FIJI-NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITION 115 
dicates an adherent self-respect, a moral character that is funda- 
mentally honest, a sex morality that seems to have definitely im- 
pressed the Colonial authorities, and intellectual capabilities that 
are demonstrated wherever adequate education is available are 
indications of superiority, then it seems to me that by these criteria 
the Fijians are a definitely superior race. 
To arrive at any just conclusion it is always necessary to ascer- 
tain the point of view of the people against whom charges are 
made and judge in the light of the traditions and environment of 
the accused. Let us look at the most conspicuous charge, that of 
cannibalism, from their standpoint, confessing at once that no 
defense can be set up from the point of view of modern civiliza- 
tion. The natives of all islands in that vast stretch of ocean 
known as Oceanica were confronted with a great scarcity of a 
natural food:—meat. While we do not know definitely the or- 
igin of cannibalism, the most common explanation is, it seems to 
me, that this almost total lack of an adequate meat supply fur- 
nished the original incentive. 
Aside from the sentiment that appears to be instinctive, prac- 
tically among all races of mankind, there appears to be no @ priort 
reason why human flesh is not available food, and many members 
of many races have, when under stress of hunger, availed them- 
selves of this means of sustaining life. We know that this very 
thing has happened time and time again in the case of ship- 
wrecked sailors, Arctic explorers, beleaguered cities and severe 
famine in many parts of the world. In the case of the Polyne- 
sians every battle resulted in the possession of the bodies of the 
slain foes. Would it be strange if some men under stress of hun- 
ger were tempted to avail themselves of this means of satisfying 
their native craving for meat? Upon experimenting, human flesh 
was proved to be not only edible, but life sustaining and satisfying. 
There was doubtless the further incentive, always a powerful one 
in the case of primitive man, of doing that which tends to terrify 
the enemy, fear being universally regarded as a powerful aid in 
battle. One of the commonest boasts or threats among savages is, 
“‘T will eat you after the battle!’? Another wide-spread be- 
lief among these people is the idea that the victor attains the 
qualities of strength and valor that characterized the champion 
whom he has slain, and by eating his flesh can make them his own 
to aid in securing further victories. 
By some such means cannibalism may have gradually become a 
