Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 23, 1912.djvu/133

Rh the Andamanese and Fuegians. Mr. A. R. Brown, who was sent by the Board of Anthropological Studies of Cambridge specially to study the Mincopies, reports as the result of his enquiries that "the present Andamanese certainly do not believe in a Supreme Being." As regards the Fuegians, Messrs. Hyades and Deniker, who spent a year carefully studying them, tell us that "Nous n'avons constaté chez les Fuégiens aucun signe de sentiment religieux."

In his interesting The Making of Religion it seemed to me that Mr. Lang attached undue importance to crystal-gazing, clairvoyance, and the supposed supernatural powers of savage sorcerers and modern media. He asks why should I regret "because we investigate human faculties." I do not: but cannot believe that the study of crystal-gazing and ghost stories,—of Mr. D. D. Home floating in the air, of the visions of Miss X., Mrs. Piper, and other American mediums,—are likely to throw any light on the great mystery of existence, nor can I agree with him in regarding them "as grounds of hope, or, at least, as tokens that men need not yet despair." We have, I cannot but think, surer reasons for hope, and better methods of investigation. 1em

be glad of an opportunity of explaining in greater detail the organisation and objects of the "FF" ("Folklore Fellows") referred to in the last number of Folk-Lore.

"FF" is a Society of folklorists scattered in different countries; its aim is mutual aid in making folklore material accessible, partly by private contributions to central collections and partly by publications. It is organised so that in each country with