Pre-Polynesian?

French Savant's Interesting Quest in Oceania

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Feb. 25.

A SAVANT from one of the great scientific institutions of France is now in the Islands on a most interest ing quest. He is seeking to establish the existence of pre-Polynesian settle ment of the islands of the Southern Ocean.

Among other evidence, he has pro nounced the pictograph on the Tipaerui stone—described and illustrated in an article by Mr. W. W. Bolton in a past issue of the ‘P.l.M.”—as an indubitable example of pre-Polynesian craftsman ship.

If the present investigator proves his thesis, another controversy will be started among the scientists as to the race and origin of the aborigines. But need there be?

James Churchward’s fascinating theory of a Lost Continent of Mu—after hav ing stirred up a considerable amount of dust —has gone to keep company with the Jabberwock and Snow White and her Seven Dwarfs, So the spectacle of refugees clinging to mountain-tops to escape the deluge is eliminated.

Eminent scientists tell us that the Melanesians walked to their present places of settlement over land bridges which now lie under a shallow sea. They have been land-lubbers ever since. Hence they could not have reached Polynesia.

There remains the sweet potato—uni versally known throughout Polynesia as the kumera.

The people of the west coast of South America, the original home of the kumera, were sun-worshippers. They saw the sun rise daily from some inacces sible region beyond the Andes; but its setting was at the horizon of a smooth and placid sea. To the westward was the open pathway to the Land of the Sun God.

Some national emergency, perhaps, or the ecstatic visions of some powerful high priest dictated an expedition—pro pitiatory or sacrificial —to the sreat temple in the Sun God’s own land. They

were not skilled mariners; but observa tion had taught them that during cer tain seasons they could depend on calm weather.

One day. the whole nation watched the expedition set out—high priest in gorgeous featherw 7 ork cloak and head dress, lesser priests, chiefs, warriors, dancing girls from the temple and, doubtless, some prisoners of war destined as sacrificial offerings. And the supply vessels were stocked with kumera.

The south east trade winds, and the currents flowing eternally to the west ward, brought them to some island of Eastern Polynesia.

The drama of their adventures—the landfall, the realisation that they could not return, the settlement, the planting of the kumera. the press of necessity which taught them and their progeny the ways of the sea. the seeking of new islands—is lost in the oblivion of anti quity. Nevertheless, such an expedition and settlement was not impossible, nei ther is it altogether improbable. The kumera is visible witness that something of the kind really happened.