Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1909 — A Stalwart People. [ARTICLE]

A Stalwart People.

“Tlie natives of the Tonga, or Friendly Islands, off the east coast of New Zealand, are the finest in physique of any on earth,” says a traveler from that country. “The average height of the males is 5 feet 10 inches. Many of them are over 6 feet. They weigh from 160 to 300 pounds and are very straight, being built in proportion. The women average a greater height than the women of America. They have fine, strong figures and average from 130 to 160 pounds in weight. “They are of a copper color, straight haired and with features which made the Greeks famous. I firmly believe they are the original Maoris, while the natives of Ne-w Zealand are a smaller race—apparently a mixture with the Mongolian race. “The islands are crescent shaped and mostly coral. There is neither wealth nor poverty on the Islands. Peace and contentment are in evidence and the tribe is exceedingly virtuous. The jnain article of food is the cocoanut, iyid the only drink used is the milk ohthis nut.”