_Weight_[12]
No. Range Mean S.D. C.V.
Total sample 814 105-300 163.0 20.3 12.5
Interior 0 0 0 0 0
East 73 130-245 168.1 19.3 11.5
Coast 210 118-300 160.7 22.8 14.2
N.W. 79 120-212 161.9 16.9 10.4
The average weight of 163 pounds, coupled with their rather tall
stature, describes the Fijian as a large person, on the whole. Their
generous weight does not reflect excessive obesity; the body build, as
will be pointed out later, is prevailingly muscular and athletic.
Variation among the regional samples is not significant; all the groups
average more than 160 pounds.
_Stature_
No. Range Mean S.D. C.V.
Total sample 815 150.1-195.0 172.5 6.1 3.5
Interior 154 150.1-183.7 169.6 6.0 3.5
East 120 160.2-190.5 173.3 6.0 3.5
Coast 210 156.1-195.0 173.4 5.8 3.4
N.W. 79 159.8-186.0 172.7 5.8 3.3
Fiji (Howells) 133 158-190 170.8 6.1 3.6
Solomons (Howells) 85 146-181 160.2 6.8 4.2
Tonga (Sullivan) 92 160-188 173.0 5.2 3.0
The stature of the Fijians is moderately tall. Howells' series of
Fijians, as well as mine, indicate this category. In this measurement,
the Fijians are similar to the Tongans. They are 12 cm. taller than the
Melanesians.
Among the Fijian themselves, the interior people of the highlands are
definitely shorter than the rest of the population.
Rumors still persist of remnants of pygmoid people in the interior
mountains of Viti Levu. I found no evidence of them either in my travels
in the interior or by extensive inquiries among natives and Europeans
who had thorough knowledge of the whole island.
_Span_
No. Range Mean S.D. C.V.
Total sample 815 155.0-208.0 180.0 15.1 8.8
Interior 154 155.0-201.0 179.5 7.5 4.2
East 120 166.4-200.5 178.1 24.3 13.6
Coast 210 160.1-208.0 181.2 14.6 8.1
N.W. 79 165.1-202.0 180.0 21.6 11.9
Span of the arms also reflects the generous proportions of the Fijians.
Regional difference is not marked. Relative to stature, the hill people
have the longer arms and the eastern natives the shortest. The greater
relative arm length of the hill tribes seems to be owing more to
deficiency of stature than to excessive arm length or shoulder breadth.
_Span-Stature Index_
No. Range Mean S.D. C.V.
Total sample 815 96.1-116.3 104.3 8.5 8.15
Interior 154 99.4-115.1 105.2 2.3 2.2
East 120 99.1-108.5 102.7 13.5 13.14
Coast 210 97.9-116.3 104.4 7.7 7.4
N.W. 79 100.2-109.7 104.1 12.0 11.5