284 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



b. The Feejee Islands. 



Eastward from Celebes, and nearly equidistant with Madagascar, 

 we have the Feejee Islands; situated entirely beyond the direct in- 

 fluence of the East Indies. We find nevertheless, a regular system 

 of mythology; oracles; the javelin or throwing-spear ; the patera or 

 shallow drinking-bow! ; the ' pipe of Pan :' and the ' alabastron,' with 

 the practice of anointing. We have likewise, the wooden neck-pillow, 

 and the practice of circumcision; both, common to the ancient inhabi- 

 tants of the Thebaid, and also to the modern Abyssinians, and their 

 neighbours on the south. We have further, the legend of an enor- 

 mous bird, the ' Rok' of the Arabian Tales; and a similar story, is 

 said to be likewise current in Madagascar and in the neighbouring 

 parts of Africa. 



Among the subjects which promise to throw light on the affiliation 

 of nations, none more deserves attention, than the calendar and state 

 of astronomical knowledge. These points, Viave been much neglected 

 in the accounts of the East Indian and Pacific islands. The Fee- 

 jeeans, have a regular calendar. And I may add, that Veindovi kept 

 a strict account of the number of moons, during the whole time he 

 was on board tlie Vincennes. 



c. Polynesia. 



Tiie Polynesians, notwithstanding their more eastern geographical 

 position, have most of their customs, arts, and acquired knowledge, in 

 common with the Feejeeans ; but there are certain points, which re- 

 quire a separate notice. 



The eagerness with which whole communities, young and old, 

 devoted themselves to reading and writing, when these arts were 

 introduced ; and the care previously taken, to preserve and transmit 

 poetry and history by means of living records, are facts of interest, 

 under more than one point of view. Whoever has witnessed some- 

 thing of this, will hardly be willing to admit: that such a people 

 would ever have lost the art of writing. It should seem then, as has 

 been remarked by others, that the Polynesians belong to a wave of 

 migration that preceded the invention of letters. 



