m 



THE fTflNOLOOY OF THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



stretching along ,the* 8. E. boundary of the Asiatic table land, 

 hag slowly been reached by its eastern and western races, successive 

 rnaases of whom have been pressed and attracted into il ( and Oms 

 introduced Iranian and S. E. Afdnn population and culture to 

 supplant or blend with the ancient Africo-Indian. That A*Vm a 

 anrl the A ftiro- Asian ethnic region which preceeded the Iranian and 

 8emiric developments, and not Asi »nesia, have been the chid founts 

 of the Indo-Afi ican physical and linguistic type, in other words 

 that this ethnic movement was from west to east, or the reverse of 

 the great continental one which peopled Africa itself, is capable of 

 abundant proof. ■ , 



COKSECTIOX B ETWEES AS I AW EM A AND TIIK 1HDO-TIBETAN A5t> TIBETO- 

 ANAM LANDS. 



Physical The two principal forms of the S, E. Asian head, 

 the angular (square, loienge, or oblong) and the ovoid, both well 

 distinguished from- the Afrtco-Iudian shape of ihe pure Papuan, 

 tbe different shades of brown, yellowish, and brownish yellow, 

 which prevail to tbe westward of China, and tbe coarse lanky hair 

 which characterises the E. Asian races, are all repeated in the 

 purer Malaya-Polynesian tribes. The remarkable ovoid forms 

 chatacterisiic of the anamesfc and many of the insular tribes, and 

 tbe more delicate varieties approaching to oval, n re* identical with 

 those so often found amongst the ■ Indo-Tibetan tribes. Tim quasi 

 Iranian character of some of the Asianesian races appears to connect 

 itself with a western influence exerted on the ethnology of tho 



• When iha Inferior of S. TT. Africa in explored, and Its lanuruatfea examined, 

 we msy expect thai great light will be thrown gn the ethnology of Madagascar and 

 the ha* tern Archipelagoes. One of the populous and mora civilised nations existing* 

 there, anil known lo the tribe* with which we tire in contact, climb Into their 

 houses, »t> tall their construction b probably similar to those oi the Hova*. It it 

 becoming very pmha ble that the twain of the N Lis is it-ally the connecting chain of 

 the eJ^iilraUon of Uie whole of E. Africa. Evwi if its head is not to tar to the 

 eotrhwat-d as ih« gn-at lake nf Nyassi, which Dr Heke ha* shuwn strong grounds 

 for be (erlttg, it must approach so near to it as to Connect It* uatlim* wtih thuta 

 around and n>ur the lake. These again are closely c<ni>- ■ i- . '.vrhali the southern 

 tribe*. The remit b that the great and elevated basin of the Ni e. and the lake 

 basins to tbe southward, have been the seat of econtinuous chain ot waiiotti* which 

 have enabled to s<*m*kwahk> decree of civilisation. The history of the Egypt iana 

 carries back the b>cal exbtence oi these tribes to a remote eji<>. for their langi an 

 alone prove that they were not colonies from Egypt in lis highly dcvetoiied nUWrwal 

 per od. The passes sad rivers louJinff from the. watershed to *ihe Ea*te n set bord 

 must have given tlteea nations the possession of this coast before Aden arose. The 

 greater rivers moat have contained considerable tribes, using boars like all o her 

 river tribe*. From many of those In ihe great extent of era t fecirg Madagascar,, 

 families from time 'o rime most have crossed 10 that island, and uliimaiely an 

 fnrerooune was prnbahly kept up. When Kuropeans Cat d *cose.ed tba E. Afri- 

 can coast, they found the Arab* tn fo ^e-ai m oi all the principal rUers and placet 

 an'! monopolising the trade and navigation, bni they also (oui.d the natives 

 largely employed by them a> seamen. What ifin influence ot dominant and 

 mono|>olisii(g foreigners i« upon rates like the African, may be seen trom the 

 examplea of those rivers which had not been previoorly occupied by the Aiabs 

 when the Portuguese arrived. Tbe greater part of the population hav* >!nc* been 

 eorapejed to abandon their old pursuit* and locations and. ret ire iu u< ib« interior 

 whUe those who remained have g* eat ly degenerated . 



