POLYNESIA, a term sometimes used to cover the whole of the oceanic islands in the central and western Pacific, but prop erly for the eastern of the three great divisions of these islands. For a full account of the structure, geology, climate, flora, fauna and economic conditions of Polynesia, see the treatment of the various island groups under the comprehensive article PACIFIC ISLANDS.
This area of the Central Pacific region includes the numerous groups and small islands situated south of the Equator, and fall ing roughly between 170° east and i I o° west longitude. The two islands of New Zealand (q.v.) being the largest and most impor tant, other groups are the Hawaiian (U.S.A.), Society and Mar quesas (French), Tonga (British), Samoa (British and U.S.A.).
The origin of these people is still debatable. They are migrants, and not native to the soil; they have no relation with the negroid people of Melanesia, nor to date has any evidence been shown that they came from the American continent. Proof, however, does exist that their earliest home was to the westward, and possibly in the distant past, the east coast of India may have seen the departure of this race of navigators, for their tradi tions show how they sailed from island to island in open canoes of great size. That the Polynesians have no trace of the religions of the East is evidence of their very early migration. Their gods are those of primitive peoples, uncontaminated by the ritual of the later Buddhist and Hindu religions. Aptitude for working in stone led to the establishment of imposing temples, which, as these people receded further from their original home, decreased in importance, and degenerated into rude structures, the most favoured forms of which were rectangular mounds faced with stone blocks, superimposed on which were small stone faced ter races. This method of building is linked up with the Pyramids of Egypt and the temples in many parts of India, and right across the Pacific to Central America. Java was for a time the resting place of these migrants, whence again they were forced by fresh intruders of Malayan stock to find new homes further eastward. Traditions are still retained of a mythical land of their fore fathers away to the westward, called Hawaiki (which linguistically can be connected with the word Java as we know it to-day) and to which the souls of the dead return. Moreover, all the important islands possess a certain locality whence these departed souls commence their journey, and strangely these localities are in variably situated to the westward. Recent investigations among
the Nagas of Assam, and archaeological research by the French Colonial Government in Cambodia, indicate that there is a link ing up with the immigrants, particularly with the Nagas, who to day, apart from their stone-working craft, practise many cus toms that are Polynesian. The extensive stone remains in the Carolines and Ladrones are evidence of their presence, and it is by this route that the Pacific was occupied. The occurrence of these in Melanesia, especially in the New Hebrides, where circles of Dolmens occur, and in the Solomons, where primitive stone objects have been found, and again in south-east Papua where well worked "prehistoric" objects are known. all indicate that wandering bands of these people settled for a time, but were unable to stand against the negroid races. The skill in navigation of these people is such that not only was New Zealand known to the natives of Tahiti, but certain individuals successfully made the return voyage. The traverse from Hawaii to Tahiti was equally well known, and entailed a course of 1,75o nautical ,miles.
The Polynesians generally are of good appearance and average stature, but are inclined to stout ness when past middle age (though this in the females is con sidered a point of beauty). The hair is long and black, the eyes black and expressive, whilst the body colour ranges from brown to nearly black. Tattooing is much in evidence, taking the place of clothing, although they never go entirely naked. Great personal cleanliness is observed, except, perhaps, in New Zealand, and as most of the inhabitants reside near the shore, sea bathing is much indulged in; a plentiful application of scented cocoanut oil to the body after the bath gives their skins a healthy and lustrous appearance. The open-air life arising from the construction of their houses, which in the temperate groups consists almost en tirely of a massive thatched roof supported on posts, has operated to produce an unusually fine race ; conditions, however, to-day have much altered, to the detriment of the people. Speech making comes easily to all Polynesians, the large number of vowels in the language permitting a ready flow of words. Throughout the region a common language was spoken, whilst a specialized form was in use (particularly in Tahiti) for addressing superiors (see