176 W. J. Crawford, Esq., on the Xeyroes of the 



as they term the free unsubjugated Indians of Spanish 

 America 



Spanish writers term the negroes of the Philippine islands, 

 from their diminutive size, Negritos, or little negroes. Some 

 English writers have lately termed them Austral negroes, 

 which is manifestly improper, since they are found equally in 

 the northern as in the southern hemisphere ; and this even 

 in the islands of the Indian Archipelago. 



The oriental negro is even found in a state of civilisation 

 below that of the brown-complexioned and lank-haired race 

 in their neighbourhood, whether these be Malayan or Poly- 

 nesian. There is great diversity in their civilisation ; some, 

 with the least possible knowledge of the commonest arts of 

 life, live precariously on the spontaneous produce of their 

 forests and waters, both animal and vegetable ; while others 

 practise a rude husbandry, construct boats, and undertake 

 coasting voyages for the fishing of the tortoise and tripang, 

 or holotlmrian. 



The negro of the Andaman islands is below five feet in 

 stature, and is of the lowest civilisation. The negro of the 

 northern portion of the Malay peninsula is also of short sta- 

 ture. A full-grown male of average height was found to 

 measure only four feet nine inches. The negro of the Phi- 

 lippine islands, found chiefly on the large island of Lucon, is 

 also diminutive. They dwell in the mountains, generally 

 maintain their independence, and live in constant warfare 

 with the Malays. 



There are no negroes in Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and Cele- 

 bes, nor is there any record or tradition of any. The great 

 island of New Guinea is almost wholly peopled by negroes, 

 who differ from each other, and more so from those distant 

 tribes described as existing in the Andaman islands, in the 

 northern parts of the Malay peninsula, and in Lucon. 



M. Modera, an officer of the Dutch navy, has described 

 two negro tribes which exist on the west coast of New Guinea. 

 After describing one of these tribes, he says, — " In the after- 

 noon of the same day, at the time of high water, three of the 

 naturalists went in a boat well armed to the same spot, where 

 they found the tree full of natives of both sexes, who sprung 



