The Dakdah Association of Keiv Britau). 73 



are introduced to the Dukduk, when from ten to one hundred 

 fathoms more are paid. Then they are set before a spread 

 of tile best food procurable, wliicli has been prepared before- 

 liand, and tliey are not allowed to leave the ground till it is 

 finished, -which is generally several days. During this time, 

 they join with the others in all-night singing and dancing, 

 and try on, and perhaps dance in, the Tubuan's dress. This 

 contribution runs the young men into debt, and compels 

 them to work with fish traps, or make plantations in order 

 to obtain " tabu " to clear themselves. There are very few 

 adult males who are not members of the Dukduk, while 

 man}^ boys as 3'oung as four or five years are members too, 

 as their relatives fear their being fined for crossing some 

 part of the tabooed ground, or for some precocious remark 

 about the " bird," which would cost more than the initiation 

 fees. This makes men of them, for the uninitiated are 

 laughed at and spoken of as " women," and natives dread 

 sai'casm more than spears. 



These large societies in the past found plenty of employ- 

 ment, as they were really the Government in the various 

 towns. Everything that was wrong in their eyes, gave them 

 an opportunity to extort "tabu;" in this sense they were a 

 terror to the doers of such evil as is condemned by native 

 public opinion ; but " might" with these natives is generally 

 " right," so that the weak, especially the women, were the 

 victims of their lust for gain. If a woman were known to 

 have a little hoard, it was not difficult to devise an excuse 

 for dispossessing her of it. Thus, I knew a woman who 

 owned a small basket of shell-money ; she was accused of 

 the serious crime of laugliing at a man in the presence of 

 others which caused him shame ; he, being a member of the 

 Dukduk, mustered a part}" at night to go with the Tubuan 

 to her home, and they took the whole of her wealth. 



In petty cases, the Tubuan simply goes to the home and 

 drives " her" spear into the ground, and squats be.side it, 

 perhaps to hide " her " legs, which might be recognised by 

 some mark on them, till some shell-money is offered to "her," 

 which, if not sufficient, "she" rejects by turning from it. 

 If a member of the society is near, he goes to the Tubuan 

 and ascertains "her" business. If only women are present, and 

 cannot guess the reason for " her" visit, they send for a man, 

 who is known to be a member, to come and ascertain, for a 

 woman dare not attempt to speak to " her," or even to hint 

 that communication by speech with "her" is possible. In 



