THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 158, 3 July 1920, Page 17

THE PACIFIC ISLANDERS.

■In an atterap't to solve scientific problems in the Southern Seas, an American expedition will set forth shortly under the auspices of Yale University. A gilt of £8000 is contributed towards the expense? by Mr. Bayard Dominick, of Xew York, weil known as banker, sportsman, and hunter of big game. Mr. Dominick is curious to know how and why the Hawaiian*, Samoans. Tahitians. Tongan3, and Maoris —a distinct race belonging to t'>e stone age, but vr.th evidence of '"Aryan" origin—.spread themselves among the islands of the Pacific, where alone the race is to be found, having , presumably had only canoes as transport. It is hoped to obtain light on whetiier the Pacific islands onoe formed part of a ■great continent, and whetiier Asia, Africa, or America supplied the ielanders with their food pants. it is hoped, to discover "whether the Incas of Peru and the Aztecs of >fex:eo were nffshoots of an ancient Asiatic civilisation. ! Prof. Herbert E- Gregory, of Yale, "will be the active head of the exped'tion.