Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 15, 1904.djvu/384

 356 Reviews.

another clan. Apparently he may marry into the clan of his chief totem, but not of his subsidiary totem. It is suggested that the change from female descent has been the cause of this, and the marriage regulation just alluded to supports this view of the case.

Elsewhere mention is made of the segmentation of clans as a possible cause of the rise of subsidiary totems. On p. 236 it is suggested that certain divisions adopted certain subsidiary totems. In these latter cases the term seems to have the meaning given to it by Mr. Howitt.

In the account of the relation between totemism and religion there is unfortunately no information on the position of the sub- sidiary totem as regards magical ceremonies, though facts bearing on this point might have helped to clear up the question. The section concludes with a brief summary of our knowledge of totemism in British New Guinea.

The next two sections contain a good but brief account of birth and puberty customs (girls) from the pen of Dr. Seligmann. Twins are regarded as unlucky, as in so many other parts of the world. The moon is believed to take human shape and exercise the droit de prclibatlon.

Dr. Haddon deals with the initiation of boys. In Tutu in the daytime they were secluded at a distance from habitations, in the kiuod, which corresponds to the men's house elsewhere, and was liberally painted with soot ; after nightfall they were marched back to a house on the outskirts of the village, where they also remained if it were wet. Moral instruction was given, together with hints on the use of love-charms. The whole concluded with an initiation feast, at which, if the youth were fortunate, a de- sirable lady offered him her hand and heart (there was a strict rule against proposals from the bashful bachelor), and he was happy ever after. The ceremonies differ somewhat from island to island, and each locality is dealt with separately.

From Dr. Haddon's account of courtship and marriage it appears that the missionaries have very unnecessarily set their faces against woman's rights, so far as they include the privilege of proposing to the eligible young man who has gained her heart by his dancing. Even now, however, the preliminary steps are often taken by the lady, and specimens of love-letters, some, horribile dictu, forwarded on slates, are given ; they are brief and to the point. In spite of female privileges in this respect bride-