650 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
Ear-piercing is not now done by natives of the coast tribes in 
Fiji, and it is only among the old men in the mountain districts 
that exaggerated instances of dilated lobes, such as are still 
common in the Solomon Islands and many other parts of 
Melanesia, are to be met with. 
Raised scars are obtained by pressing some article, generally an 
infant orange, or a number of them, about as large as a pea each, 
into an incision made for their reception, and so by irritation 
giving rise to exuberant granulations. But, very remarkably, 
raised scars not infrequently result in natives of the Viti Islands 
from simple wounds about the chest or shoulders, and from 
vaccination. When produced designedly they are the result 
rather of a youthful freak than of any definite object or in virtue 
of any custom, and they do not represent any tribal mark or 
Totem. 
Flattening of the occiput is practised only in certain families 
of high degree or relationship. It is effected by the pressure of 
a roll of native cloth (masz) on the forehead of the infant, the 
back of the head resting ona board. Its result is to make the 
back of the head appear almost in a straight line with the neck 
and to widen the skull. One of the most marked cases of this 
deformation that I have seen, became at nine years of age 
epileptic, developed epileptic insanity, at sixteen suffered from 
almost incessant epileptiform convulsions, and soon afterwards 
died (probably from starvation) after ten days’ trance. 
With regard to this flattening of the occiput, I have more than 
once suspected that it is practised only in those families whose 
special physiognomy already shows a tendency towards that shape 
of head which the artificial process in question intensifies. As 
these particular families are the highest in the land, it is not 
unreasonable to think that they may see in their peculiarity a 
special and distinguishing type of beauty, and that they may wish 
to exaggerate it artificially. Such a proceeding would be in 
accord with the recognised principles of skull deformation in 
other parts of the world, as reasoned out by students of anthro- 
pology. It is merely applying in the present case to a few 
families a principle which is known to influence whole races. 
The principal point of interest, however, in the subject of this 
paper is that already alluded to, namely, that mutilations of the 
urethra are practised among the Fijians as a means of relief from 
disease, though disease at a distal part of the body ; and mutila- 
tions of a kindred character, though slightly different in detail, 
are practised by certain tribes in the north and west portions of 
Australia as a matter of general custom on arrival at the age of 
puberty. The origin of this custom, often stated to lie in the 
wish to keep down the population in an infertile country, admits 
of the widest doubt. And it would probably not be warrantable 
to hazard any opinion, without first making extensive observa- 
