Idols, Temples, and existed everywhere in Eastern Oceanica, more rarely in Western. We have given illustrations of some: the Raratongan idol (p1. 17, fig. 9) is about sixteen feet long. The idol is the inner piece of wood, which only the priest was permitted to worship; twisted about it was a wreath, which we portray at the side of the image (fig. 4), and which was called the "soul of the god." Figures 4-6 (pl. t8) show idols of Tahiti; Figure 6 (fl. is) represents Tangaloa, with all the lesser deities, his offspring; Figure 7 (fl. IS), another god, with three sons; Figure 5 (fl. is), the soul of an ancestor; Figure 4 (ol. 18), deities of the fishermen, from a skiff. They also had female gods and idols.
Their temples were of different sorts—sometimes only flat stone ter races variously divided; sometimes pyramidal stair structures of huge blocks of stone (i5/. 19, fig. t), on the top of which idols were occasion ally placed; sometimes a collection of large and small houses within a common enclosure (p7. zo, jig. r). They were usually situated in sacred groves on a mountain or on the seashore. The strange building of Ponapi 15, 4) was probably a temple-structure, serving, at the same time, as a fortification. Offerings were very numerous: they consisted of animals, swine (p7. zo, fig. r), fruit, material for garments, etc., and they were often brought in great quantities. The priests for the most part constituted an hereditary caste, and were very powerful in Polynesia, but of less import ance in Micronesia.
Burials and souls survived in the Hereafter; and as they, being haunting spirits, were very dangerous, especially when angered, it was sought in every way to gain their favor by solemn mourn ings and interments, whose attendant ceremonies were often exceedingly strange and protracted. In Tahiti, for instance, the larva, the nearest relative, clad in a strange costume, walked about the grave for a number of days and maltreated with his toothed staff (p1. 19, fig. 3) every one he met. At other graves, at the death of a person of rank, a sham battle was enacted or a universal destruction of property took place. The corpses of the common people were buried in a sitting posture, but those of individuals of rank were laid on a wooden frame (pl. 19, 3), and after the flesh had decayed the remains were brought to the general cemetery (o/. 19, fig. 4), where flat boards with scalloped edges were erected as images of the souls or as guardian spirits, and rich offerings were made to both on the altars. In New Zealand wooden memorials, wound around with cloths and engraved with the tattooing of the deceased, were erected to the dead CAL 20, fig. 9), or stones were set up in the
ground to their honor; the circle of huge blocks on Rota (pl. 16, fig. 2) is such a graveyard. Diseases were cured by the priests.
doubt, the Micro-Polynesians are a highly-gifted race. This is sufficiently evident from the manner in which they were able to assimilate the new religion, together with the civilization, which was thrust upon them so suddenly and often with such hostile methods. Nevertheless, great commotions occurred among them, and, corrupted as they were by European vices, they rapidly diminished. But Hawaii, for example, based on the excellent foundation which the able king Kamehameha fig. ro) gave it in the first half of this century, has almost raised itself to the level of a modern state. Things are worse in New Zealand, partly because of the discord of war among the Maoris when the Europeans came, and partly by reason of the immigration of the English and their titter disregard of the natives.
Polynesian dialects agree in fundamental character with those already treated and with the Malayan idioms, but reveal a marked,relaxation in the phonetic part as well as in construction. The Micronesian dialects are more vigorous; otherwise, they arc closely related in structure to the Polynesian.
TIrE MALAYSIANS AND MALAGASSIES.
Physical Sakalavas on Madagascar are much intermixed with Africans. The Hovas, the pure Malays of the island, are of middle height, fine slender build, light olive complexion, for the most part with short and frizzly but also with long and straight hair, broad full nose, and full lips with a projecting upper lip (pl. 28, 4, 13). It is more difficult to speak about the Malaysians, as they, compris ing so many different stocks, show an equal variety of forms. Their stature is in general only medium, frequently not even robust; for example, the pelvis of the Javanese woman is small-boned, narrow, and from round to oval (pi. 1, fig. 1 b.).
Complexion and the Malays proper the complexion varies from olive to copper color; among the Suinatrans, from light to yel low; among the Javanese, from brown to gold yellow; among the Dyaks, again, lighter to yellowish white; among the Tagalas, from dark brown to copper-red and light yellow ; the same among the inhabitants of Celebes; while on the eastern islands it darkens into blackish. But the inhabitants of the Moluccas are also frequently of a golden yellow. The hair is black, coarse, straight, frequently frizzled or wavy; in some tribes very curly, in others, particularly in the East, bushy. The beard and the hair of the body are very scant.