Bold as seamen and skilful as fishermen, the Polynesians are, however, primarily cultivators of the soil.

They never rose high enough in the scale to be miners or merchants.

In the absence of mammals, wild and tame, in their islands, they could be neither hunters nor herdsmen.

Fierce and bloodthirsty in war, and superstitious, they were good-natured and hospitable in peace and affectionate in family life.
There is no reason to think that the New Zealanders are more akin to the modern Malays than they are to the Australian blacks; nor have attempts to connect them with the red men of America or the Toltecs of Mexico succeeded.

They are much more like some of the Aryans of Northern India.