46 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
iiity with that of the eastern Polynesia. There are 
also many points of resemblance in language, manners, 
and customs, between the South Sea Islanders and the 
inhabitants of Madagascar in the west ; the inhabitants 
of the Aleutian and Kurile islands, in the north, which 
stretch along the mouth of Behring’s straits, and form 
the chain which connects the old and the new worlds ; 
and also between the Polynesians and the inhabitants 
of Mexico, and some parts of South America. The 
general cast of feature, and frequent shade of com¬ 
plexion—the practice of tatauing, which prevails among 
the Aleutians, and some of the tribes of America—the 
process of embalming the dead bodies of their chiefs, 
and preserving them uninterred—the game of chess 
among the Araucanians—the word for God being tew 
or tev —the exposure of their children—their games— 
their mode of dressing the hair, ornamenting it with 
feathers—the numerous words in their language re¬ 
sembling those of Tahiti, &c. 5 their dress, especially 
the poncho^ and even the legend of the origin of the 
Incas, bear no small resemblance to that of Tii, who 
was also descended from the sun. 
The points of resemblance are not so many as in the 
Asiatic continent and islands; but that probably arises 
from the circumstance of the great facilities furnished 
by the Hindoo records, and the absence of all original 
records relating to the history, mythology, manners, 
language, &c. of the aborigines of South America. 
Were we better acquainted with the history and insti¬ 
tutions of the first inhabitants of the new world, more 
numerous points of resemblance would probably be dis¬ 
covered. 
Other coincidences, of a more dubious character. 
