking first to the earliest historical data that I have had access to, Marco 

 Polo, writing in the 13th century, says of Madagascar, "Leaving Socotra, and 

 steering a course south and south-west for 1,000 miles, you arrive at the great 

 Island of Madagascar, which is one of the largest and most fertile in the world. 

 The island is visited by many ships from various parts of the world, bringing 

 assortments of goods, consisting of brocades and silks of various patterns, 

 which are sold to the merchants of the island and bartered for goods in return, 

 upon all of which they make large profits. The vessels that sail from the 

 coast of Malabar (South India) for this island, perform the voyage in twenty 

 to twenty-five days, but in their returning voyage are obliged to struggle for 

 three months, so strong is the current of water which constantly runs to the 

 southward." 



Thus there seems, prior to the advent of the Europeans, to have been 

 constant and intimate intercourse between Madagascar and South India, and 



