Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXXIII, Number 31, 30 Nowemapa 1938 — POLYNESIANS AS MARINERS SEEN Dr. Buck Terms Early Polynesians Greatest Mariners World Has Ever Known [ARTICLE]

POLYNESIANS AS MARINERS SEEN

Dr. Buck Terms Early Polynesians Greatest Mariners World Has Ever Known

HONOLULU, Nov. 29—Dr. Peterj Buck., ciu'€€tor oi īhe Bishop Museum, last night termed the early Polynesians the greatest mariners the woilei has ever known. Dr. Buck, who will leave soon for Yale Univei-sHj lo lrcture on primiti\ r e religions. spoke at a dinner in his honor attencled bv almost 200 persons. He was introduced by Frank Atherton. He said it probable that some of the early Po!ynesians reached the sliorcs of Ameiie-a He traccd the ;>ossibility in similarity of certain 1 words, such as that for sweet poUato. ānd the probability the sweet lpotato itself uas brought into the |South Seas from the.American eoni tinent. j "The only pereons who could have brought the sweet, pot,ito from the Amenean continents are American Indians or Polynesians themselves;" he said. "Tliere is little or no scientific foundation for belief that Indians were ever skillful enough mariners to have reached Polynesia." Dr. Buck pointed out that the Polynesians of early times possess a great knowledse of astronomy, meteorology, and had a completc and perfect lunar calendar.

NATIVE SONS TO MEET—The last meeting of the year and a meeting for the election of officers for the new year will be held by Oouneil No. 5. Native Sons and Daughters of Hawau at the Foresters Hall on Keawe St. at 7:30 p. m. Thursday.

This will also be rhe last meeeing of the year when new members may be admitted to the eouniil under the special dispensation of the Supreme eouneil. AU candidates who were not initiated Novemt>er 19 will be initiated at this meeting.