MORPHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS

PIGMENTATION

Skin Color: Exposed

BrunetSwarthyLt. BrnMed. BrnDk. BrnBlackTotal

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample1 .015 .630 4400 48377 460 0813

Interior0 00 01 155 3697 630 0153

East0 03 212 1099 836 60 0120

Coast0 01 07 385 41116 560 0209

N.W.0 00 01 142 5336 460 079

Fiji II0 00 00 0128 965 40 0133

Solomons0 00 00 04 579 932 385

Tonga(Range: Lt. Brown to Dk. Brown.)

Color of skin includes exposed and unexposed areas. The former was observed on the face, since the Fijians do not use any kind of face or head covering. This condition in the total series divides itself quite evenly between medium brown and dark brown. A few have light-brown skin; only six individuals are classified as swarthy and brunet. None was judged to be completely black. The Fijians of Howells' series are described as 96 per cent medium brown[15] and 5 per cent dark brown, a discrepancy I would attribute to personal judgment difference. The Solomon Islanders are markedly darker than the Fijians, the majority have dark-brown skin and 3 per cent are black, whereas 5 per cent have medium-brown complexions.

Tongan data on skin color cannot be directly adjusted to my statistics. Sullivan's comment on their skin color states that it is "a medium yellowish-brown where it is unexposed to the sun. Exposed parts of the skin of a few of the persons were a very dark chocolate" (Sullivan, 1922, p. 248).

Among the Fijians themselves, the greatest contrasts occur between the eastern and the interior groups of Viti Levu. Where 63 per cent of the latter have dark-brown skin, only 5 per cent of eastern fall into this category. The bulk of eastern (83 per cent) have medium-brown skin as against 36 per cent of hill people. The coastal and northwestern provinces are, like the total series, more evenly divided between medium and dark brown.

Skin Color: Unexposed

BrunetSwarthyLt. BrnMed. BrnDk. BrnBlackTotal

No. %No. %No.%No.%No. %No. %

Total sample6 19 1242 30545 6611 10 0813

Interior0 00 020 13133 870 00 0153

East3 34 377 6436 300 00 0120

Coast1 12 156 27148 712 10 0209

N.W.0 01 120 2557 721 10 079

Fiji II0 00 00 0127 965 40 0132

Solomons0 00 00 09 1174 872 285

Unexposed skin color was observed on the under surface of the upper arm near the armpit. The anticipated shift in color range results in a reduction of dark-skin incidence to a mere 1 per cent, and an increase in medium brown to 60 per cent and of light brown to 30 per cent.

Howells' describes 96 per cent of his Fijians as medium brown, 4 per cent dark brown, and none light brown. The Solomon Islanders seem definitely darker than the Fijians whether they are compared with Howells' or my series.

The eastern groups continues to contrast with the interior people. The former show a majority of 64 per cent in the light-brown category as compared with 13 per cent among the interior groups; the latter have a medium-brown incidence of 87 per cent against 30 per cent among Lauans.

Hair Color

BlackDk. BrnMed. BrnLt. BrnRed-BrnTotal

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample757 9331 51 00 018 2807

Interior145 958 50 00 00 0153

East114 956 50 00 00 0120

Coast193 9211 50 00 05 2204

N.W.70 895 60 00 04 575

Fiji II118 919 70 00 03 2130

Solomons55 6526 310 03 40 084

Tonga0 940 40 00 00 00

Black hair is the usual color, although 5 per cent are described as dark brown and a few red-brown. This latter variation is a rufous color (reddish-brown) and it may be a little more frequent than the data indicate because the Fijians frequently dye their hair with a substance extracted from mangrove bark. This intensifies the usual blackness of the hair and adds a satisfying gloss. More sophisticated natives have access to modern hair dye and lacking this, some have been known to resort to black shoe polish.

Hair bleaching is no longer practiced in Fiji.

The hair of the Solomons Islands is not so uniformly black, nearly a third have dark-brown hair and a few are light brown.

Eye Color

BlackDk. BrnMed. BrnLt. BrnTotal

No. %No.%No. %No. %

Fiji I2 0550 68257 314 1813

Interior0 0131 8622 140 0153

East0 071 5948 401 1120

Coast0 0127 6181 391 0209

N.W1 153 6725 320 079

Fiji II0 0130 980 02 2132

Solomons0 085 1000 00 085

Tonga0 30 940 00 30

A little more than two-thirds of Fijians' eyes are described as dark brown. The remaining third have medium-brown eyes. There were four individuals who were light brown. Howells, with his Fijian series, is more generous with the darker designation; he designated 98 per cent as dark brown and 2 per cent light brown. His Solomons sample is described as dark brown without exception. The Tongan data also is recorded as more uniformly dark brown than my Fijians.

The Fijians of the interior of Viti Levu have more deeply pigmented eyes than the others; 86 per cent are classed as dark brown and only 14 per cent medium brown.

HAIR

Hair Form

StraightLow WaveDeep WaveCurlFrizzWoolTotal

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample0 07 0.113 0.291 11.0702 8620 0813

Interior0 00 00 04 3149 970 0153

East0 01 110 837 3172 600 0120

Coast0 00 13 018 9188 900 0209

N.W.0 02 30 07 970 890 079

Fiji II0 00 00 019 1638 3359 51116

Solomons2 3.31 1.60 016 2617 2825 4161

Frizzly hair is the condition of over 85 per cent of Fijians; 11 per cent are curly-haired, whereas over twenty individuals have wavy hair. Straight hair is absent. The Fiji II series of Howell distinguishes between frizzly and wooly hair, which I do not. Their combined incidence is 83 per cent, quite close to my frequency of frizzly. Whether one does or does not distinguish between frizzly and wooly hair, there is no doubt that most Fijians have Negroid hair form. The Solomon Islanders are surprising with somewhat less Negroid hair form than the Fijians. Their combined percentage of frizzly and wooly is 69, which is nearly 20 per cent less than that of the Fijians. Twenty per cent have curly hair against 11 per cent among Fijians. Also, the only instances of straight hair occur in the Solomons.

In the Fijian breakdown, the interior groups have the most Negroid hair; 97 per cent have frizzly hair and 3 per cent have curly hair. The eastern people are the least Negroid in this respect; frizzly hair drops to 60 per cent, whereas curly hair advances to 30 per cent and wavy hair to 9 per cent. The coastal and northwestern series are closer to the interior groups with about 90 per cent frizzly hair.

Hair Texture

CourseMediumFineTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Total sample804 999 10 0813

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East116 974 30 0120

Coast208 1001 00 0209

N.W.78 991 10 079

Hair texture is prevailingly coarse; only 1 per cent of the total series shows medium coarseness and none have fine hair. This preponderance of coarse hair is much the same in all the provinces, although the eastern people do depart slightly with a 3 per cent incidence of medium-coarse hair.

It might be added that Fijian hair is quite stiff or wiry. For example, when the hair is unshorn, it stands out like a mop. A Fijian can insert a long stemmed flower in his hair and it will stay in place with no additional fastening.

Head Hair Quantity

AbsentSubm.[16]+++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample0 061 7219 27533 650 0813

Interior0 026 1727 18100 650 0153

East0 05 424 2091 760 0120

Coast0 011 563 30135 650 0209

N.W.0 07 921 2751 650 079

Fiji II0 00 00 01 1132 92133

Solomons0 00 00 05 680 9485

Head hair quantity is pronounced in the majority of Fijians (65 per cent); it is moderate in 27 per cent and submedium in 7 per cent. Howells describes nearly all the Fijians as having very pronounced head hair—99 per cent, which would appear to be a personal difference in appraisal. In any case, the two series agree that Fijians have hair of more than moderate quantity. The Melanesians of the Solomons are also characterized by much head hair.

Regionally, the only significant variation in this trait is shown in the east, where more individuals have a submedium designation. In the absence of age data, this contrast cannot be fairly interpreted.

Hair Length

It might be observed here that although hair length was not included in this survey, on the basis of personal but unrecorded observation, the Fijians conform to the Melanesian pattern. Most Fijian men now cut their hair short in the Western style, but some still do not. Women generally trim their hair but not short. The natural length of head hair is intermediate between the short-haired African Negroes and the long-haired Caucasians and Mongolians.

Baldness

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample731 9040 330 412 10 0813

Interior122 8012 812 87 50 0153

East112 933 34 31 10 0120

Coast194 9310 54 21 00 0209

N.W.72 911 13 43 40 079

The lack of age correlations also limits the value of data on baldness, but some meaning can nevertheless be extracted. Regardless of age, with an incidence of pronounced baldness of 1 per cent among all adult males and of 4 per cent for a moderate condition, it is a clear indication that Fijians are not prone to loss of head hair.

Beard Quantity

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample0 0234 29370 44208 261 .01813

Interior0 022 1467 4464 420 0153

East0 045 3859 4916 130 0120

Coast0 060 2994 4554 261 0209

N.W.0 022 2830 3827 340 079

Fiji II

cheeks27 212 244 3446 3512 9131

skin9 70 052 4056 4314 10131

Solomons

cheeks21 250 042 4922 260 085

chin7 80 053 6225 290 085

Tonga

chin0 00 190 3150 00 00

lower chk.0 40 370 1840 00 00

Moderate beard quantity is shown by 44 per cent of Fijians; the remainder are fairly evenly divided between the submedium and pronounced categories. Howells' series, which records beard quantity for the cheeks and chin separately, shows a higher frequency of pronounced and very pronounced designations. However, his data includes many individuals who have no beards at all. Both series are doubtless influenced by the fact that they contain a preponderance of young adult; a greater proportion of older men would have greatly raised the incidence of the pronounced categories.

Nearly all modern Fijians have adopted the Western practice of shaving. Examination of earlier pictures and written description of Fijians leaves no doubt that the majority of mature men possess luxurious beards when nature is unrestrained.

The natives of the Solomon Islands, according to Howells, are a little less bearded than the Fijians.

The Tongans are a little more heavily bearded than the Fijians.

Some geographical variation is indicated by my data. The interior people of Fiji have the highest incidence of face hair; 42 per cent are recorded as pronounced. Least endowed are the eastern Fijians, where 13 per cent have pronounced beards and 38 per cent are submedium. The coastal and northwestern series conform more closely to the overall distribution.

Body Hair[17]

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample0 0243 30328 40162 2080 10813

Interior0 031 2056 3741 2725 16153

East0 055 4645 3814 126 5120

Coast0 057 2782 3946 2224 11209

N.W.0 016 2036 4619 248 879

Tonga0 023 290 260 220 00

The body hair endowment is also not unimpressive. Forty per cent show a moderate condition, 20 per cent are pronounced, and 10 per cent very pronounced; none are totally devoid of body hair; 30 per cent are submedium. Chest hair among the Tongans is somewhat less in evidence; although the majority range from submedium to pronounced, 23 per cent are described as hairless.

The provincial distribution in Fiji follows that of face hair: the interior groups are hairiest and the eastern people least so.

The anatomical distribution of body hair deserves some comment, even though specific observations were made on the chest. Not infrequently the hair is heavier on the upper legs than on the chest. Occasionally, too, the back of the shoulders is quite hairy as well as the belly.

Grayness: Head

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample621 7682 1082 1028 33 3813

Interior80 5237 2419 1217 110 0153

East91 7613 1116 130 00 0120

Coast176 8414 717 82 10 0209

N.W.60 768 109 112 30 079

Grayness: Beard

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Total sample610 7561 890 1152 60 0813

Interior72 4730 2020 1331 200 0153

East89 749 818 154 30 0120

Coast178 858 421 102 10 0209

N.W.60 766 811 142 30 079

Grayness of the hair data without corresponding age incidence is not particularly significant. It is clear, nevertheless, that premature grayness is not common. I would hazard the judgment that on the whole the Fijians show less tendency to grayness than do Caucasians.

The higher incidence of grayness of the interior sample of Fijians is likely due to a larger number of older men in that series.

THE FACE

Prognathism: Total

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I206 25306 38288 3513 2813

Interior40 2659 3952 342 1153

East54 4555 4611 90 0120

Coast47 2284 4073 355 2209

N.W.18 2329 3732 410 079

Tonga63 5326 2229 250 0118

Prognathism: Mid-Facial

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I517 64184 23109 133 1/2813

Interior133 8715 105 30 0153

East100 8317 143 30 0120

Coast122 5849 2337 181 1209

N.W.48 6120 2511 140 079

Prognathism: Alveolar

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I798 989 14 1/22 0813

Interior153 1000 00 00 0153

East120 1000 00 00 0120

Coast207 990 01 1/21 1/2209

N.W.76 {96}2 30 01 179

Slight and moderate total prognathism characterizes most Fijians.but it is pronounced in only 13 of the 813 subjects. A quarter of the series show no prognathism. The eastern people are least prognathic with a zero incidence of 45 per cent. The other regional sample are close to the general condition.

Mid-facial prognathism has a submedium incidence of 23 per cent and a medium of 13 per cent; the remainder lack the condition, except three individuals who are pronounced.

The coastal and northwestern groups have more frequent medium designations. Alveolar prognathism is almost entirely lacking in all groups.

Malar Projection: Lateral

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 02 0264 32543 673 0813

Interior0 00 062 4191 590 0153

East0 00 025 2195 790 0120

Coast0 00 068 33141 670 0209

N.W.0 00 028 3550 631 179

Malar Projection: Frontal

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I4 1/20 0709 87100 12809

Interior0 00 0139 9114 9153

East0 00 0103 8617 14120

Coast1 00 0181 8727 13209

N.W.0 00 067 8512 1579

The facial contours generally include lateral malar projection; two-thirds show a pronounced condition and the balance are medium. The eastern people have high cheek bones oftener than do the others.

Frontal malar projection is also common but more often moderately so; 87 per cent show medium projection and 12 per cent are pronounced.

Gonial Angles

Sbm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I24 3459 56325 405 1813

Interior0 097 6355 361 1153

East1 165 5454 450 0120

Coast7 3110 5390 432 1209

N.W.3 449 6227 340 079

Palate Shape

ParabolicSm. ULg. USquareTotal

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I493 612 0303 3715 2813

Interior94 610 059 390 0153

East81 680 038 321 1120

Coast131 630 071 347 3209

N.W.50 631 127 341 179

A fairly strong tendency to well-developed gonial angles is indicated; 40 per cent show pronounced angles and nearly all the rest are medium. These proportions hold pretty much for all groups.

Palate shape also attests to the well-developed jaws of Fijians; it is a large U in 37 per cent of the subjects; 2 per cent are square and the remainder parabolic.

Chin Prominence

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I2 0164 20593 7354 7813

Interior0 036 24110 727 5153

East0 025 2189 746 5120

Coast0 041 20153 7313 6207

N.W.1 111 1455 709 1176

Chin Type

MedianBilateralTotal

No. %No. %

Fiji I673 83140 17813

Interior130 8523 15153

East112 938 7120

Coast162 7845 22207

N.W.62 8214 1876

A well-developed chin further typifies most Fijian faces; nearly three-quarters have a moderate chin prominence, 7 per cent are pronounced, and the remainder are submedium. This range is much the same in the subgroups.

The chin is commonly median although 17 per cent have the bilateral type. The bilateral chin is least frequent in Lau (7 per cent).

THE HEAD

Temporal Fullness

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 0563 69249 31813

Interior0 0113 7440 26153

East0 070 5850 42120

Coast1 0148 7160 29208

N.W.0 059 7520 2579

Occipital Protrusion

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I13 2775 9525 3813

Interior4 3149 970 0153

East0 0116 974 3120

Coast3 1193 9213 6209

N.W.0 079 1000 079

A narrowness in the temporal part of the head is indicated. Sixty-nine per cent of the subject show submedium temporal fullness, whereas the remainder are moderate. This condition is not marked and may best be described as a discernable tendency.

The back of the head is generally rather flat as the 95 per cent incidence of occipital protrusion indicates. This is a natural condition; no intentional flattening is practiced by Fijians.

Lambdoidal Flattening

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I754 9332 427 3813

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East113 945 42 2120

Coast188 9013 68 4209

N.W.72 913 44 579

Occipital Flattening

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I809 1002 02 0813

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East120 1000 00 0120

Coast209 1000 00 0209

N.W.79 990 01 179

Median Sagittal Crest

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I600 74177 2236 4813

Interior96 6346 3011 7153

East109 9110 81 1120

Coast160 7743 216 3209

N.W.53 5724 302 379

Parietal Bosses

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I17 2413 51381 472 0813

Interior1 1130 8522 140 0153

East4 366 5550 420 0120

Coast6 382 39120 571 0209

N.W.1 140 5138 480 079

A median sagittal crest though not striking is recorded in a number of cases. It has a submedium incidence of 22 per cent and pronounced 4 per cent. Among the interior people, the crest is more common. Because of the heavy, bushy, and wiry hair of Fijians it is probable that some instances of this feature were not detected by simple palpation, and the incidence may be higher than the data indicate.

Submedium development of the parietal bosses is rather common occurring in 51 per cent of the series. It is very common in the interior (85 per cent).

Cranial Asymmetry

AbsentLeftRightTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji813 1000 00 0813

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East119 1000 00 0119

Coast208 1000 00 0208

N.W.79 1000 00 079

Facial Asymmetry

AbsentLeftRightTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji806 1001 00 0807

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East117 980 02 2119

Coast206 990 02 1208

N.W.78 991 00 079

Cranial and facial assymetry are generally lacking, at least in any marked degree. Normal asymmetries of the face and head were ignored in this description.

EYES

Eye Folds: External

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji804 985 14 10 0813

Interior152 990 01 10 0153

East119 990 01 10 0120

Coast209 991 11 10 0208

N.W.78 990 01 10 079

Eye Fold: Median

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I782 963 1/225 33 1/2813

Interior152 990 01 10 0153

East108 901 110 81 1120

Coast202 971 05 21 0209

N.W.78 990 00 01 179

Eye Folds: Internal

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I778 964 030 41 0813

Interior151 990 02 10 0153

East102 851 117 141 0120

Coast203 970 06 30 0209

N.W.78 990 01 10 079

Fiji II116 897 5-1/27 5-1/20 0130

Solomons80 942 2-1/23 3-1/20 085

Tonga63 5733 309 86 5111

Eye folds are not a feature of the Fijian facial make-up. The external fold is present in only 2 per cent of the total series. The median fold shows a 96 per cent absence. The eastern groups exceed the other provinces with a 10 per cent occurrence. The internal eye fold has a total presence of 4 per cent and is also commoner in the east (14 per cent).

Eye Obliquity

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I251 31358 43201 253 1813

Interior92 6046 3014 91 1153

East33 2852 3545 380 0120

Coast47 22102 4958 282 1209

N.W.27 3432 4120 250 079

Eye Opening

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 075 9-1/2737 911 1/2813

Interior0 024 16128 841 1153

East0 013 11107 890 0120

Coast0 09 4200 960 0209

N.W.0 07 972 910 079

Some degree of eye obliquity is present in the majority of cases; 43 per cent show a submedium condition; 25 per cent are medium and three individuals have pronouncedly oblique eyes. The remainder, or 31 per cent, have no obliquity. In the east, the natives depart from this total distribution in opposite directions. The interior groups have much less eye obliquity; the eastern people, a great deal more. The other provinces are quite close to the total frequencies.

Eye opening height is preponderately moderate (91 per cent). The remaining 10 per cent with one exception show submedium eye opening. Regional variation is not great. The eastern and interior groups have a little higher frequency in the submedium class.

FOREHEAD

Brow Ridges

AbsentSubm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 0148 19364 44295 366 1813

Interior0 016 1069 4564 424 3153

East0 028 2342 3550 420 0120

Coast0 042 2099 4767 321 0209

N.W.0 019 2440 5119 241 179

Brow ridges are a marked feature of Fijians in general. None of them lack some supraorbital development. Forty-four per cent have medium brow ridges, 36 per cent are pronounced, and 1 per cent are very pronounced. The other 19 per cent are small. The interior and eastern groups share a little higher incidence of pronounced brow ridges; the other regions are nearer the total distribution of variations.

Forehead Height

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 0444 55369 450 0813

Interior0 090 5963 410 0153

East0 068 5752 430 0120

Coast0 0110 5399 470 0209

N.W.0 046 5833 420 079

Forehead Slope

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I8 1280 34460 5665 8813

Interior0 053 3587 5713 8153

East0 038 3272 6010 8120

Coast4 278 37113 5414 7209

N.W.2 327 3447 594 479

Tonga1 170 6045 390 0116

Forehead height is submedium in more than half the cases (55 per cent); the others are all medium. There is no significant variation among the subgroups.

A sloping forehead is quite characteristic of the Fijian head; 56 per cent are moderately sloping, 8 per cent are pronounced, and 34 per cent are submedium. Only 1 per cent have foreheads with no recession. Regional differences are very slight.

NOSE

Nasion Depression

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 0170 21579 7163 8813

Interior0 041 27103 679 6153

East1 132 2785 712 2120

Coast0 045 22144 6910 10209

N.W.0 018 2356 716 679

Root Height

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 063 8555 67194 24813

Interior0 016 1096 6341 27153

East1 13 377 6439 33120

Coast0 010 5157 7542 20209

N.W.0 04 557 7218 2379

Root Breadth

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 01 0258 32554 68813

Interior0 00 038 25115 75153

East0 01 153 4466 55120

Coast0 00 067 32142 68209

N.W.0 00 024 3055 7079

Nasal Septum

StraightConcaveConvexTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I777 990 036 4813

Interior153 1000 00 0153

East118 980 02 2120

Coast196 940 013 6199

N.W.78 990 01 179

Bridge Height

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 054 7644 79115 14813

Interior0 013 8124 8116 10153

East0 01 198 8221 18120

Coast0 010 5173 8326 12209

N.W.0 07 960 7612 1579

Tonga0 021 2281 709 8111

Bridge Breadth

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 00 0265 33546 67813

Interior0 00 029 19124 81153

East0 00 072 6048 40120

Coast0 00 062 30147 70209

N.W.0 00 023 2956 7179

Nasal Profile

ConcaveStraightConvexTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I14 2625 77173 21812

Interior0 0123 8030 20153

East1 188 7331 26120

Coast4 2171 8234 16209

N.W.1 159 7519 2479

Moderate nasion depression characterizes the majority of noses (71 per cent). Pronounced depression is recorded for 8 per cent, and submedium occurrence in 21 per cent. Only one individual lacks any depression. This distribution does not vary much among the provinces.

A well-elevated nasal root is also characteristic; 67 per cent show moderate elevation and 24 per cent pronounced, whereas 8 per cent are submedium; one individual is without any elevation. The interior Fijians have a little higher frequency of low nasal root (10 per cent), whereas the eastern people, with a 30 per cent incidence, excel in the pronounced category.

More striking is the breadth of the Fijian nasal root. It is pronounced in 68 per cent and moderate in the remainder of the series. Pronounced breadth is commoner among the interior people (75 per cent) and least preponderant in the east (55 per cent).

The nasal septum is nearly always straight; the only departure from this condition is a 4 per cent incidence of convexity. Regional differences are not significant.

Nasal bridge height is commonly medium (79 per cent) in the totality of noses. Fourteen percent are pronouncedly high and 7 per cent are submedium. The several provinces do not depart very far from this distribution.

The Fijian nose shows a strong tendency to broadness of the bridge. Two-thirds show pronounced breadth of bridge and the remainder are medium. Pronounced broadness increases in the interior groups (81 per cent) and shows a marked decline in the east (40 per cent).

Nasal profiles are most often straight (77 per cent), but convex noses are not uncommon (21 per cent). Convexity is slightly more frequent in the east (26 percent), whereas in the coastal people its incidence drops to 16 per cent.

Nasal-Tip Thickness

Subm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 0344 42461 581 0812

Interior0 055 3698 640 0153

East1 180 6739 330 0120

Coast0 094 45114 551 1209

N.W.0 027 3452 660 079

Nasal-Tip Inclination

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I731 9057 724 30 0812

Interior147 966 40 00 0153

East109 916 55 40 0120

Coast186 8916 87 30 0209

N.W.71 906 82 30 079

Nasal Wings

CompressedMediumFlaringTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I0 0198 24615 76813

Interior0 025 16128 84153

East0 070 5850 42120

Coast0 042 20167 80209

N.W.0 016 2063 8079

The nasal tip is pronounced more often than not, 58 per cent showing this condition. The remaining 42 per cent have tips of medium thickness. Thicker tips occur more often in the interior (64 per cent) and in the northwest (66 per cent), least often in the east (33 per cent).

Usually the nasal tip is not inclined downward. Slight and moderate inclination has a combined incidence of only 10 per cent.

Flaring nasal wings are a common condition (76 per cent). This incidence rises to 84 per cent in the interior and drops to 42 per cent in the east.

MOUTH

Lip Thickness: Membranous

Subm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I19 2428 53364 452 0813

Interior10 743 28100 650 0153

East1 183 6936 300 0120

Coast1 1/288 42119 571 1/2209

N.W.4 539 4936 460 079

Tonga12 1097 847 60 0116

Lip Thickness: Integumental

Subm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I4 1/2608 75201 250 0813

Interior1 1/2114 7538 250 0153

East1 1100 8319 160 0120

Coast2 1164 7843 210 0209

N.W.0 055 7024 300 079

Fiji II0 01 1/226 20106 80133

Solomons0 00 012 1473 8685

Lip Eversion

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I12 1333 41444 5524 3813

Interior0 063 4188 582 1153

East8 777 6435 290 0120

Coast0 063 30138 668 4209

N.W.1 126 3351 651 179

Lip Seam

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I33 4429 53343 428 1813

Interior1 179 5273 480 0153

East14 1277 6429 240 0120

Coast6 3105 5094 454 2209

N.W.3 444 5632 410 079

Fijian lips are Negroid in thickness in many instances. Membranous lips are thick in 45 per cent of the series, medium in 53 per cent, and submedium in 25 per cent. Thickest lips occur in the interior and coastal areas where the pronounced type registers 65 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively. In the east, lips are more moderate in thickness, and the pronounced category drops to 30 per cent.

Integumental lips also tend to be heavy but not so much as the mucous parts. Twenty-five per cent of the total Fijians have thick integumental lips and the remainder are moderate. Howells' Fiji II series classes 80 per cent as very pronounced and the remainder as pronounced. The Solomon Islanders, with an 86 per cent incidence of very pronounced, have the heaviest lips of all.

Lip eversion varies largely between moderate and submedium, 55 percent and 41 per cent, respectively. The interior and coastal Fijians show this trait a little more often than the others, whereas the eastern people have least lip eversion. The lip seam is present in nearly all cases, but not to a pronounced degree. Fifty-three per cent are submedium and 42 per cent are moderate. The eastern groups are definitely less endowed with this trait. The other provinces vary but little from the total distribution.

TEETH

Bite

UnderE-ESubm. over+ overTotal

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I2 0518 64274 3413 2807

Interior0 094 6159 390 0153

East0 073 6145 382 2120

Coast1 0130 6276 360 0207

N.W.1 149 6223 293 476

Fiji II4 350 3877 590 0131

Solomons1 137 4545 540 083

Caries

AbsentSubm.(1-4)+ (5-8)++ (9-16)+++ (17-x)Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I645 7880 1058 722 38 1813

Interior130 8416 103 21 13 2153

East100 8310 124 32 14 3120

Coast153 7329 1416 88 43 1209

N.W.62 809 116 81 10 078

Crowding

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I685 84115 1413 20 0813

Interior134 8819 120 00 0153

East100 8317 143 30 0120

Coast180 8625 124 20 0209

N.W.64 8114 180 00 078

Tooth Eruption

CompleteIncompleteTotal

No. %No. %

Fiji I796 9815 2811

Interior153 1000 0153

East119 991 1120

Coast199 958 4207

N.W.74 942 376

Wear

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I184 23443 54144 1842 5813

Interior27 {18}58 {38}37 {24}31 {20}153

East26 {22}69 {57}24 {20}1 {1}120

Coast60 {29}120 {57}28 {13}1 {1/2}209

N.W.12 {15}47 {60}17 {22}2 {3}78

The jaws of Fijians have a rather distinctive frequency of edge-to-edge bite. I recorded this as 64 per cent, but Howells' series indicates a 38 per cent incidence.

The quality of Fijian teeth as reflected by frequency of caries is excellent. Nearly 80 per cent of the total show no tooth decay. The soundest teeth from this standpoint occur in the interior, the east, and the northwest. The coastal people show the highest incidence of caries, an interesting point since many of this sample come from around Suva and have more access to the Western processed foods.

Tooth crowding is quite uncommon to Fijians, a condition consistent with their generous jaw conformation. Crowding is noted in only 16 per cent of the series, and most of it is slight.

Tooth eruption is complete in nearly all the subjects. A 2 per cent incidence of incomplete eruption is entirely due to the immaturity of some of the young adults. No pathological suppression was noted.

Some wear of the teeth is recorded for more than three-quarters of the series, but lacking age incidence, the data has limited meaning. The Fijian diet is not abrasive the way, for instance, it is for the Indians of our Southwest, where the staple food is ground in stone mills.

EARS

Ear Helix

Subm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I230 28511 6372 90 0813

Interior45 2999 659 60 0153

East29 2474 6217 140 0120

Coast58 28128 6123 110 0209

N.W.24 3051 654 50 079

Darwin's Point

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I761 9436 415 21 0813

Interior150 983 20 00 0153

East112 936 52 20 0120

Coast187 8913 64 41 0209

N.W.77 972 30 00 079

Ear-Lobe Type

SolderedAttachedFreeTotal

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I80 10531 65202 25813

Interior47 3174 4832 21153

East3 385 7132 27120

Coast9 4141 6759 28209

N.W.5 652 6622 2879

Ear-Lobe Size

Subm.++++++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I176 22457 56178 222 0813

Interior49 3266 4338 250 0153

East16 1376 6327 231 1120

Coast31 15123 5955 260 0209

N.W.20 2547 5912 150 079

Ear Protrusion

AbsentSubm.+++Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I2 0262 32463 5786 11813

Interior1 147 3190 5915 10153

East0 031 2677 6412 10120

Coast1 075 36114 5519 9209

N.W.0 026 3349 624 579

Ear Slant

AbsentSubm.+Total

No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I416 51332 4165 8813

Interior78 5167 448 5153

East55 4652 4313 11120

Coast118 5674 3517 8209

N.W.38 4839 492 379

The Fijian ear is a moderately distinctive appendage from a racial standpoint. The helix shows moderate development on the whole and is submedium otherwise except for a 9 per cent incidence of pronounced appearance. Regional variation is small.

The Darwin's point is noted in a number of cases: 4 per cent to a submedium degree and 2 per cent medium.

The ear lobe is somewhat distinctive with a 65 per cent incidence of the attached condition and 10 per cent soldered. The remaining 25 per cent is free. This distinctiveness is more marked among the interior groups where the soldered type of lobe increases to 31 percent.

Ear-lobe size is moderate in more than half the series, pronounced in 22 per cent, and submedium in 22 per cent. Small lobes are commoner in the interior province.

Moderate ear protrusion is the commonest form followed by submedium. Marked projection is recorded as 11 per cent.

Ear slant either is lacking or slight in most instances; the series is rather evenly divided between these two categories, the zero category having a small majority. Moderate slant is noted for 8 per cent.

BODY BUILD

Body Build: Endomorph

123456Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I260 32334 42126 1546 633 412 1811

Interior49 3266 4326 175 36 41 1153

East30 2554 4521 185 48 71 1119

Coast77 3782 3928 1310 58 43 1209

N.W.26 3334 439 116 82 32 379

Body Build: Mesomorph

123456Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I1 {0.1}2 {0.2}33 4131 16227 28419 52813

Interior0 01 111 727 1841 2773 48153

East1 10 02 214 1238 3265 54120

Coast0 00 09 429 1467 32104 50209

N.W.0 01 12 315 1914 1847 5979

Body Build: Ectomorph

123456Total

No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %No. %

Fiji I351 43195 24110 1488 1168 81 {0.1}813

Interior54 3556 3713 815 1015 100 0153

East49 4133 2815 1312 1011 90 0120

Coast84 4051 2436 1718 919 91 1209

N.W.39 4919 2411 146 84 50 079

Variations in body build have been expressed with the Sheldon method of somatotyping.[18] Accordingly, the Fijians are primarily and definitely mesomorphic, with endomorphy the second strongest component, and ectomorphy, third. About 80 per cent of the total series had a mesomorphic rating of 5 and 6 which leaves no doubt as to the prevailingly athletic physique. Endomorphy is seldom pronounced so that obesity may be described as no more than occasional. A pronounced linear build is likewise relatively infrequent.

The Fijian subgroups do not vary markedly from the over-all pattern.

SUMMARY

The preceding data may be summarized from three points of view. The first will emphasize the physical features that are common to most Fijians. At the outset it should be pointed out that a "typical" Fijian does not exist, except as a statistical abstraction. The racial composition of the Fijian is complex and far from being homogeneous. There is no doubt, from the physical and cultural evidence, as well as the geographical location, that Fijians are related to both Melanesians and Polynesians. The second point is to give a precise indication of these affinities with Melanesia and Polynesia. A third concern of this analysis is the geographical variability within Fiji. This consists of a regional breakdown of the Fijian data into interior, eastern, coastal, and northwestern divisions, in order to demonstrate some of the local variation of the Melanesian-Polynesian ingredients and their possible meaning.

Body (pl. 1).

—In general size and appearance, the Fijian is tall and well proportioned. His body is fairly tall and well muscled, that is, predominately athletic in build. Obesity is relatively uncommon except in moderate degrees. This rather tall stature allies the Fijians more closely with the Polynesians. Shoulder, chest, and hip diameters also indicate that Fijians are generously endowed.

The Fijians who occupy the mountainous interior of the main island are less tall than the coastal and eastern people; they also have narrower shoulders, relatively deeper and narrower chests, whereas their arms and legs are somewhat shorter. The eastern Fijians are tallest of all subgroups.

Skin Color.

—Most Fijians have either medium- or dark-brown skin on the exposed facial surfaces. The more protected body areas show higher frequencies of medium brown and light brown. The Fijians are definitely less dark than the Melanesians but are darker, on the whole, than the Polynesians.

The interior hill tribes are darker than the eastern and coastal groups. The lightest average skin shade occurs in the east.

Hair (pls. 6 and 7).

—In several respects the hair is the most consistent endowment of the Fijians. In nearly all instances it is black, frizzly, and coarse. The only departure from this condition is an occasional instance of dark brown and a few instances of rufous shade. Curly hair is a more common exception in the east. The coastal and northwestern people are nearer to the interior condition of frizzly hair. All in all, the hair form is definitely Melanesian. Hair length conforms to the general Melanesian condition, that is, intermediate between short Negroid and long Caucasiod or Mongoloid.

Considerable beard and body hair is common to Fijians (pls. 8 and 9). Moderate to pronounced beard is shown by nearly three-quarters of the total series, and body hair is even more prevelant. General hairiness is also exhibited by the Solomon Islanders and the Tongans in the comparative data. The interior tribes of Fiji are more hairy than the other groups. This prevelence of body and face hair seems to conform to parts of Melanesia where it may be regarded as an Australoid element. Its presence in the Tongan data does not seem to be representative of other Polynesians, who are generally described as more glabrous.

Head (pl. 2).

—Moderate brachycephaly is the commonest head form of Fijians, although the total range is great. In this respect the Fijians resemble the broad-headed Tongans, and are quite distinct from the longer-headed Melanesians. The Fijian head, despite its general brachycephaly, is rather compressed in the temporal area and submedium in parietal elevation. The back of the cranium is characteristically flattened, a natural conformation as no deformation is practiced.

The interior mountain tribes of Fiji have narrower heads and lower cranial indices than do the coastal and eastern groups. The interior people also have lesser head heights and a higher breadth-height index.

Forehead (pl. 10).

—Moderate to strongly developed supraorbital ridges are a common Fijian endowment. Similarly are low and sloping foreheads. These features have been observed in western Melanesia, where, like hairiness, they suggest Australoid of archaic Caucasoid elements.

Face.

—Broadness characterizes the Fijian face. Bizygomatic breadth locates them nearer to the Polynesians than to the narrower-faced Melanesians. Strongly developed malars are common, and they tend to project laterally more than frontally. Widest faces appear among the eastern people.

Bigonial and bicanine widths show that generous breadth includes the lower parts of the face, a condition born out by strong gonial angles.

Face length falls between the long-faced Tongans and the definitely shorter-faced Melanesians (pls. 3 and 4).

Some prognathism is common among Fijians, both total and mid-facial, but the condition is not universal nor pronounced. The eastern Fijians are the least prognathic (pl. 10).

Eyes.

—Dark brown is the prevailing eye color, although many subjects have medium-brown eyes. Eye folds are only occasional and eye-opening height is usually moderate. Slight eye obliquity is common, more so in the eastern sample.

Nose (pl. 4).

—Great variability marks the nasal area. The commonest condition is a broad and moderately long nose. Medium nasion depression is frequent; the root is wide and moderately elevated. Bridge breadth is often pronounced and the nasal profile is straight to convex. The nasal tip is characteristically thickened and nasal wings are usually flaring. On the whole, there is a great deal of Melanesian in the Fijian nose; it is Negroid, but not pronouncedly. Those aspects of the nose which may be termed Negroid are commoner in the interior hill people and the northwest and least evident in the east.

Lips (pl. 5).

—Thick and moderately everted lips occur in nearly half the series. This Negroid combination is more manifest in the interior and least in the east. Integumental lips tend to be heavy.

Teeth.

—The condition of the teeth is generally excellent. Most Fijians have broad, roomy jaws that permit complete and uncrowded tooth development. Dental caries are very infrequent. A rather high incidence of edge-to-edge bite is interesting.

Ears (pl. 5).

—The ears are usually moderate in length and tend to protrude. Ear lobes are commonly large and are more often attached or soldered than free.