The more easterly islands

The more easterly islands of Melanesia show, as in Fiji and the New Hebrides, the largest proportion of Polynesian influences. Fiji indeed cannot be understood apart from Tonga; Fiji is "upper," Tonga "lower." The relations between these two groups are most intimate. Physically the Fijians must be regarded as hybrids between the Mongoloid and the Negroid; etymologically the Tongan is of all Polynesian dialects the nearest to the Fijian. In style the productions of Fiji bear the closest resemblance to those of Samoa. But the broad paddles of New Hanover, with strong middle rib, also remind us vividly of this group.

Carved wooden plaques, used as stamps, from the Fiji Islands. (Godeffroy Collection.)

New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands form a district by themselves. The inhabitants of the former island are more pronounced negroids than those of the latter, where, indeed, Mare contains a Polynesian colony, self-founded; but in both Polynesian influences are clearly apparent. Deducting the effects of the soil and the unfavourable climate, there still remain many peculiarities corresponding to the secluded position. Among these are the circular huts, the peculiar shape of spears and clubs, the absence of the bow, the use of the pretty brown bat's fur for all kinds of adornments. Special to New Caledonia are the binding of the grip of a weapon with string, or cloth, the attachment of woollen tassels, and the like; also the broad jade blades, the beak-shaped clubs, the absence or rudeness of sculpture. The closest affinities to New Caledonia are shown by the northern New Hebrides.

While Polynesian influences have flowed so copiously over the eastern boundary of Melanesia that they got possession of whole islands, Malay influences have been far less active on the west side. Only in western New Guinea are they decidedly predominant. On its eastern shores, till you come towards Tagai, the people of New Guinea were ten years ago still completely in the stone age; while in the west the working of iron had long been known. Spear-heads, short swords, and knives soon became common in the palaces on the coast of Geelvink Bay.

The colonies coming from the east, who settled in the coast districts of eastern New Guinea, appear to have made more impression than the conquerors and rulers from the west. But that, in spite of that, an old connection must be assumed, is quite clearly seen both from the negroid elements which, scattered as they are throughout the Malay Archipelago, are represented with especial strength in its eastern half, and also from ethnographic characteristics. In the district bounded to the westward by a line drawn through Halmahera and Flores, both elements appear so strongly that the region appears to be one of transition from Malay to Melanesian. Here we find forms of bows and arrows showing a remarkable similarity with the Melanesian; so, too, older forms of spear, filing of teeth, and tattooing, have maintained a wide extension.