友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
飞读中文网 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

the malay archipelago-2-第84章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



haracteristic features are as distinctly visible in children of ten or twelve years old as in adults; and the peculiar form of the nose is always shown in the figures which they carve for ornaments to their houses; or as charms to wear round their necks。

The moral characteristics of the Papuan appear to me to separate him as distinctly from the Malay as do his form and features。 He is impulsive and demonstrative in speech and action。 His emotions and passions express themselves in shouts and laughter; in yells and frantic leapings。 Women and children take their share in every discussion; and seem little alarmed at the sight of strangers and Europeans。

Of the intellect of this race it is very difficult to judge; but I am inclined to rate it somewhat higher than that of the Malays; notwithstanding the fact that the Papuans have never yet made any advance towards civilization。 It must be remembered; however; that for centuries the Malays have been influenced by Hindoo; Chinese; and Arabic immigration; whereas the Papuan race has only been subjected to the very partial and local influence of Malay traders。 The Papuan has much more vital energy; which would certainly greatly assist his intellectual development。 Papuan slaves show no inferiority of intellect。 compared with Malays; but rather the contrary; and in the Moluccas they are often promoted to places of considerable trust。 The Papuan has a greater feeling for art than the Malay。 He decorates his canoe; his house; and almost every domestic utensil with elaborate carving; a habit which is rarely found among tribes of the Malay race。

In the affections and moral sentiments; on the other hand; the Papuans seem very deficient。 In the treatment of their children they are often violent and cruel; whereas the Malays are almost invariably kind and gentle; hardly ever interfering at all with their children's pursuits and amusements; and giving them perfect liberty at whatever age they wish to claim it。 But these very peaceful relations between parents and children are no doubt; in a great measure; due to the listless and apathetic character of the race; which never leads the younger members into serious opposition to the elders; while the harsher discipline of the Papuans may be chiefly due to that greater vigour and energy of mind which always; sooner or later; leads to the rebellion of the weaker against the stronger;the people against their rulers; the slave against his master; or the child against its parent。

It appears; therefore; that; whether we consider their physical conformation; their moral characteristics; or their intellectual capacities; the Malay and Papuan races offer remarkable differences and striking contrasts。 The Malay is of short stature; brown…skinned; straight…haired; beardless; and smooth… bodied。 The Papuan is taller; is black…skinned; frizzly…haired; bearded; and hairy…bodied。 The former is broad…faced; has a small nose; and flat eyebrows; the latter is long…faced; has a large and prominent nose; and projecting eyebrows。 The Malay is bashful; cold; undemonstrative; and quiet; the Papuan is bold; impetuous; excitable; and noisy。 The former is grave and seldom laughs; the latter is joyous arid laughter…loving;the one conceals his emotions; the other displays them。

Having thus described in some detail; the great physical; intellectual; and moral differences between the Malays and Papuans; we have to consider the inhabitants of the numerous islands which do not agree very closely with either of these races。 The islands of Obi; Batchian; and the three southern peninsulas of Gilolo; possess no true indigenous population; but the northern peninsula is inhabited by a native race; the so… called Alfuros of Sahoe and Galela。 These people are quite distinct from the Malays; and almost equally so from the Papuans。 They are tall and well…made; with Papuan features; and curly hair; they are bearded and hairy…limbed; but quite as light in colour as the Malays。 They are an industrious and enterprising race; cultivating rice and vegetables; and indefatigable in their search after game; fish; tripang; pearls; and tortoiseshell。

In the great island of Ceram there is also an indigenous race very similar to that of Northern Gilolo。 Bourn seems to contain two distinct races;a shorter; round…faced people; with a Malay physiognomy; who may probably have come from Celebes by way of the Sula islands; and a taller bearded race; resembling that of Ceram。

Far south of the Moluccas lies the island of Timor; inhabited by tribes much nearer to the true Papuan than those of the Moluccas。

The Timorese of the interior are dusky brown or blackish; with bushy frizzled hair; and the long Papuan nose。 They are of medium height; and rather slender figures。 The universal dress is a long cloth twisted round the waist; the fringed ends of which hang below the knee。 The people are said to be great thieves; and the tribes are always at war with each other; but they are not very courageous or bloodthirsty。 The custom of 〃tabu;〃 called here 〃pomali;〃 is very general; fruit trees; houses; crop; and property of all kinds being protected from depredation by this ceremony; the reverence for which is very great。 A palm branch stuck across an open door; showing that the house is tabooed; is a more effectual guard against robbery than any amount of locks and bars。 The houses in Timor are different from those of most of the other islands; they seem all roof; the thatch overhanging the low walls and reaching the ground; except where it is cut away for an entrance。 In some parts of the west end of Timor; and on the little island of Semau; the houses more resemble those of the Hottentots; being egg…shaped; very small; and with a door only about three feet high。 These are built on the ground; while those of the eastern districts art; raised a few feet on posts。 In their excitable disposition; loud voices; and fearless demeanour; the Timorese closely resemble the people of New Guinea。

In the islands west of Timor; as far as Flores and Sandalwood Island; a very similar race is found; which also extends eastward to Timor…laut; where the true Papuan race begins to appear。 The small islands of Savu and Rotti; however; to the west of Timor; are very remarkable in possessing a different and; in some respects; peculiar race。 These people are very handsome; with good features; resembling in many characteristics the race produced by the mixture of the Hindoo or Arab with the Malay。 They are certainly distinct from the Timorese or Papuan races; and must be classed in the western rather than the eastern ethnological division of the Archipelago。

The whole of the great island of New Guinea; the Ke arid Aru Islands; with Mysol; Salwatty; and Waigiou; are inhabited almost exclusively by the typical Papuans。 I found no trace of any other tribes inhabiting the interior of New Guinea; but the coast people are in some places mixed with the browner races of the Moluccas。 The same Papuan race seems to extend over the islands east of New Guinea as far as the Fijis。

There remain to be noticed the black woolly…haired races of the Philippines and the Malay peninsula; the former called 〃Negritos;〃 and the latter 〃S
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!