4IO 



THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS. 



dozen only were purchased. The natives are very superstitious. 

 When a group was being photographed, the old women put up 

 two long poles transversely between themselves and it in order 

 to protect themselves from its evil influence, and they could 

 not be persuaded to sit until Captain Thomson seated himself 

 in the centre of the group, and was taken with them. When 

 I began sounding the big drums in the temple, my guides 

 hastily drew me out of the place in terror, and made signs that 

 the people from the chief's group of houses would come and 

 cut my throat. 



NATIVES OF THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS WITH CAPTAIN F. T. THOMSON, R.N. 



(From a photograph.) 



A mystery was always made about the principal temple 

 containing the images. Sometimes it was freely open, at 

 others closed, and I was warned back by the chief on two 

 occasions when I attempted to enter. The temple with the 

 drums was used for the suspension of the large fish nets, no 

 doubt common property. 



The charm, made of a human humerus wrapped round with 

 feathers, and worn hung round the neck, was taken in the hand 

 and flourished about, dashed against the ground, and used 



