Some genetic traits in Solomon Island populations. I. Introduction: People and habitats

To introduce a set of genetic studies among Solomon Islanders, four tribal groups on Bougainville and Malaita Islands are described. They were observed in 1966 and 1968 by social anthropologists and biomedical scientists from Harvard University. The groups varied in habitat and way of life from fishermen living on artificial islets in a saltwater lagoon (the Lau, on Malaita) to shifting agriculturists (the Nasioi, on Bougainville, and the Kwaio and Baegu, on Malaita). The Nasioi were darker than the Malaitans and spoke a non‐Austronesian rather than a Melanesian language; they were also more Westernized. Coverage of residents in designated hamlets ranged from 78% to over 95%. In all, 1,626 persons were studied: 256 Nasioi, 443 Kwaio, 442 Lau, and 485 Baegu. Genetic differences have been found between the Nasioi and the Malaitans, and between the Lau and the other Malaitans.