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164 but the inhabitants of these islands were copper-coloured. Not all,—some were black.

Now here was a nice point to determine. The Neuroomians were white, and the inhabitants of some of the South Sea Islands were black, while those of New Zealand, and some of the islands mentioned, might be said to be a swarthy brown, a kind of compromise between the two colours. The lovers very probably had children, and was it not possible they might have intermarried with the black inhabitants of the neighbouring islands, and so have produced the Maori and other allied races? But when did the migration of the lovers take place? That would have to remain for ever with the unknown. Were there any uninhabited islands at the time? Yes, it was quite possible there were.

These matters and other problems connected with them occupied my thoughts till I became quite exhausted, and fell asleep. On waking, I felt feverish and not at all well, and for the first time since my arrival in this continent, I felt a longing for a "Cocktail" or "Pick-me-up"; but as these stimulants (at least, as beverages) were unknown in Neuroomia, I had to live down the desire. Perhaps later on I would be able to educate them in