Evening star., 1930-03-30
ancient MIGRATION
OF JAPAN RELATED
Influence in Tongan Culture
Traced by California
AnthropologiSt.

eAN FRANCISCO Especially Ed
ward w. clifford, curator of the Univer-
sity Of California Museum of Anthropol-
ogy, has just completed study of the
culture of the Tongan islanders, in the
South Pacific, which leads him to the
conclusion that ancient migrations from
Japan played an important part in the
development Of that Polynesian civiliza-
ton which dates back, perhaps, to 900
or $50.
The results of Curator Giffords study,
which has taken nine years to COM
plete, have just been published in book
form under the title, "Tongan Society,""
Honolulu, Hawaii Tonga and its out
lying islands are situated about 1000
miles north of New Zealand.
Social Organization Suggests Japan.
In the conclusion of his 350-page
book, Clifford says: THE parallels IN
the social organization of Tonga and
the remainder Of Polynesia and Micro
nesia are obvious. Beyond Oceania,
Tongan social organization suggests
course of political development in the
two countries is also superficially paral-
lei. though Tonga is but a replica OF
Japan in this respect the Tui Tonga, or
ruling chief. corresponding to the
Mikado: the Tui Kanokupolu, or sub
chief. to the Japanese Shogun.
In both countries society was patri-
lineal-that is, traced through the
fathers side of the family; the patri-
lineal groups traced descent for many
generations, sometimes back to god,
and each patrilineal group has patron
deity: the members of the patrilineal
cTOyll1s u'nr6 Of IfQP0lfal rank.
General Resemblance in Mythology.
In both countries great chiefs were
buried in megalithic vaults in mounds.
Both countries were characterized by
lack of priestly rule. There are certain
worship; Tongan and Shinto mythology
are strikingly similar in tenor The
parallels are such as to suggest the pos
sibility that the social organizations OF
POLYNESIA, Micronesia and Japan are
genettcally connected.
"It seems practicable that further evi-
dence will reveal two streams Of tnfiu-
ence into Polynesia, one from South
eastern Asia via Malaysia. the other
from Japan via Micronesia; the former
bearing features of the theoretical Indo-
Oceanic culture, the latter bearing fea-
lures Of the theoretical Indo-Oceanlc
culture, including the traits Just EMU
merated."
May Open TOmbs.
In spite Of the fact that Tonga has
been Christian for IS years, Clifford
found that the material he collected
concerning ancient customs and beliefs
did not differ materially from early rec
ords made by visitors to the group. He
believes that much additional material
concerning the history OF the people
will be obtained when permission can be
obtained from the native rulers to open
the tombs of the old kings. There is q
splendid series of such royal tombs ex-
tant. he saws, which constitute the most
important archaeological field in Poly
neSia.
Tonga is at present ruled over BY q
woman, Queen Charlotte, and Clifford
explains that even though the past ruI-
ers of Tonga have ostensibly been men,
their sisters have invariably been more
powerful and have been known as the
female kings Of Tonga.
Nieces Outrank King.
Even the daughters of the Kings sis
ters we're usually higher dignitar1eS
than the King himself. This queer DOM
nance by q mans sister extends
through the lower classes as well and
q man is open to domination by his
sisters children.
: These children may 60 so far as to
remove property from their uncle's
home without fear of reprimand. With
In each family daughters rank higher
than sons, and menial duties, such as
cooking, washing, gardening, ETC., fall TO
the lot Of the men, while the women
interest themselves in work requiring
skilled labor, such as sewing and weaV-
ing.