ETHNOLOGICAL STUDIES 



By Kaj Birket-Smith 



Deep-sea expeditions and ethnological work are usually rather incompa- 

 tible; but as one of the deepest oceanic regions is in the Pacific to the 

 south of the Solomon Islands and the Galathea planned to explore it, I 

 realized that here was a unique opportunity to visit Rennell Island, one 

 of the most interesting and least known islands in these parts. The Carls- 

 berg Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological 

 Research, New York, generously provided the funds; and so, at noon on 

 June 19, 1 95 1, I found myself standing on the ship's deck, watching the 



The dance ends with the men making a tremendous jump on to the wooden board, the only 

 musical instrument of the Rennellese. 



