Appendix. 201 
is composed of the master, or masters, of the feast, and 
assistants bearing the mango saplings: 
Before the holding of the main feast, word is sent 
round to the various villages, and the natives leave in 
their canoes for the ceremony, blowing conch-shell 
trumpets and shouting loudly to announce the event. 
The ceremonial use of shell-trumpets by the Mailu 
in connection with agricultural and other activities forms 
a striking parallel to similar practices in Malabar and 
Siam, described in Chapter II., (p. 37). In Samoa, the 
Society, and other Pacific Islands, we also find shell- 
trumpets associated with processions and times of prayer 
and fasting. From Aztec ‘pictorial manuscripts we learn 
that identical customs were carried out by the ancient 
Mexicans, as already noted in previous pages. The 
blowing of the conch-shell among the Guaymis of the 
Chiriquian region of Panama to announce the arrival of 
guests to a feast is another noteworthy example of 
identical usage (p. 47). 
According to F. W. Christian,” the “ side-blown’ 
shell-trumpet is also used in the island of Ponape, Caro- 
line Islands. In describing the musical instruments of 
Ponapeans he tells us that “the Chauz (Fijian Davuz) or 
shell-trumpet—the Px of the South Polynesians,” is used 
as a signal of war or assembly, like the Aztaba/ of the 
ancient Mexicans. Close by the pointed end of the shell 
a circular hole is bored. Some of these are of very large 
size, and are often picked up amongst the foundations of 
old houses.” Pearl-shell fish-hooks and Ovulum ovum 
are also used in this island; the latter as ornament for 
the prows of canoes. 
Some details of the use of another cowry-like shell— 
Ovulum verrucosum—have already been given. I have 
since found that this shell is employed in New Caledonia 
as an ornament for witchcraft packets, great value being 
attached to the shell, especially for its believed powers of 
rendering persons invisible.” 
I have been unable to trace the actual use of the 
Triton-shell as a trumpet in New Caledonia, but it is 
) 
18 Journ. Anthrop. Inst., Vol. 28, p. 298. 
16 For a good figure of this see Ratzel, of. crt., 1., p. 255. 
17 Le Pére Lambert, ‘“ Moeurs et Superstitions des Néo-Calédoniens,” 
Nouméa, 1900, p. 3 (Fig.). 
