Pelagian nations» Polynesian they have been often called,
but that term has been applied of late to :a particular division
of them, and is no longer fit to be used as. a general name,
Under this1 appellation of Oceanic races several different
descriptions of people are comprehended,
i The whole collective body of these native races of the Great
Ocean are termed Oceanic or Pelagian nations. They, are
divided into three princi pah groupes. The first, which alone
can be described with propriety as a particular race-or family
of nations, comprehends the numerous and widely dispersed
Malayo^Polynesian tribes, who, though in some instances
displaying certain diversities in physical characters and manners,
are proved by a decided affinity of dialects to be originally
of one kindred. Next to these we must „place a groupe of
nations who are very inferior to the Malayo-Bo'lyhesians in
arts and civilisation, and differ from them^ remarkably, in
physical characters. These-mations also differ from each other
in stature and bodily conformation: the ..-characteristic which
is common to them is a, certain approach in colour, features,
and particularly in the nature of. their hair, to the Negro, races
of Africa. In this last particular there is, however, a great
difference among them. Some tribes, as the Papuast-of New
Guinea, have spiral and twisted hair growin^in large tufts to
a considerable length, which, when bombed., out,. forms an
immense frizzled mass enveloping the head with ra^sorh iof
periwig of greut-dircumference» | ^Other^ihe^haye! hair-growing
in short and closely frizzled curls “like, the; Negrdes.bf
Guinea. We cannot. .comprise all these nations under the
designation of Papuas, which belongs to"a particular division
of them. I shall term them for the sake of distinction
Pelagian or Oceanic Negroes. I am aware that some objections
may be made to this appellation, but I can discover no
other name that is on the whole more suitable. The third
department of Oceanic nations have been termed Alfourous,
Ilaraforas, and Alforians. To this division the Australian
tribes have been referred, and the Alforas have been described
as resembling the Australians in the shape of .their heads,
which display a peculiar type, and in the nature of their hair,
which is not crisp or woolly, hut straight and long. Of the
history of these nations we have very little information on
whi6h reliance can be placed. The Australians are the only
race included; among them whose language is known to be
distirict from the Polynesian. As to the various tribes of the
islands in the Archipelago referred by voyagers to the Alfo-
riah* p'edple, it is still undetermined whether they are allied
to fthe Polynesian or Australian stock, or constitute a separate
family.