A COLLECTION FROM THE SOUTH SEAS 



121 



bure was for religious ceremonies. Here votive offerings of food and 

 whale's teeth were presented to the deity. Here also the native priest fell 

 into a trance, during which he held communion with supernatural powers, 

 whose decision on the question at issue was afterwards announced to the 

 populace. 



While the temple illustrated the architectural skill of the Fijians, 

 which is superior to that of all other Oceanians excepting the Maori 

 of New Zealand, their craftsmanship in other directions is shown by 

 the variety of their neck-rests and the attractive open-work decoration 

 of their combs. (See plate on page 122.) Oil and food dishes of wood 

 are of rather crude execution, but interesting in shape. Very artistic 

 effects are produced in the breast-plates of shell bone, which are tastefully 

 decorated with inlaid patterns. 



The objects illustrated here and other material selected from the 

 collection have been installed temporarily in a wall case in the northeast 

 corner of the Siberian Hall (No. 101) on the ground floor. 



Robert H. Lowie. 



CANNIBAL FLESH HANGERS (I AND 3), CANNIBAL FORK (2), FIJIAN 

 POTTERY (4 TO 6), KAVA BOWL AND CUPS (7 AND 8). 



