16 MEMOmS OF THE QFEEXSLJXI) MCSEUM. 



New Zealand. — Xor do we find "message stieks'" in use among the 

 Maoris. J. F. Cheeseman. the Director of the Auckland Museum, sends me the 



following note : — 



" The nearest ajiproacli that has come under my notice is a little article in this 

 Museum, which is the lower valve of an oyster shell, through which a circular hole has been 

 neatly drilled. I was informed that such articles were sometimes sent as a jiroof of the 

 honesty and reliability of anyone sent with an inipoi'tant message, but I have been unable 

 to find sufficient support for the statement in other districts to allow nic to fully accept it 

 at present. With respect to credentials sent with a message, I believe one plan was to send 

 a well-known Here (fighting club of nephrite) or other weapon or ornament as a token of 

 til bona-fides of the messenger." 



Southern Africa. — The present Governor of Queensland, Sir Hamilton 

 Goold-Adams, who has spent a considerable time in parts of South Africa, has 

 kindly given me the following information bearing on this sul)ject, which I 

 find far too interesting to omit. He says: — 



" Tlie tribes and kingdoms of Soutliern Africa are very much more important 

 organizations than anything of the kind in Australia appears to be, and wlicn a message is 

 to be sent from one chief or king to another it is conveyed by ambassadors with dne 

 ceremonial. When wiitten messages are carried by the natives in tlie ordinary course of 

 trade, business, ifcc, the procedure is as follows: — As soon as the message is handed to 

 the carrier he immediately goes to the nearest bush and cuts therefrom a small twig, 

 in the cleft end of which he inserts the note, and there ties it securely with 

 bark. He then sets out, carrying the stick in front of him so that it may be apparent 

 to all that he is the bearer of a message. ShouUl he find it inipos^sible for him to 

 complete the journey, he proceeds to the nearest chief, informs him of hi.«i mission, and 

 the message is invariably sent on by anotlier bearer. Very often, of course, there is delay 

 in securing another messenger, but it is a recognised thing amongst native tribes that the 

 message must bo forwarded, and it eventually does reach its destination." 



AVith refrrcni-e to inessages and messengers of Torres Strait, T liave the 

 I'ollowinir inf'(irin;ili(in : — 



Yorke Island. — Kindly supi)li('d by Ed. B. Connolly — 



" ]. When a native went to tlio Ijush in liis own island, or to an adjacent island, he 

 left a pointed stick at his house with the point in tlic dircctiim he had taken. 



" 2. If he was sending a message to snnnune on another island that he intended 

 paying him a visit in, say, five days' time, ho would send five sticks pointed at one end. 



" .1. If ho wanted a por.son on another island to visit liirn ho would send stick.s pointed 

 at both ends. 



"4. If natives of one island intended to make war on another island in, .say, tea days" 

 time, they sent ten sticks burned at one end. 



"5. If natives were approaching another island with peaceful intentions, they would 

 wave a green brancli, but if with warlike ones, a firestiek." 



