THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. 



475 



to sit until Captain Thomson seated himself in the centre of 

 the group, and was taken with them. When I began soundino- 

 the big drums in the temple, my guides hastily drew me out of 

 the place in terror, and made signs that the people from the 

 chiefs group of houses would come and cut my throat. 



NATIVES OF THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS WITH CAPTAIN F. T. THOMSON, R.N. 



(From a photograph.) 



A mystery was always made about the principal temple con- 

 taining the images. Sometimes it was freely open, at others 

 closed, and I was warned back by the chief on two occasions 

 when I attempted to enter. The temple with the drums was 

 used for the suspension of the large fish nets, no doubt common 

 property. 



The charm, made of a human humerus wrapped round with 

 feathers, and worn hung round the neck, was taken in the hand 

 and flourished about, dashed against the ground, and used 

 apparently to swear by during a violent harangue of one of the 

 chief men of Dentrecasteaux Island, who wanted possibly to 

 incite the natives to attack our boat, or to try and capture a 

 much coveted bag of trade gear in it. These feather and bone 



