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CHAPTER XXIX

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2010

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Summary

Origin of the South Sea Islanders. I have already stated that the numerous Isles of the Pacific are peopled by two races of men, who, although possessing many characteristics in common, exhibit numerous traces of a distinct origin. This clearly appears in their physical conformation, colour, and language. The one race is allied to the negro, having a Herculean frame, black skin, and woolly, or rather crisped hair; while the hair of the other is bright, lank, and glossy, the skin of light copper colour, and the countenance resembling that of the Malay. The latter inhabit Eastern Polynesia, which includes the Sandwich, the Marquesan, the Paumotu, the Tahitian and Society, the Austral, the Hervey, the Navigators, the Friendly Islands, New Zealand, and all the smaller islands in their respective vicinities; while the former race, which we may designate the Polynesian negro, is found from the Fijis to the coast of New Holland, which, for the sake of distinction, we shall call Western Polynesia. It will appear, then, that the natives on the eastern part of New Holland, and the intertropical islands within thirty degrees east of it, including New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the Archipelago of Lonsiade, Solomon's Isles, New Caledonia, the New Hebrides, and the Fijis, differ essentially from the copper-coloured inhabitants of the other islands. There is indeed, in most of the islands, a partial intermixture of these races; but the great mass of the people clearly exhibits the distinction I have made.

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A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands
With Remarks Upon the Natural History of the Islands, Origin, Languages, Traditions, and Usages of the Inhabitants
, pp. 501 - 521
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1837

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  • CHAPTER XXIX
  • John Williams
  • Book: A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands
  • Online publication: 29 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511695926.031
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  • CHAPTER XXIX
  • John Williams
  • Book: A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands
  • Online publication: 29 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511695926.031
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

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  • CHAPTER XXIX
  • John Williams
  • Book: A Narrative of Missionary Enterprises in the South Sea Islands
  • Online publication: 29 August 2010
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511695926.031
Available formats
×