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PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 637 
Owing probably to the hiding of their dead in deep caves, so 
numerous in these coral islands, Avaiki came to be conceived of 
as a vast hollow beneath them. 
In Avaiki are many regions, bearing separate names, but all to 
be regarded as part of spirit-land. For example, spirits are said 
to travel to Manuka (= Manw’a), or Tutuila, or Upolu, or Vavau, 
or Tonga, or Iva, or Rotuma (=Rotumah), &e., &e., &e. The 
problem now is to determine whence the Samoans (z.e., the clan 
or family of Moa), sprang. This ‘“ Moa” is the hereditary king 
of the Samoans, his residence being always on “Tau,” the largest 
of the three islets collectively designated ‘“‘ Manu’a.” 
9—NOTE ON THE USE OF GESTURE LANGUAGE. 
IN AUSTRALIAN TRIBES. 
By A. W. Howirr. 
THE use of gestures accompanying, supplementing, or replacing 
speech is, I doubt not, to some extent inherent in the human 
race. Children make use naturally, or, as some might prefer to 
say, instinctively, of certain simple signs. Deaf-mutes necessarily 
use them to communicate their needs or wishes, and some simple 
signs are so universally used that the term “ natural gestures” is 
not inapplicable to them. 
Moreover, the rudiments of gesture language may even be 
observed among animals, and especially in those which have 
been domesticated, and have become the conipanions of man. 
It may be inferred that gesture language is of earlier origin. 
than speech, and also would have been found, at one time, to be 
more universal in the least advanced races of mankind. Whether 
this is so or not | am not prepared to maintain, but this much 
may be said, that with the exception of the Neapolitans, there 
seems to be scarcely any civilised people who habitually use a 
recognised code of signs having a settled meaning, whilst in savage 
tribes the practice is very common. 
It has been long known that gesture language was much used 
among the North American Indians, and some remarkable state- 
ments have been made as to the reasons for its use. Burton 
attributed it to the paucity of language, which compelled the use 
of supplementary signs. It was even said that certain tribes. 
were not able to communicate freely unless when daylight 
permitted the use of gestures. This statement has been completely 
disposed of by the researches of American anthropologists, 
especially those of Col. Garrick Mallery, to whose exhaustive 
treatise upon his subject of %esture language the reader is. 
referred. 
