Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1897-12-15
ORIGIN OF POLYNESIANS
Prof, S. Percy Smith Says They Came
From the Interior Of India.
Driven Out by Bad NelehbOs They YOyaSed
10 Now Guinea and From There
Reached The South Pacific.


held Ia the Y. M. G. a. last even
ing. DIR. Emerson, the president,
was in the chair. j S. Emerson
read a paper, which was in the
nature OF Il reply to Mr.. Churcbill's
deductions, from indications af
forded by language, ss to the
kinehip OF Polynesiaus, prepared
by Miss Henry. The dissertation
woD favorable comment and WAS
ordered printed.
When Hon. s. Percy Smith was
introduced the windows Of the
lecture room were closed in order
that his words might be the better
heard. His topic Was the origin
OF the Polynesian race, a subject
OF intense interest TO all present.
Mr.. Smith began by paying u
high tribute to Fornander, whose
researches he repa ded as most
patiently made AID valuable,
though facts which have come to
light in later years cast doubt
upon bis theories. Fernandez
traced the Polynesian race back
to Arabia. This was undoubtedly
a mistaken theory. Arabia was
too far of and there were
many other things in the
way OF this conclusion. Other
authorities Of more recent times
fixed the original home of the
Polynesian in India. This theory
was probably correct one.
There was q time, said the
speaker, when the Polynesian
race held constant communication
with Africa, including Madagas
car; India, the Malay Peninsula,
Sumatra and other territories
bordering on i's present area But
everything pointed to India as
the beginning Of all. OF course
it could not be- stated positively,
but the conclusion was certainly
the most probable yet reached.
Traditions Of the South Seas
point TO maitland, with plains
and great rivers, az the oiigiDal
home Of the race. All this points
to India.
No doubt the Polynesians were
driven out Of India by the dis
ruptioDs with the Aryans. In the
language today are Il large nnm-
ber Of A,yan words, The
native names for the cocoanut,
potato and many other articles OF
food undoubtedly came from In
dia. At the time of the disrup-
tons the Polynesians became
nayigetors. Their course always
lay toward the sunrise. They
Travelled to New Guinea and from
there went south. Some landed
in FIJI and some reached Mada
ga,csr OF course some remained
in India, and trnces Of them are
70 he found 10 this day. Tho
Madagascans are Polynesian in
appearance and language. They
are undoubtedly Of the same
stock.
All Pacific nations have tradi.
tions OF Il previous race from
which they sprung; and all Of
these traditions point back to a
period prior to the migration into
the Pacific. From India, Fiji
was first reached, then Samoa,
Tahiti, New Isaland and Raraton
g. The Toi people, famed in
RaratoDgan story, were OF the
first set. The story OF Toi il well
kuown in New Xe.laud aud Fiji.
Tho theory that Polynesians are
Malays has been exploded. They
are not Malays.
At this point the speaker
switched away and described the
canoes OF the ancients, showing
how their great voyages were
made practicable and compare
lively easy. Two canoes sup.
ported a platform upon which
house was built. This house con.
taiDed cocoanuts, iaro, potatoes,
water, et,,, f>r long journey.
They were fearless navigators aud
brayed the sea in this sort OF ar
rangement without the least hesi
tation.
There were many traditions of
two distinct migrations into the
Peci6c. The men OF the second
migration were superior to those
OF the first. The second migra.
tiOD OccvDied Fiii for a lone n mo