THE PACIFIC RACES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10640, 20 May 1912, Page 4

THE PACIFIC RACES.

Professor McMillan-Brown, of Christdburch, reached Sydnej' a few days ago on he's way to tine Malay Archipelago, where he is going to see whether there is more • Polynesianism on the eastern end than the western side of the islands. Discussing the purpose of his trip, the professor told an interviewer that he had always been bewildered by the universal belief thai the Malay language and people had gone east into Polynesia. There were 'hundreds of Malay words that- had their derivaition in j.-'olynesiia, and how dad the language go west unless the people.went there also? Then, too, the prevailing trade wind for nine months of the year was from Polynesia to the Malay Archipelago, and danring the other three months the wjind blew fitfully, with calms and cyclonic bursts—a. condition, altogether against immigration. When the customs of the Polynesian, Malay, and Melanesian were analysed, it was found that the affinity was stronger between Polynesia and 'Fiiji than between Polynesia and Solomon Islands or (than between Polynesia, and Malay Archipelago. And in the languages the same affinity was seen. These facts, the professor added, were quite opposed to the book of genesis cf Polynesia, ibuit they, had to be answered. He was Malay Archipelago to see ithe psople—to study their heads, feaitnres and stature; and to see whether the Polynesian died off as he went westward. He would also study their ibeliefo and superstitions!, and watch it-heir manners of life. There were facts about the°e peoples that could not be explained unless the mwrch was from east to west.