Newton’s recognition of this natural, tribal authority, in spite of the fact that he really admits the views given in our text, he cannot refrain from saying: “Seriously, however, for the benefit of the people themselves, it would be a good thing if there could be some regulations—if dancing were not allowed after midnight, for while it lasts nothing else is done.—The gardens suffer and it would help the people to learn self-restraint and so strengthen their characters if the dancing could be regulated.” He goes on to admit quite candidly that it would be difficult to enforce such a regulation because “to the native mind, it would seem that it was the comfort of the white man, not the benefit of the native which was the reason for the regulation.” And to my mind also, I am afraid!
Chapter XX Expeditions Between Kiriwina and Kitava
I have not seen the site of Suloga myself. Interesting details are to be found in “The Melanesians” of Professor Seligman, who visited the spot himself, and who has collected a number of specimens in the locality, as well as many data about the production of the blades. Op. cit., pp. 530–533.
Cf. Op. cit., pp. 670–672.
Op. cit., description of the Walaga feast, pp. 594–603.
See the Author’s Memoir in the Transactions of the Royal Society of S. Australia. “The Natives of Mailu,” pp. 580–588.
Cf. Professor C. G. Seligman. Op. cit., Chapter XLIV.
Cf. Professor C. G. Seligman. Op. cit., p. 584.
The ethnographic researches at present carried on in Su’a’u by Mr. W. E. Armstrong, of Cambridge, will no doubt throw light on this subject.
Chapter XXI The Remaining Branches and Offshoots of the Kula
Seligman. Op. cit., p. 524.
Op. cit., p. 538.
Ibid.