Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 4.djvu/145

 ii s. iv. Atm. 12, i9ii.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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The Veddas. By C. G. Seligmann, M.D.," and

B. Z. Seligmann. (Cambridge University

Press.)

THE Veddas of Ceylon have long been a by- word as the most backward and xmdeveloped race of mankind now surviving, and consequently of especial interest to anthropologists, who delight in all things primitive. As they are steadily dwindling in numbers and becoming gradually absorbed by the neighbouring tribes of Tamils and Sinhalese, no time was to be lost in scien- tifically studying their peculiar habits and idiosyncrasies 'before they become quite extinct. It seems, too, that they are further degenerating under the contaminating influence of civilized visitors.

Dr. Seligniann and his wife, under the auspices of the Ceylon Government, have had particularly favourable opportunities of becoming acquainted with the intimate life of the shy and elusive remnants of this moribund people, and they give us the results of their researches in this ample volume of nearly 500 pages, copiously illustrated by photographic reproductions. Every student of mankind will welcome it as a valuable record. It is a suggestive note of the times that a motor- car has been found useful in penetrating into the haunts of these rudest of Nature's children.

The authors hold them to be the remains of a primaeval Dravidian tribe, who eventually adopted the Sinhalese, i.e. an Aryan, language ; and formed on the whole a favourable opinion of their character which has been much maligned. So far from the Veddas being gloomy and morose their visitors found them to be a light-hearted people, who love to dance and jest, and can enjoy a hearty laugh at anything that strikes them as ludicrous. Though in many respects they may be non-moral, they treat their women as equals and are remarkable for their conjugal fidelity. They are by no means repulsively ugly ; indeed, the photographs show the women to have a fair share of natural beauty.

As to the religion of this curious people, it is a very confused and elementary cult of yaku, the spirits of the dead, or nae yaku, the community of the spirits of kinsfolk, whom they invoke as protective guardians, offering them food in order to obtain good luck in hunting. These spirits are believed to be under the rule of Kande Yaka, the Hill Spirit, who is Lord of the dead. A superior deity, however, is the Kataragam god, an unde- fined being of whom little is known. Their religious rites show a complete indifference to the sun and the moon ; for only two of the stars have they even found a name ; they take no cognizance, either, of the mysteries of generation, which have exercised a potent influence over most rude tribes. It is equally strange to hear that they have very few magical practices and scarcely any traditional legends. Such super- stitions and rites as they have are signally devoid of interest, and will certainly disappoint the com- parative folk-lorist.

The vocabulary which is given of their language is so imperfect that it would lead one to think that they had no words for father and mother, though appa and alia are given as such in the

body of the work ; and ammi, the word for child,, is similarly omitted. It should have been noted that bota-damana, literally " body-repose," the word for dying (p. 433), is only the word for sleep (p. 446) metaphorically applied, as is sa common.

IN The National Review ' Episodes of the Month * include the text of the Parliament Bill, as it left the House of Commons and as amended by the- Lords, and a good deal of the usual strong com- ment concerning the situation. The Stalwarts, otherwise known as the " Last-Ditchers," have,, it is said, " rendered conspicuous service to the State, in the face of the whole posse comitatus of Poozledom and Boozledom who were mobilized as one man to trip them up." Mr. Balfour's. leadership is regarded as a " continuing catas- trophe " to his party. Mr. W. Morton Fullerton writes vividly on ' The Unrest in Prance,' but we doubt the wisdom of some of his remedies for it- ' A Fielding " Find," ' by Mr. Austin Dobson,. is full of the writer's expert knowledge conveyed with the ease and grace of his practised pen. The- " find " consists of two of the novelist's " latest, if not his last letters." They are addressed to his- brother Jack, and the more noteworthy because very little of his correspondence has been preserved. They add details to the ' Journal ' of the voyage to Lisbon, and are for a sick man full of hope and spirits. In ' African Big-game Shooting for Women ' Mary Bridson gives some useful hints of the dress, equipment, &c., required. " A Public Schoolboy " replies to the critics who have discussed his article of last October on ' The Public Schools.' We think that there is a good deal to be said for his views, and that the whole discussion has been of value. We always read Mr. A. Maurice Low on ' American Affairs ' with pleasure. This month he deals with American views of the British Empire and the recovery from depression of Mr. Taft's fortunes. His renomination is now regarded as likely.

The Burlington Magazine opens with an editorial article on ' London and the Fine Arts, 1911.' Stirring events have not, it is considered, produced " creditable or satisfactory effort." The National Memorial to Queen Victoria is not great art, and the choice of Mr. Bertram McKennal is not com- mended by the new coinage, the Coronation medals, and the new postage stamps. Finally,, the work of the few who attempted decoration worthy of the name for the Coronation was " submerged beneath a flood of inept and ridicu- lous philistinism." We are glad to have these outspoken views from a body of artists who are untainted by the prevalent commercial ideas, and anxious only to evoke a " genuine national spirit " which will raise this country a little above a " nation of shopkeepers." At present The Burlington is almost " vox clamantis in deserto."

Mr. F. Schmidt- Degener has ' Notes on Some Fifteenth-Century Silver-points,' with illustra- tions which show them to be pleasing works of art not merely commended by age. Something, perhaps, of this glamour of the past clings to ' A Newly Discovered Statue of the Virgin,' described by Mr. F. Lees. It belonged to the Seminary of Meaux, and is considered as some of the finest work of the sort of the end of the four- teenth centurv. ' Notes on the Collections.