Thenaturalistwillobtainaclearerideaofthevarietyandinterestoftheproductionsofthiscountry,bythestatement,thatitslandbirdsbelongto108genera,ofwhich20areexclusivelycharacteristicofit;while35belongtothatlimitedareawhichincludestheMoluccasandNorthAustralia,andwhosespeciesofthesegenerahavebeenentirelyderivedfromNewGuinea。Aboutone-halfoftheNewGuineageneraarefoundalsoinAustralia,aboutone-thirdinIndiaandtheIndo-Malayislands。
Averycuriousfact,nothithertosufficientlynoticed,istheappearanceofapureMalayelementinthebirdsofNewGuinea。WefindtwospeciesofEupetes,acuriousMalayangenusalliedtotheforked-tailwater-chats;twoofAlcippe,anIndianandMalaywren-likeform;anArachnothera,quiteresemblingthespider-
catchinghoneysuckersofMalacca;twospeciesofGracula,theMynahsofIndia;andacuriouslittleblackPrionochilus,asaw-
billedfruitpecker,undoubtedlyalliedtotheMalayanform,althoughperhapsadistinctgenus。Nownotoneofthesebirds,oranythingalliedtothem,occursintheMoluccas,orwithoneexceptioninCelebesorAustralia;andastheyaremostofthembirdsofshortflight,itisverydifficulttoconceivehoworwhentheycouldhavecrossedthespaceofmorethanathousandmiles,whichnowseparatesthemfromtheirnearestallies。Suchfactspointtochangesoflandandseaonalargescale,andataratewhich,measuredbythetimerequiredforachangeofspecies,mustbetermedrapid。Byspeculatingonsuchchanges,wemayeasilyseehowpartialwavesofimmigrationmayhaveenteredNewGuinea,andhowalltraceoftheirpassagemayhavebeenobliteratedbythesubsequentdisappearanceoftheinterveningland。
Thereisnothingthatthestudyofgeologyteachesusthatismorecertainormoreimpressivethantheextremeinstabilityoftheearth'ssurface。Everywherebeneathourfeetwefindproofsthatwhatislandhasbeensea,andthatwhereoceansnowspreadouthasoncebeenland;andthatthischangefromseatoland,andfromlandtosea,hastakenplace,notonceortwiceonly,butagainandagain,duringcountlessagesofpasttime。Nowthestudyofthedistributionofanimallifeuponthepresentsurfaceoftheearth,causesustolookuponthisconstantinterchangeoflandandsea——thismakingandunmakingofcontinents,thiselevationanddisappearanceofislands——asapotentreality,whichhasalwaysandeverywherebeeninprogress,andhasbeenthemainagentindeterminingthemannerinwhichlivingthingsarenowgroupedandscatteredovertheearth'ssurface。Andwhenwecontinuallycomeuponsuchlittleanomaliesofdistributionasthatjustnowdescribed,wefindtheonlyrationalexplanationofthem,inthoserepeatedelevationsanddepressionswhichhavelefttheirrecordinmysterious,butstillintelligiblecharactersonthefaceoforganicnature。
TheinsectsofNewGuineaarelessknownthanthebirds,buttheyseemalmostequallyremarkableforfineformsandbrilliantcolours。ThemagnificentgreenandyellowOrnithopteraeareabundant,andhavemostprobablyspreadwestwardfromthispointasfarasIndia。AmongthesmallerbutterfliesareseveralpeculiargeneraofNymphalidaeandLycaenidae,remarkablefortheirlargesize,singularmarkings,orbrilliantcoloration。Thelargestandmostbeautifuloftheclear-wingedmothsCocytiad'urvilleiisfoundhere,aswellasthelargeandhandsomegreenmothNyctalemonorontes。Thebeetlesfurnishuswithmanyspeciesoflargesize,andofthemostbrilliantmetalliclustre,amongwhichtheTmesisternusmirabilis,alongicornbeetleofagoldengreencolour;theexcessivelybrilliantrose-chafers,LomapterawallaceiandAnacamptorhinafulgida;oneofthehandsomestoftheBuprestidae,Calodemawallacei;andseveralfineblueweevilsofthegenusEupholus,areperhapsthemostconspicuous。Almostalltheotherordersfurnishuswithlargeorextraordinaryforms。Thecurioushornedflieshavealreadybeenmentioned;andamongtheOrthopterathegreatshieldedgrasshoppersarethemostremarkable。ThespeciesherefiguredMegalodonensiferhasthethoraxcoveredbyalargetriangularhornyshield,twoandahalfincheslong,withserratededges,asomewhatwavy,hollowsurface,andafaunmedianline,soasverycloselytoresemblealeaf。Theglossywing-covertswhenfullyexpanded,morethannineinchesacrossareofafinegreencolourandsobeautifullyveinedastoimitatecloselysomeofthelargeshiningtropicalleaves。Thebodyisshort,andterminatedinthefemalebyalongcurvedsword-likeovipositornotseeninthecut,andthelegsarealllongandstrongly-
spined。Theseinsectsaresluggishintheirmotions,dependingforsafetyontheirresemblancetofoliage,theirhornyshieldandwing-coverts,andtheirspinylegs。
ThelargeislandstotheeastofNewGuineaareverylittleknown,buttheoccurrenceofcrimsonlories,whicharequiteabsentfromAustralia,andofcockatoosalliedtothoseofNewGuineaandtheMoluccas,showsthattheybelongtothePapuangroup;andwearethusabletodefinetheMalayArchipelagoasextendingeastwardtotheSolomon'sIslands。NewCaledoniaandtheNewHebrides,ontheotherhand,seemmorenearlyalliedtoAustralia;andtherestoftheislandsofthePacific,thoughverypoorinallformsoflife,possessafewpeculiaritieswhichcompelustoclassthemasaseparategroup。AlthoughasamatterofconvenienceIhavealwaysseparatedtheMoluccasasadistinctzoologicalgroupfromNewGuinea,Ihaveatthesametimepointedoutthatitsfaunawaschieflyderivedfromthatisland,justasthatofTimorwaschieflyderivedfromAustralia。IfweweredividingtheAustralianregionforzoologicalpurposesalone,weshouldformthreegreatgroups:onecomprisingAustralia,Timor,andTasmania;anotherNewGuinea,withtheislandsfromBourutotheSolomon'sgroup;andthethirdcomprisingthegreaterpartofthePacificIslands。
TherelationoftheNewGuineafaunatothatofAustraliaisveryclose。ItisbestmarkedintheMammaliabytheabundanceofmarsupials,andthealmostcompleteabsenceofallotherterrestrialforms。Inbirdsitislessstriking,althoughstillveryclear,foralltheremarkableold-worldformswhichareabsentfromtheoneareequallysofromtheother,suchasPheasants,Grouse,Vultures,andWoodpeckers;whileCockatoos,Broad-tailedParrots,Podargi,andthegreatfamiliesoftheHoneysuckersandBrush-turkeys,withmanyothers,comprisingnolessthantwenty-fourgeneraofland-birds,arecommontobothcountries,andareentirelyconfinedtothem。
Whenweconsiderthewonderfuldissimilarityofthetworegionsinallthosephysicalconditionswhichwereoncesupposedtodeterminetheformsoflife-Australia,withitsopenplains,stonydeserts,drieduprivers,andchangeabletemperateclimate;
NewGuinea,withitsluxuriantforests,uniformlyhot,moist,andevergreen——thisgreatsimilarityintheirproductionsisalmostastounding,andunmistakeablypointstoacommonorigin。Theresemblanceisnotnearlysostronglymarkedininsects,thereasonobviouslybeing,thatthisclassofanimalsaremuchmoreimmediatelydependentonvegetationandclimatethanarethemorehighlyorganizedbirdsandMammalia。Insectsalsohavefarmoreeffectivemeansofdistribution,andhavespreadwidelyintoeverydistrictfavourabletotheirdevelopmentandincrease。ThegiantOrnithopteraehavethusspreadfromNewGuineaoverthewholeArchipelago,andasfarasthebaseoftheHimalayas;whiletheelegantlong-hornedAnthribidaehavespreadintheoppositedirectionfromMalaccatoNewGuinea,butowingtounfavourableconditionshavenotbeenabletoestablishthemselvesinAustralia。Thatcountry,ontheotherhand,hasdevelopedavarietyofflower-hauntingChafersandBuprestidae,andnumbersoflargeandcuriousterrestrialWeevils,scarcelyanyofwhichareadaptedtothedampgloomyforestsofNewGuinea,whereentirelydifferentformsaretobefound。Thereare,however,somegroupsofinsects,constitutingwhatappeartobetheremainsoftheancientpopulationoftheequatorialpartsoftheAustralianregion,whicharestillalmostentirelyconfinedtoit。Sucharetheinterestingsub-familyofLongicorncoleoptera——
Tmesisternitae;oneofthebest-markedgeneraofBuprestidae——
Cyphogastra;andthebeautifulweevilsformingthegenusEupholus。AmongbutterflieswehavethegeneraMynes,Hypocista,andElodina,andthecuriouseye-spottedDrusilla,ofwhichlastasinglespeciesisfoundinJava,butinnootherofthewesternislands。
Thefacilitiesforthedistributionofplantsarestillgreaterthantheyareforinsects,anditistheopinionofeminentbotanists,thatnosuchclearly-definedregionspanbemarkedoutinbotanyasinzoology。Thecauseswhichtendtodiffusionareheremostpowerful,andhaveledtosuchinterminglingoftheflorasofadjacentregionsthatnonebutbroadandgeneraldivisionscannowbedetected。Theseremarkshaveanimportantbearingontheproblemofdividingthesurfaceoftheearthintogreatregions,distinguishedbytheradicaldifferenceoftheirnaturalproductions。Suchdifferencewenowknowtobethedirectresultoflong-continuedseparationbymoreorlessimpassablebarriers;andaswideoceansandgreatcontrast:oftemperaturearethemostcompletebarrierstothedispersalofallterrestrialformsoflife,theprimarydivisionsoftheearthshouldinthemainserveforallterrestrialorganisms。Howevervariousmaybetheeffectsofclimate,howeverunequalthemeansofdistribution;thesewillneveraltogetherobliteratetheradicaleffectsoflong-continuedisolation;anditismyfirmconviction,thatwhenthebotanyandtheentomologyofNewGuineaandthesurroundingislandsbecomeaswellknownasaretheirmammalsandbirds,thesedepartmentsofnaturewillalsoplainlyindicatetheradicaldistinctionsoftheIndo-MalayanandAustro-
MalayanregionsofthegreatMalayArchipelago。
CHAPTERXL。
THERACESOFMANINTHEMALAYARCHIPELAGO。
PROPOSEtoconcludethisaccountofmyEasterntravels,withashortstatementofmyviewsastotheracesofmanwhichinhabitthevariouspartsoftheArchipelago,theirchiefphysicalandmentalcharacteristics,theiraffinitieswitheachotherandwithsurroundingtribes,theirmigrations,andtheirprobableorigin。
TwoverystronglycontrastedracesinhabittheArchipelago——theMalays,occupyingalmostexclusivelythelargerwesternhalfofit,andthePapuans,whoseheadquartersareNewGuineaandseveraloftheadjacentislands。Betweentheseinlocality,arefoundtribeswhoarealsointermediateintheirchiefcharacteristics,anditissometimesanicepointtodeterminewhethertheybelongtooneortheotherrace,orhavebeenformedbyamixtureofthetwo。
TheMalayisundoubtedlythemostimportantofthesetworaces,asitistheonewhichisthemostcivilized,whichhascomemostintocontactwithEuropeans,andwhichalonehasanyplaceinhistory。WhatmaybecalledthetrueMalayraces,asdistinguishedfromotherswhohavemerelyaMalayelementintheirlanguage,presentaconsiderableuniformityofphysicalandmentalcharacteristics,whilethereareverygreatdifferencesofcivilizationandoflanguage。Theyconsistoffourgreat,andafewminorsemi-civilizedtribes,andanumberofotherswhomaybetermedsavages。TheMalaysproperinhabittheMalaypeninsula,andalmostallthecoastregionsofBorneoandSumatra。TheyallspeaktheMalaylanguage,ordialectsofit;theywriteintheArabiccharacter,andareMahometansinreligion。TheJavaneseinhabitJava,partofSumatra,Madura,Bali,andBartofLombock。
TheyspeaktheJavaneseandKawilanguages,whichtheywriteinanativecharacter。TheyarenowMahometansinJava,butBrahminsinBaliandLombock。TheBugisaretheinhabitantsofthegreaterpartsofCelebes,andthereseemstobeanalliedpeopleinSumbawa。TheyspeaktheBugisandMacassarlanguages,withdialects,andhavetwodifferentnativecharactersinwhichtheywritethese。TheyareallMahometans。ThefourthgreatraceisthatoftheTagalasinthePhilippineIslands,aboutwhom,asI
didnotvisitthoseIslands,Ishallsaylittle。ManyofthemarenowChristians,andspeakSpanishaswellastheirnativetongue,theTagala。TheMoluccan-Malays,whoinhabitchieflyTernate,Tidore,Batchian,andAmboyna,maybeheldtoformafifthdivisionofsemi-civilizedMalays。TheyareallMahometans,buttheyspeakavarietyofcuriouslanguages,whichseemcompoundedofBugisandJavanese,withthelanguagesofthesavagetribesoftheMoluccas。
ThesavageMalaysaretheDyaksofBorneo;theBattaksandotherwildtribesofSumatra;theJakunsoftheMalayPeninsula;theaboriginesofNorthernCelebes,oftheSulaisland,andofpartofBouru。
Thecolourofallthesevariedtribesisalightreddishbrown,withmoreorlessofanolivetinge,notvaryinginanyimportantdegreeoveranextentofcountryaslargeasallSouthernEurope。
Thehairisequallyconstant,beinginvariablyblackandstraight,andofarathercoarsetexture,sothatanylightertint,oranywaveorcurlinit,isanalmostcertainproofoftheadmixtureofsomeforeignblood。Thefaceisnearlydestituteofbeard,andthebreastandlimbsarefreefromhair。Thestatureistolerablyequal,andisalwaysconsiderablybelowthatoftheaverageEuropean;thebodyisrobust,thebreastwelldeveloped,thefeetsmall,thick,andshort,thehandssmallandratherdelicate。Thefaceisalittlebroad,andinclinedtobeflat;theforeheadisratherrounded,thebrowslow,theeyesblackandveryslightlyoblique;thenoseisrathersmall,notprominent,butstraightandwell-shaped,theapexalittlerounded,thenostrilsbroadandslightlyexposed;thecheek-bonesareratherprominent,themouthlarge,thelipsbroadandwellcut,butnotprotruding,thechinroundandwell-formed。
Inthisdescriptionthereseemslittletoobjecttoonthescoreofbeauty,andyetonthewholetheMalaysarecertainlynothandsome。Inyouth,however,theyareoftenverygood-looking,andmanyoftheboysandgirlsuptotwelveorfifteenyearsofageareverypleasing,andsomehavecountenanceswhichareintheirwayalmostperfect。Iaminclinedtothinktheylosemuchoftheirgoodlooksbybadhabitsandirregularliving。Ataveryearlyage。theychewbetelandtobaccoalmostincessantly;theysuffermuchwantandexposureintheirfishingandotherexcursions;theirlivesareoftenpassedinalternatestarvationandfeasting,idlenessandexcessivelabour,——andthisnaturallyproducesprematureoldageandharshnessoffeatures。
IncharactertheMalayisimpassive。Heexhibitsareserve,diffidence,andevenbashfulness,whichisinsomedegreeattractive,andleadstheobservertothinlythattheferociousandbloodthirstycharacterimputedtotheracemustbegrosslyexaggerated。Heisnotdemonstrative。Hisfeelingsofsurprise,admiration,orfear,areneveropenlymanifested,andareprobablynotstronglyfelt。Heisslowanddeliberateinspeech,andcircuitousinintroducingthesubjecthehascomeexpresslytodiscuss。Thesearethemainfeaturesofhismoralnature,andexhibitthemselvesineveryactionofhislife。
Childrenandwomenaretimid,andscreamandrunattheunexpectedsightofaEuropean。Inthecompanyofmentheyaresilent,andaregenerallyquietandobedient。WhenalonetheMalayistaciturn;heneithertalksnorsingstohimself。Whenseveralarepaddlinginacanoe,theyoccasionallychantamonotonousandplaintivesong。Heiscautiousofgivingoffencetohisequals。Hedoesnotquarreleasilyaboutmoneymatters;
dislikesaskingtoofrequentlyevenforpaymentofhisjustdebts,andwilloftengivethemupaltogetherratherthanquarrelwithhisdebtor。Practicaljokingisutterlyrepugnanttohisdisposition;forheisparticularlysensitivetobreachesofetiquette,oranyinterferencewiththepersonallibertyofhimselforanother。Asanexample,ImaymentionthatIhaveoftenfounditverydifficulttogetoneMalayservanttowakenanother。Hewillcallasloudashecan,butwillhardlytouch,muchlessshakehiscomrade。Ihavefrequentlyhadtowakenahardsleepermyselfwhenonalandorseajourney。
ThehigherclassesofMalaysareexceedinglypolite,andhaveallthequieteaseanddignityofthebest-bredEuropeans。Yetthisiscompatiblewitharecklesscrueltyandcontemptofhumanlife,whichisthedarksideoftheircharacter。Itisnottobewonderedat,therefore,thatdifferentpersonsgivetotallyoppositeaccountsofthem——onepraisingthemfortheirsoberness,civility,andgood-nature;anotherabusingthemfortheirdeceit,treachery,andcruelty。TheoldtravellerNicoloConti,writingin1430,says:"TheinhabitantsofJavaandSumatraexceedeveryotherpeopleincruelty。Theyregardkillingamanasamerejest;norisanypunishmentallottedforsuchadeed。Ifanyonepurchaseanewsword,andwishtotryit,hewillthrustitintothebreastofthefirstpersonhemeets。Thepassers-byexaminethewound,andpraisetheskillofthepersonwhoinflictedit,ifhethrustintheweapondirect。"YetDrakesaysofthesouthofJava:"Thepeopleasaretheirkingsareaveryloving,true,andjust-dealingpeople;"andMr。CrawfurdsaysthattheJavanese,whomheknewthoroughly,are"apeaceable,docile,sober,simple,andindustriouspeople。"Barbosa,ontheotherhand,whosawthematMalaccaabout1660,says:"Theyareapeopleofgreatingenuity,verysubtleinalltheirdealings;
verymalicious,greatdeceivers,seldomspeakingthetruth;
preparedtodoallmannerofwickedness,andreadytosacrificetheirlives。"
TheintellectoftheMalayraceseemsratherdeficient。Theyareincapableofanythingbeyondthesimplestcombinationsofideas,andhavelittletasteorenergyfortheacquirementofknowledge。
Theircivilization,suchasitis,doesnotseemtobeindigenous,asitisentirelyconfinedtothosenationswhohavebeenconvertedtotheMahometanorBrahminicalreligions。
IwillnowgiveanequallybriefsketchoftheothergreatraceoftheMalayArchipelago,thePapuan。
ThetypicalPapuanraceisinmanyrespectstheveryoppositeoftheMalay,andithashithertobeenveryimperfectlydescribed。
Thecolourofthebodyisadeepsooty-brownorblack,sometimesapproaching,butneverquiteequalling,thejet-blackofsomenegroraces。Itvariesintint,however,morethanthatoftheMalay,andissometimesadusky-brown。Thehairisverypeculiar,beingharsh,dry,andfrizzly,growinginlittletuftsorcurls,whichinyouthareveryshortandcompact,butafterwardsgrowouttoa,considerablelength,formingthecompactfrizzledmopwhichisthePapuans'prideandglory。Thefaceisadornedwithabeardofthesamefrizzlynatureasthehairofthehead。Thearms,legs,andbreastarealsomoreorlessclothedwithhairofasimilarnature。
InstaturethePapuandecidedlysurpassestheMalay,andisperhapsequal,orevensuperior,totheaverageofEuropeans。Thelegsarelongandthin,andthehandsandfeetlargerthanintheMalays。Thefaceissomewhatelongated,theforeheadflatfish,thebrowsveryprominent;thenoseislarge,ratherarchedandhigh,thebasethick,thenostrilsbroad,withtheaperturehidden,owingtothetipofthenosebeingelongated;themouthislarge,thelipsthickandprotuberant。ThefacehasthusanaltogethermoreEuropeanaspectthanintheMalay,owingtothelargenose;andthepeculiarformofthisorgan,withthemoreprominentbrowsandthecharacterofthehaironthehead,face,andbody,enableusataglancetodistinguishthetworaces。I
haveobservedthatmostofthesecharacteristicfeaturesareasdistinctlyvisibleinchildrenoftenortwelveyearsoldasinadults,andthepeculiarformofthenoseisalwaysshowninthefigureswhichtheycarveforornamentstotheirhouses,orascharmstowearroundtheirnecks。
ThemoralcharacteristicsofthePapuanappeartometoseparatehimasdistinctlyfromtheMalayasdohisformandfeatures。Heisimpulsiveanddemonstrativeinspeechandaction。Hisemotionsandpassionsexpressthemselvesinshoutsandlaughter,inyellsandfranticleapings。Womenandchildrentaketheirshareineverydiscussion,andseemlittlealarmedatthesightofstrangersandEuropeans。
Oftheintellectofthisraceitisverydifficulttojudge,butIaminclinedtorateitsomewhathigherthanthatoftheMalays,notwithstandingthefactthatthePapuanshaveneveryetmadeanyadvancetowardscivilization。Itmustberemembered,however,thatforcenturiestheMalayshavebeeninfluencedbyHindoo,Chinese,andArabicimmigration,whereasthePapuanracehasonlybeensubjectedtotheverypartialandlocalinfluenceofMalaytraders。ThePapuanhasmuchmorevitalenergy,whichwouldcertainlygreatlyassisthisintellectualdevelopment。Papuanslavesshownoinferiorityofintellect。comparedwithMalays,butratherthecontrary;andintheMoluccastheyareoftenpromotedtoplacesofconsiderabletrust。ThePapuanhasagreaterfeelingforartthantheMalay。Hedecorateshiscanoe,hishouse,andalmosteverydomesticutensilwithelaboratecarving,ahabitwhichisrarelyfoundamongtribesoftheMalayrace。
Intheaffectionsandmoralsentiments,ontheotherhand,thePapuansseemverydeficient。Inthetreatmentoftheirchildrentheyareoftenviolentandcruel;whereastheMalaysarealmostinvariablykindandgentle,hardlyeverinterferingatallwiththeirchildren'spursuitsandamusements,andgivingthemperfectlibertyatwhateveragetheywishtoclaimit。Buttheseverypeacefulrelationsbetweenparentsandchildrenarenodoubt,inagreatmeasure,duetothelistlessandapatheticcharacteroftherace,whichneverleadstheyoungermembersintoseriousoppositiontotheelders;whiletheharsherdisciplineofthePapuansmaybechieflyduetothatgreatervigourandenergyofmindwhichalways,soonerorlater,leadstotherebellionoftheweakeragainstthestronger,——thepeopleagainsttheirrulers,theslaveagainsthismaster,orthechildagainstitsparent。
Itappears,therefore,that,whetherweconsidertheirphysicalconformation,theirmoralcharacteristics,ortheirintellectualcapacities,theMalayandPapuanracesofferremarkabledifferencesandstrikingcontrasts。TheMalayisofshortstature,brown-skinned,straight-haired,beardless,andsmooth-
bodied。ThePapuanistaller,isblack-skinned,frizzly-haired,bearded,andhairy-bodied。Theformerisbroad-faced,hasasmallnose,andflateyebrows;thelatterislong-faced,hasalargeandprominentnose,andprojectingeyebrows。TheMalayisbashful,cold,undemonstrative,andquiet;thePapuanisbold,impetuous,excitable,andnoisy。Theformerisgraveandseldomlaughs;thelatterisjoyousaridlaughter-loving,——theoneconcealshisemotions,theotherdisplaysthem。
Havingthusdescribedinsomedetail,thegreatphysical,intellectual,andmoraldifferencesbetweentheMalaysandPapuans,wehavetoconsidertheinhabitantsofthenumerousislandswhichdonotagreeverycloselywitheitheroftheseraces。TheislandsofObi,Batchian,andthethreesouthernpeninsulasofGilolo,possessnotrueindigenouspopulation;butthenorthernpeninsulaisinhabitedbyanativerace,theso-
calledAlfurosofSahoeandGalela。ThesepeoplearequitedistinctfromtheMalays,andalmostequallysofromthePapuans。
Theyaretallandwell-made,withPapuanfeatures,andcurlyhair;theyarebeardedandhairy-limbed,butquiteaslightincolourastheMalays。Theyareanindustriousandenterprisingrace,cultivatingriceandvegetables,andindefatigableintheirsearchaftergame,fish,tripang,pearls,andtortoiseshell。
InthegreatislandofCeramthereisalsoanindigenousraceverysimilartothatofNorthernGilolo。Bournseemstocontaintwodistinctraces,——ashorter,round-facedpeople,withaMalayphysiognomy,whomayprobablyhavecomefromCelebesbywayoftheSulaislands;andatallerbeardedrace,resemblingthatofCeram。
FarsouthoftheMoluccasliestheislandofTimor,inhabitedbytribesmuchnearertothetruePapuanthanthoseoftheMoluccas。
TheTimoreseoftheinteriorareduskybrownorblackish,withbushyfrizzledhair,andthelongPapuannose。Theyareofmediumheight,andratherslenderfigures。Theuniversaldressisalongclothtwistedroundthewaist,thefringedendsofwhichhangbelowtheknee。Thepeoplearesaidtobegreatthieves,andthetribesarealwaysatwarwitheachother,buttheyarenotverycourageousorbloodthirsty。Thecustomof"tabu,"calledhere"pomali,"isverygeneral,fruittrees,houses,crop,andpropertyofallkindsbeingprotectedfromdepredationbythisceremony,thereverenceforwhichisverygreat。Apalmbranchstuckacrossanopendoor,showingthatthehouseistabooed,isamoreeffectualguardagainstrobberythananyamountoflocksandbars。ThehousesinTimoraredifferentfromthoseofmostoftheotherislands;theyseemallroof,thethatchoverhangingthelowwallsandreachingtheground,exceptwhereitiscutawayforanentrance。InsomepartsofthewestendofTimor,andonthelittleislandofSemau,thehousesmoreresemblethoseoftheHottentots,beingegg-shaped,verysmall,andwithadooronlyaboutthreefeethigh。Thesearebuiltontheground,whilethoseoftheeasterndistrictsart,raisedafewfeetonposts。Intheirexcitabledisposition,loudvoices,andfearlessdemeanour,theTimoresecloselyresemblethepeopleofNewGuinea。
IntheislandswestofTimor,asfarasFloresandSandalwoodIsland,averysimilarraceisfound,whichalsoextendseastwardtoTimor-laut,wherethetruePapuanracebeginstoappear。ThesmallislandsofSavuandRotti,however,tothewestofTimor,areveryremarkableinpossessingadifferentand,insomerespects,peculiarrace。Thesepeopleareveryhandsome,withgoodfeatures,resemblinginmanycharacteristicstheraceproducedbythemixtureoftheHindooorArabwiththeMalay。
TheyarecertainlydistinctfromtheTimoreseorPapuanraces,andmustbeclassedinthewesternratherthantheeasternethnologicaldivisionoftheArchipelago。
ThewholeofthegreatislandofNewGuinea,theKearidAruIslands,withMysol,Salwatty,andWaigiou,areinhabitedalmostexclusivelybythetypicalPapuans。IfoundnotraceofanyothertribesinhabitingtheinteriorofNewGuinea,butthecoastpeopleareinsomeplacesmixedwiththebrownerracesoftheMoluccas。ThesamePapuanraceseemstoextendovertheislandseastofNewGuineaasfarastheFijis。
Thereremaintobenoticedtheblackwoolly-hairedracesofthePhilippinesandtheMalaypeninsula,theformercalled"Negritos,"andthelatter"Semangs。"Ihaveneverseenthesepeoplemyself,butfromthenumerousaccuratedescriptionsofthemthathavebeenpublished,IhavehadnodifficultyinsatisfyingmyselfthattheyhavelittleaffinityorresemblancetothePapuans,withwhichtheyhavebeenhithertoassociated。InmostimportantcharacterstheydiffermorefromthePapuanthantheydofromtheMalay。Theyaredwarfsinstature,onlyaveragingfourfeetsixinchestofourfeeteightincheshigh,oreightincheslessthantheMalays;whereasthePapuansaredecidedlytallerthanthe-Malays。Thenoseisinvariablyrepresentedassmall,flattened,orturnedupattheapex,whereasthemostuniversalcharacterofthePapuanraceistohavethenoseprominentandlarge,withtheapexproduceddownwards,asitisinvariablyrepresentedintheirownrudeidols。ThehairofthesedwarfishracesagreeswiththatofthePapuans,butsoitdoeswiththatofthenegroesofAfrica。TheNegritosandtheSemangsagreeverycloselyinphysicalcharacteristicswitheachotherandwiththeAndamanIslanders,whiletheydifferinamarkedmannerfromeveryPapuanrace。
Acarefulstudyofthesevariedraces,comparingthemwiththoseofEasternAsia,thePacificIslands,andAustralia,hasledmetoadoptacomparativelysimpleviewastotheiroriginandaffinities。
IfwedrawalineseePhysicalMap,Vol。1。p。14,commencingtotheeastofthePhilippineIslands,thencealongthewesterncoastofGilolo,throughtheislandofBouru,andcurvingroundthewestendofMores,thenbendingbackbySandalwoodIslandtotakeinRotti,weshalldividetheArchipelagointotwoportions,theracesofwhichhavestronglymarkeddistinctivepeculiarities。ThislinewillseparatetheMalayanandalltheAsiaticraces,fromthePapuansandallthatinhabitthePacific;
andthoughalongthelineofjunctionintermigrationandcommixturehavetakenplace,yetthedivisionisonthewholealmostaswelldefinedandstronglycontrasted,asisthecorrespondingzoologicaldivisionoftheArchipelago,intoanIndo-MalayanandAustro-Malayanregion。
ImustbrieflyexplainthereasonsthathaveledmetoconsiderthisdivisionoftheOceanicracestobeatrueandnaturalone。
TheMalayanrace,asawhole,undoubtedlyverycloselyresemblestheEastAsianpopulations,fromSiamtoMandchouria。Iwasmuchstruckwiththis,whenintheislandofBaliIsawChinesetraderswhohadadoptedthecostumeofthatcountry,andwhocouldthenhardlybedistinguishedfromMalays;and,ontheotherhand,IhaveseennativesofJavawho,asfarasphysiognomywasconcerned,wouldpassverywellforChinese。Then,again,wehavethemosttypicaloftheMalayantribesinhabitingaportionoftheAsiaticcontinentitself,togetherwiththosegreatislandswhich,possessingthesamespeciesoflargeMammaliawiththeadjacentpartsofthecontinent,haveinallprobabilityformedaconnectedportionofAsiaduringthehumanperiod。TheNegritosare,nodoubt,quiteadistinctracefromtheMalay;butyet,assomeoftheminhabitaportionofthecontinent,andotherstheAndamanIslandsintheBayofBengal,theymustbeconsideredtohavehad,inallprobability,anAsiaticratherthanaPolynesianorigin。
Now,turningtotheeasternpartsoftheArchipelago,Ifind,bycomparingmyownobservationswiththoseofthemosttrustworthytravellersandmissionaries,thataraceidenticalinallitschieffeatureswiththePapuan,isfoundinalltheislandsasfareastastheFijis;beyondthisthebrownPolynesianrace,orsomeintermediatetype,isspreadeverywhereoverthePacific。
ThedescriptionsoftheselatteroftenagreeexactlywiththecharactersofthebrownindigenesofGiloloandCeram。
ItistobeespeciallyremarkedthatthebrownandtheblackPolynesianracescloselyresembleeachother。Theirfeaturesarealmostidentical,sothatportraitsofaNewZealanderorOtaheitanwilloftenserveaccuratelytorepresentaPapuanorTimorese,thedarkercolourandmorefrizzlyhairofthelatterbeingtheonlydifferences。Theyarebothtallraces。Theyagreeintheirloveofartandthestyleoftheirdecorations。Theyareenergetic,demonstrative,joyous,andlaughter-loving,andinalltheseparticularstheydifferwidelyfromtheMalay。
Ibelieve,therefore,thatthenumerousintermediateformsthatoccuramongthecountlessislandsofthePacific,arenotmerelytheresultofamixtureoftheseraces,butare,tosomeextent,trulyintermediateortransitional;andthatthebrownandtheblack,thePapuan,thenativesofGiloloandCeram,theFijian,theinhabitantsoftheSandwichIslandsandthoseofNewZealand,areallvaryingformsofonegreatOceanicorPolynesianrace。
Itis,however,quitepossible,andperhapsprobable,thatthebrownPolynesianswereoriginallytheproduceofamixtureofMalays,orsomelightercolouredMongolracewiththedarkPapuans;butifso,theinterminglingtookplaceatsucharemoteepoch,andhasbeensoassistedbythecontinuedinfluenceofphysicalconditionsandofnaturalselection,leadingtothepreservationofaspecialtypesuitedtothoseconditions,thatithasbecomeafixedandstableracewithnosignsofmongrelism,andshowingsuchadecidedpreponderanceofPapuancharacter,thatitcanbestbeclassifiedasamodificationofthePapuantype。TheoccurrenceofadecidedMalayelementinthePolynesianlanguages,hasevidentlynothingtodowithanysuchancientphysicalconnexion。Itisaltogetherarecentphenomenon,originatingintheroaminghabitsofthechiefMalaytribes;andthisisprovedbythefactthatwefindactualmodernwordsoftheMalayandJavaneselanguagesinuseinPolynesia,solittledisguisedbypeculiaritiesofpronunciationastobeeasilyrecognisable——notmereMalayrootsonlytobedetectedbytheelaborateresearchesofthephilologist,aswouldcertainlyhavebeenthecasehadtheirintroductionbeenasremoteastheoriginofaverydistinctrace——araceasdifferentfromtheMalayinmentalandmoral,asitisinphysicalcharacters。
Asbearinguponthisquestionitisimportanttopointouttheharmonywhichexists,betweenthelineofseparationofthehumanracesoftheArchipelagoandthatoftheanimalproductionsofthesamecountry,whichIhavealreadysofullyexplainedandillustrated。Thedividinglinesdonot,itistrue,exactlyagree;butIthinkitisaremarkablefact,andsomethingmorethanamerecoincidence,thattheyshouldtraversethesamedistrictandapproacheachothersocloselyastheydo。If,however,IamrightinmysuppositionthattheregionwherethedividinglineoftheIndo-MalayanandAustro-Malayanregionsofzoologycannowbedrawn,wasformerlyoccupiedbyamuchwiderseathanatpresent,andifmanexistedontheearthatthatperiod,weshallseegoodreasonwhytheracesinhabitingtheAsiaticandPacificareasshouldnowmeetandpartiallyintermingleinthevicinityofthatdividingline。
IthasrecentlybeenmaintainedbyProfessorHuxley,thatthePapuansaremorecloselyalliedtothenegroesofAfricathantoanyotherrace。Theresemblancebothinphysicalandmentalcharacteristicshadoftenstruckmyself,butthedifficultiesinthewayofacceptingitasprobableorpossible,havehithertopreventedmefrontgivingfullweighttothoseresemblances。
Geographical,zoological,andethnologicalconsiderationsrenderitalmostcertain,thatifthesetworaceseverhadacommonorigin,itcouldonlyhavebeenataperiodfarmoreremotethananywhichhasyetbeenassignedtotheantiquityofthehumanrace。Andeveniftheirlenitycouldbeproved,itwouldinnowayaffectmyargumentforthecloseaffinityofthePapuanandPolynesianraces,andtheradicaldistinctnessofbothfromtheMalay。
Polynesiaispre-eminentlyanareaofsubsidence,anditsgoatwidespreadgroupsofcoral-reefsmarkouttilepositionofformercontinentsandislands。Therichandvaried,yetstrangelyisolatedproductionsofAustraliaandNewGuinea,alsoindicateanextensivecontinentwheresuchspecializedformsweredeveloped。Theracesofmennowinhabitingthesecountriesare,therefore,mostprobablythedescendantsoftheraceswhichinhabitedthesecontinentsandislands。Thisisthemostsimpleandnaturalsuppositiontomake。AndifwefindanysignsofdirectaffinitybetweentheinhabitantsofanyotherpartoftheworldandthoseofPolynesia,itbynomeansfollowsthatthelatterwerederivedfromtheformer。Foras,whenaPacificcontinentexisted,thewholegeographyoftheearth'ssurfacewouldprobablybeverydifferentfromwhatitnowis,thepresentcontinentsmaynotthenhaverisenabovetheocean,and,whentheywereformedatasubsequentepoch,mayhavederivedsomeoftheirinhabitantsfromthePolynesianareaitself。ItisundoubtedlytruethatthereareproofsofextensivemigrationsamongthePacificislands,whichhaveledtocommunityoflanguagefromthesandwichgrouptoNewZealand;buttherearenoproofswhateverofrecentmigrationfromanysurroundingcountrytoPolynesia,sincethereisnopeopletobefoundelsewheresufficientlyresemblingthePolynesianraceintheirchiefphysicalandmentalcharacteristics。
Ifthepasthistoryofthesevariedracesisobscureanduncertain,thefutureisnolessso。ThetruePolynesians,inhabitingthefarthestislesofthePacific,arenodoubtdoomedtoanearlyextinction。ButthemorenumerousMalayraceseemswelladaptedtosurviveasthecultivatorofthesoil,evenwhenhiscountryandgovernmenthavepassedintothehandsofEuropeans。IfthetideofcolonizationshouldbeturnedtoNewGuinea,therecanbelittledoubtoftheearlyextinctionofthePapuanrace。Awarlikeandenergeticpeople,whowillnotsubmittonationalslaveryortodomesticservitude,mustdisappearbeforethewhitemanassurelyasdothewolfandthetiger。
Ihavenowconcludedmytask。Ihavegiven,inmoreorlessdetail,asketchofmyeightyears'wanderingsamongthelargestandthemostluxuriantislandswhichadornourearth'ssurface。I
haveendeavouredtoconveymyimpressionsoftheirscenery,theirvegetation,theiranimalproductions,andtheirhumaninhabitants。Ihavedweltatsomelengthonthevariedandinterestingproblemstheyoffertothestudentofnature。Beforebiddingmyreaderfarewell,Iwishtomakeafewobservationsonasubjectofyethigherinterestanddeeperimportance,whichthecontemplationofsavagelifehassuggested,andonwhichI
believethatthecivilizedcanlearnsomethingfromthesavageman。
Wemostofusbelievethatwe,thehigherraceshaveprogressedandareprogressing。Ifso,theremustbesomestateofperfection,someultimategoal,whichwemayneverreach,buttowhichalltrueprogressmustbringnearer。Whatisthisideallyperfectsocialstatetowardswhichmankindeverhasbeen,andstillistending?Ourbestthinkersmaintain,thatitisastateofindividualfreedomandself-government,renderedpossiblebytheequaldevelopmentandjustbalanceoftheintellectual,moral,andphysicalpartsofournature,——astateinwhichweshalleachbesoperfectlyfittedforasocialexistence,byknowingwhatisright,andatthesametimefeelinganirresistibleimpulsetodowhatweknowtoberight。,thatalllawsandallpunishmentsshallbeunnecessary。Insuchastateeverymanwouldhaveasufficientlywell-balancedintellectualorganization,tounderstandthemorallawinallitsdetails,andwouldrequirenoothermotivebutthefreeimpulsesofhisownnaturetoobeythatlaw。
Nowitisveryremarkable,thatamongpeopleinaverylowstageofcivilization,wefindsomeapproachtosuchaperfectsocialstate。IhavelivedwithcommunitiesofsavagesinSouthAmericaandintheEast,whohavenolawsorlawcourtsbutthepublicopinionofthevillagefreelyexpressed。Eachmanscrupulouslyrespectstherightsofhisfellow,andanyinfractionofthoserightsrarelyornevertakesplace。Insuchacommunity,allarenearlyequal。Thereareconeofthosewidedistinctions,ofeducationandignorance,wealthandpoverty,masterandservant,whicharetheproductofourcivilization;thereisnoneofthatwide-spreaddivisionoflabour,which,whileitincreaseswealth,productsalsoconflictinginterests;thereisnotthatseverecompetitionandstruggleforexistence,orforwealth,whichthedensepopulationofcivilizedcountriesinevitablycreates。Allincitementstogreatcrimesarethuswanting,andpettyonesarerepressed,partlybytheinfluenceofpublicopinion,butchieflybythatnaturalsenseofjusticeandofhisneighbour'sright,whichseemstobe,insomedegree,inherentineveryraceofman。
Now,althoughwehaveprogressedvastlybeyondthesavagestateinintellectualachievements,wehavenotadvancedequallyinmorals。Itistruethatamongthoseclasseswhohavenowantsthatcannotbeeasilysupplied,andamongwhompublicopinionhasgreatinfluence;therightsofothersarefullyrespected。Itistrue,also,thatwehavevastlyextendedthesphereofthoserights,andincludewithinthemallthebrotherhoodofman。Butitisnottoomuchtosay,thatthemassofourpopulationshavenotatalladvancedbeyondthesavagecodeofmorals,andhaveinmanycasessunkbelowit。Adeficientmoralityisthegreatblotofmoderncivilization,andthegreatesthindrancetotrueprogress。
Duringthelastcentury,andespeciallyinthelastthirtyyears,ourintellectualandmaterialadvancementhasbeentooquicklyachievedforustoreapthefullbenefitofit。Ourmasteryovertheforcesofmaturehasledtoarapidgrowthofpopulation,andavastaccumulationofwealth;butthesehavebroughtwiththemsuchauamountofpovertyandcrime,andhavefosteredthegrowthofsomuchsordidfeelingandsomanyfiercepassions,thatitmaywellbequestioned,whetherthementalandmoralstatusofourpopulationhasnotontheaveragebeenlowered,andwhethertheevilhasnotoverbalancedthegood。Comparedwithourwondrousprogressinphysicalscienceanditspracticalapplications,oursystemofgovernment,ofadministeringjustice,ofnationaleducation,andourwholesocialandmoralorganization,remainsinastateofbarbarism。[Seenotenextpage。]Andifwecontinuetodevoteourchiefenergiestotheutilizingofourknowledgethelawsofnaturewiththeviewofstillfurtherextendingourcommerceandourwealth,theevilswhichnecessarilyaccompanythesewhentooeagerlypursued,mayincreasetosuchgiganticdimensionsastobebeyondcurpowertoalleviate。
Weshouldnowclearlyrecognisethefact,thatthewealthandknowledgeandcultureofthefewdonotconstitutecivilization,anddonotofthemselvesadvanceustowardsthe"perfectsocialstate。"Ourvastmanufacturingsystem,ourgiganticcommerce,ourcrowdedtownsandcities,supportandcontinuallyrenewamassofhumanmiseryandcrimeabsolutelygreaterthanhaseverexistedbefore。Theycreateandmaintaininlife-longlabouranever-
increasingarmy,whoselotisthemorehardtobear,bycontrastwiththepleasures,thecomforts,andtheluxurywhichtheyseeeverywherearoundthem,butwhichtheycanneverhopetoenjoy;
andwho,inthisrespect,areworseoffthanthesavageinthemidstofhistribe。
Thisisnotaresulttoboastof,ortobesatisfiedwith;and,untilthereisamoregeneralrecognitionofthisfailureofourcivilization——resultingmainlyfromourneglecttotrainanddevelopmorethoroughlythesympatheticfeelingsandmoralfacultiesofournature,andtoallowthemalargershareofinfluenceinourlegislation,ourcommerce,andourwholesocialorganization——weshallnever,asregardsthewholecommunity,attaintoanyrealorimportantsuperiorityoverthebetterclassofsavages。
ThisisthelessonIhavebeentaughtbymyobservationsofuncivilizedman。Inowbidmyreaders——Farewell!
NOTE。
THOSEwhobelievethatoursocialconditionapproachesperfection,willthinktheabovewordharshandexaggerated,butitseemstometheonlywordthatcanbetrulyappliedtous。Wearetherichestcountryintheworld,andyetcue-twentiethofourpopulationareparishpaupers,andone-thirtiethknowncriminals。Addtothese,thecriminalswhoescapedetection;andthepoorwholivemainlyonprivatecharity,which,accordingtoDr。Hawkesley,expendssevenmillionssterlingannuallyisLondonalone,andwemaybesurethatmorethanONE-TENTHofourpopulationareactuallyPaupersandCriminals。Boththeseclasseswekeepidleoratunproductivelabour,andeachcriminalcostsusannuallyinourprisonsmorethanthewagesofanhonestagriculturallabourer。Weallowoverahundredthousandpersonsknowntohavenomeansofsubsistencebutbycrime,toremainatlargeandpreyuponthecommunity,andmanythousandchildrentogrowupbeforeoureyesinignoranceandvice,tosupplytrainedcriminalsforthenextgeneration。This,inacountrywhichboastsofitsrapidincreaseinwealth,ofitsenormouscommerceandgiganticmanufactures,ofitsmechanicalskillandscientificknowledge,ofitshighcivilizationanditspureChristianity,——I
canbuttermastateofsocialbarbarism。Wealsoboastofourloveofjustice,andthatthelawprotectsrichand。pooralike,yetweretainmoneyfinesasapunishment,andmaletheveryfirststepstoobtainjusticea。matterofexpense-inbothcasesabarbarousinjustice,ordenialofjusticetothepoor。Again,ourlawsrenderitpossible,that,bymereneglectofalegalform,andcontrarytohisownwishandintention,aman'spropertymayallgotoastranger,andhisownchildrenbeleftdestitute。Suchcaseshavehappenedthroughtheoperationofthelawsofinheritanceoflandedproperty;andthatsuchunnaturalinjusticeispossibleamongus,showsthatweareinastateofsocialbarbarism。Onomoreexampletojustifymyuseoftheterm,andIhavedone。Wepermitabsolutepossessionofthesoilofourcountry,withnolegalrightsofexistenceonthesoil,tothevastmajoritywhodonotpossessit。Agreatlandholdermaylegallyconverthiswholepropertyintoaforestorahunting-
ground,andexpeleveryhumanbeingwhohashithertoliveduponit。Inathickly-populatedcountrylikeEngland,whereeveryacrehasitsowneranditsoccupier,thisisapoweroflegallydestroyinghisfellow-creatures;andthatsuchapowershouldexist,andbeexercisedbyindividuals,inhoweversmalladegree,indicatesthat,asregardstruesocialscience,wearestillinastateofbarbarism。
End