THE MALAY RACE. 



101 



of Mr. Nuttall, communicated to me before leaving home ; and also 

 by the figures of Choris and Langsdorff ; but on this point, I am 

 able to adduce further testimony. The intelligent Hawaiian lady be- 

 fore mentioned, who had seen individuals from all parts of the coast, 

 regarded " the Californians as differing- from the northern tribes, and 

 as identical with her own people." Mr. Agate, who entered California 

 by land, recorded in his note-book on reaching the Sacramento : that 

 " the complexion is darker than in the natives to the north of them, and 

 their general appearance reminded him of the South Sea islanders." 

 In the course of our boat excursion up the Sacramento, Lieut. Alden, 

 after witnessing the superior stature of the people over the Chinooks, 

 their darker complexion and different style of countenance, their 

 crowding to the river bank, their ready salutation and cheerful open 

 behaviour, expressed himself satisfied of their Polynesian relationship. 



Here then, seemed to be a clue to some points in Californian his- 

 tory, which are at variance with our experience on the eastern side of 

 the continent. Such for instance, as the capturing of the native 

 women for house-servants. The men would be treated with as little 

 ceremony, could they be induced to remain in the settlements; 

 though, as they can be hired for a trifle to come in and labour, there 

 is no object in enslaving them. 



The difference in ])hysical race seems to hold out some prospect, 

 that the destiny of the aboriginals of this part of America, may be 

 different from that of the eastern tribes : and in connexion, the cir- 

 cumstance may be noted, that the crews of trading-vessels on the 

 coast, belong equally, for the most part, to the Malay race. The 

 reason assigned for this, was, " that in a country actually without 

 government, White seamen had proved troublesome ;" and Polyne- 

 sians were selected, as being more tractable, and not disposed to 

 create difficulty. In Oregon also, the "islanders were preferred for 

 labourers to Whites from beyond the mountains; as being more 

 faithful to their engagements, and besides, always good-natured." 

 And lastly, while the Whites are arrogating to themselves the islands 

 of the Pacific, Polynesians have actually found their way into the 

 United Stales, and in some of our seaports, appear to have established 

 themselves permanently. 



There were many Polynesians at the Bay of San Francisco, and 

 for a while, I was unable to distinguish them from the half-civilized 

 Californians. After, however, a test had been once pointed out, there 

 was no further difficulty : for the hair of the Californian is invariably 



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