Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 7.djvu/632

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NOTES AND QUERIES, no s. VIL JUNE 29, 1907.

every one who is interested in the development of mankind in abnormal surroundings. Though, judged by the standards and by the narrow sym- pathies of Europeans, the little people of the tar North are wallowing in grossness, it appears that, when uncontaminated by the brutality of white men, they are gentle, affectionate, gay, and happy. " Theft is almost unknown, though it must be said that opportunities of theft are equally absent. Adultery (in the Eskimo sense of the word) is like- wise unknown. Moreover, as within a clan, there is no blood-feud, even when homicide is com- mitted Evil magic is of course condemned, and

punished, even by death," which may lead to tragedy when the angakok, or wizard, who investi- gates the case, makes a mistake, with the result that there is a miscarriage of justice.

Jamaican Song and Story, collected and edited by Walter Jekyll, is one of the publications of the Folk-lore Society, and well deserves to be given to the world. Mr. Jekyll has evidently an affection for the merry-hearted if irresponsible negroes whose tales and tunes he now hands over to the erudite commentary of grave and anxious civilization. "The book as a whole," he says, "is a tribute to my love for Jamaica and its dusky inhabitants, with their winning ways and their many good qualities, among which is to be reckoned that supreme virtue, cheerfulness."

First in the collection stand the Annancy stories. "Mr. Annancy" is properly a spider, that is, he was one originally in his old Gold Coast home, but in Jamaica he has become a strange legendary being, whose chief characteristics are trickery, laziness, thievish voracity, and callousness. Like Reynard the Fox, and the wily "Thiefie" who was once evolved by the mischief -loving inhabitants . of a certain strictly governed English nursery, he has a superficial camaraderie and quickness of wit which help him to attain his ends ; for he is one of those heroes, familiarly known wherever physical power is regarded as oppressive, whose readiness of thought enables him to get the better of clumsy strength. The dialect in which his adventures and those of his fellow-tricksters are related is some- times very quaint, even when the stories are mani- festly of European origin ; and there is a childlike simplicity about the tales which makes it easy to accept the belief that negro brains scarcely ever reach the full development normal among white men.

After the Annancy stories come the digging songs, in which the incidents of daily life or of local gossip are set to a tune and chanted to enliven field-labour. These are followed by the ring tunes and words used in the informal dancing which originated in the ring games of English children. Finally, we -are given the dancing tunes proper, with their appropriate words. Jamaican music seems, as was to be expected, reminiscent of European models, but we are told that the decided tendency to short refrains may be African in origin. Mr. JekylFs book certainly shows us the amiable side of a light- hearted people untroubled by what has been called " the malady of thought."

THE MANORIAL SOCIETY is about to issue the first of -a series of lists of such Manor Court Rolls as are in the possession of private individuals, or in the custody of the stewards of the manors to

which the rolls relate, or in that of corporate bodies, as distinguished from those Court Rolls which are preserved in the Record Office, the British Museum, or other public depositories. It is obvious that the success of such an undertaking will depend, to a great extent, on the loyal support and cordial co-operation of local antiquaries. Any information respecting the existence of Court Rolls, the periods which they cover, and their present custodians, will be gratefully received by the Registrar of the Society (Mr. Charles Greenwood), 1, Mitre Court Buildings, Temple, E.C. The lists will be issued in parts, as such information accumu- lates, and supplied gratuitously to members of the Society. It is hardly necessary to point out the value of such lists, as they will supplement those which are to be found in the national and other public collections referred to above.

MR. WARWICK WROTH has a new book in hand sdiich will supplement his ' London Pleasure Gar- dens of the Eighteenth Century,' entitled 'Cre- morne, and the later London Pleasure Gardens.' It will give an account of some of the more notable taverns and tea gardens which were popular during the early part of the last century, in various parts of London and the suburbs. The work will contain much information derived from forgotten news- papers and stray handbills, and will be illustrated by many curious views, plans, scenes, and fac- similes. It will be published by Mr. Elliot Stock.

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