Polynesian Origin

Letter to the Editor.

SO devoted a student of Islands arch aeology as myself finds it hard to criticise unfavourably any theory or statement made by that rara' avis, to day, one of the intelligentia who takes an interest in the history, or pre-history of the Polynesian peoples. All the same, I should like to point out to Mr. Emory (whose article appeared in October issue) that a vast amount of sound knowledge has been acquired about the origin of the Polynesians of late years.

I claim that there are signs of a civilisation having existed in the Fijian group about 2,000 years ago; and we know now that the Ma-ori language was spoken in Northern India, and on the Brahrhahputra long since. We know that the ancestral Ma-ori was a light coloured northerner who tatooed (as our British ancestors did 3,000 years, or less, ago) and inter-married with dark-skin ned Islanders in Java, New Caledonia, and other islands before getting to the Land of the Moa. Ancient inscriptions, found in Fiji, show characters similar to those upon the famous Newton Stone (near Balmoral) in Scotland, and else where in Spain and Italy—which the Phoenicians carved. I believe that the Fijian language came from Tanganyika, by means of African sailors employed by Arabs (or “Phoenicians”?) who were wrecked in Fiji. The Easter Island car vings were made by folk from what is now Manchuria: and similar images (though of smaller size) obtain there.

The Polynesian races are purely Asian— as, in fact, are the South African peoples.

I am, etc.,

Arthur J. Vogan.

“Goldicourt”, Waverton, Sydney. 19/10/’3B.

Mr. Fred Hennings, a member of an old Fiji family, is the new treasurer of the Pacific Islands Club, having succeeded Mr.

W. H. Fetch, at one time of Pitcairn Is land, who recently resigned. Mr. Hen nings is the official representative in Sydney of the Fiji Publicity Board.