PACIFIC NATIVES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3267, 24 May 1943, Page 7

PACIFIC NATIVES

RESEMBLANCE TO MAORIS MELANESIANS &. POLYNESIANS The natives of islands of the Southwest Pacific may be divided, broadly, into two groups—the Melanesians and the Polynesians. The latter, of course, are of the same race as our own Maoris, to whom they bear a strong resemblance in many ways.

As a rule, the islands inhabited by the Polynesians come much closer to the romantic conception of the South Sea islands than do those inhabited by the Melanesians, which are usually hotter and closer to the Equator.

The people of Melanesian stock are much less uniform in. type than.' the Polynesians. The Solomon Islander is short, wiry and primitive in. his habits. Further south, the Melanesian is taller and more strongly-built, and in Fiji he is a magnificent individual. They are extremely dark-skinned,’ and their language is divided into a great number of dialects. It is virtually impossible for,a Melanesian from one group of islands to understand the language of a native from another, whereas the Polynesians have similarities in lan guage in most parts of the Pacific.

The culture of the natives of Polynesian stock is not dissimilar from one island to another, but the Melanesia ns may range from Stone Ago simplicity to well-organised health, educational and social services.