103 Art. VIL— A. Mfitsumnrn,: 



The pattern of sharks lying side by side is found not only in 

 Yap but also in the Solomon Islands. According to E. Parkinson^ 

 and C. M. Woodford,^ the women in Ongtong Java (otherwise 

 called Lord Howe's Group, where the natives are of the Polynesian 

 race with a mixture of Melanesian blood), one of the Solomon Islands, 

 tattoo this pattern on the breast and arms. Again, Woodford^ 

 states that in another of the islands, Sikaiana (otherwise called 

 Stewart's Island), the same pattern is found on the upper and 

 lower limbs. The same author further remarks that the pattern 

 of sharks on the chest and thighs is met with among the natives, 

 both male and female, of Kennell Island, another of the Solomon 

 group (Polynesian race)."* The meaning of these patterns, however, 

 is not definitely known. Though this comes under cicatrization, 

 according to B. T. Somerville,^ the natives of New Georgia, also 

 one of the Solomon Islands, cut a pattern of porpoises on their 

 thighs and that of frigate birds on their shoulders. He observes on 

 this custom : "I have thought it may have some reference to the 

 desire to have the porpoise's strength and endurance in the legs 

 for swimming, and that of the frigate birds for the arms." If this 

 custom in New Georgia comes from such n superstition, it resembles 

 in origin the practice in Yap, but it should be carefully noted that 

 the patterns of animal forms employed have often connections 

 with totems. Take, for instance, the natives of Torres Straits 

 described by Haddon.^ The inhabitants, who do not tattoo, employ 



^ R Parkinson, " Zur Ethnographie der Ongtong Java nn 1 Tasman Inseln," Intern. Archiv 

 f. Ethnog, X, 18it7, p. 140; Taf. VIII. 



- C. M. Woodford, " Note on Tatu-patterns emijloyed in Lord Howe's Island," Man, I, 1931, 31. 



3 C. M. Woodford. " Some account of Sikaiana or Stewart's Island in the British Solomon 

 Islands Protector.ite," Man, VI, 190G, 103. 



< C. M. AVoodford, " Notes on Rennell Island," Man, VU, 1907, 24. 



5 B. T. Somerville, " Ethnographicftl Notes in New Georgia, Solomon Islands," Jour. Anthr. 

 Inst., XXVI, 1897, p. 365. 



Ö A. C. Haddon, "The Ethnography of the Western Tribes of Torres Straits,' Jour. Anthr 

 Inst., XIX, 1890, pp. 366-368, 392, 393; Pi. VII. 



