Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-07
PLANSINQUIRY
TOORIGIN OF
SOUTH SEA RACE
Director of Honolulu Museum
Announces Expedition to
Remote Pacific Islands.
PROBLEM DIFFICULT ONE

HONOLULU, Hawaii, May 1.-Prof.
Herbert E. Gregory. director Of the Bish-
op museum at Honolulu, announced re-
Gently that plans have been perfected by
the museum and Yale university for an
expedition into the South seas to deter
mine the origin of the Polynesian race,
including the Hawaiians, held to be one
of the two outstanding chronological
problems Of the present age.
Although many theories have been ad-
vanced by ethnoIogists concerning the
point from which the Polynesians began
the migraticns which eventually scat
tered them broadcast throughout the
South seas, as far north as Hawaii, the
final stopping place, yet the problem has
never been solved, as a matter of historic
fact.
Prof. Gregory points out that the prob
lem of the origin and migration Of the
Hawaiian race is one which ethnologists
have long desired to determine.
This much, he says, is known: The
Hawaiians, Samoans, Tahitians, Tongans
and Maoris are a distinct race belonging
to the stone age, but with evidence Of
Aryan origin. They live only on the
islands of the Pacific.
The question to be determined is where
these groups came from, and how and
why they spread themselves over the Pa
ciac, with canoes as their only means of
transportation.
In the answers to these questions,
which studies now being planned through
the museum will seek to solve, are in
volved many other puzzling topics in
ethnoIogy and natural history, Prof.
Gregory says.
TWO PROBLEMS
FACED BY q. s,
According to Prof. Gregory, the two
problems Of outstanding Importance in
the study Of native races with which
the United States is concerned are the
origin and migration Of the Polynesian
race, and the origin and migration of
the American Indian.
A study of the latter problem has been
made possible by a gift by William
Morris Jessup to the American Museum
ethnologists, botanists, and biologists
are tracing the American tribes back
through British Columbia and Alaska TO
Siberia and the regions beyond.
The Polynesian problem. Prof. Greg
DRY says. is much more difficult because
1t involves the collection Of widely scat
tered data from hundreds of islands,
some Of them no longer inhabited, and
the separation of racial traits in inter
locked customs and languages of Poly
nesian, Melahesian and Nicronesian peo-
pies.
It can be solved. he says. only By care
fully organized investigation in widely
separated areas over a period of years.
but It is an exceedingly fascinating
problem Of the highest Importance TO the
history OF the human race.
PLAN TWO YEARS
OF INVESTIGATION.
Funds sufficient for one years work,
contributed to Yale university by Bayard
Dominick, class of 1894. of New York.
have been placed at the disposal of the
trustees of the museum.
Investigations resulting from the use
OF these funds will be credited TO the
"Bayard Domlniek Expedition"
II is hoped that further funds will be
forthcoming and Professor Gregory has
formulated program for two years
study
Some of the questions which remain to
be determined by such explorations are,