Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/420

 394 Reviezvs.

The section on measurements coming at the beginning of the book is likely to apj^al the new student desirous of taking up the study of anthropology, for, in the first place, he will in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred lack the proper instruments for taking accurate measurements, and there is no note stating where he can procure them, or their probable cost. And, again, the novice sees about him in one and the same trii)e men of all sizes, every one of whom will yield different measurements, and he cannot see the use of such elaborate details, and will be inclined to scoff at the whole study as utter nonsense. Those who think that anthro- pometry is the keystone of anthropology may be unwilling to consign this section on measurements to the appendix as a subsidiary subject, but it might have served its ])urpose there much better than where it is. At present it is an unnecessary hill for the student to climb into the kingdom of anthropology.

I should also like to suggest that the following phrases in italics should be incorporated in future editions. On page 3, under "colour of the skin " : "/j- the skin of tJwse people 70/10 live on tlie hills of a lighter shade thati those who live in S7vampy valleys .?'' Out of some fifty boys that lived in our school at San Salvador I noticed that those who came from the valleys had darker skins than those who came from the hills. It would be interesting to know if this is generally the case. Under " customary postures " on page 13, it would be useful to note the position of ordinary folk before chiefs and men of importance. On the Lower Congo an ordinary person is expected to sit cross-legged, or on his haunches, before his chief, and to stretch out his legs before him is regarded as an insult worthy of severe punishment, either by beating, slavery, or death. On page 15, in the paragraph on "throwing, tossing, and shooting," it would be helpful to know not only the difference between spear-throwing and stone-throwing, but also the jnethod of holding the spear. Most white men, before throwing a spear, hold it with the tips of their fingers, but Congo natives hold the haft of the spear across the palm of the hand.' This gives more force to the throw, and greater accuracy of aim. Is this method general among primitive peoples ?

Under "personal cleanliness," on page 17, I think an observa- tion respecting the neartiess or remoteness of streams suitable for