454 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION F. 



playtime of spirits when they vent their spite or play their pranks- 

 on men. Now a poor man, according to a New Britain savage, finds 

 no welcome in the better land, but is driven forth as useless and unfit 

 for the eternal companionship of the successful, so there the poor 

 cease from troubling by not being admitted. For not being successful 

 in securing earthly wealth, he is dashed against the trunks of th& 

 banyan tree, and then left to take up his abode in a flying-fox, if 

 he can find one, and there are plenty of them. Should this creature' 

 be disturbed during the day and fly across country, the people are 

 full of fear until it settles somewhere, and should it happen to do so 

 on a tree overhanging a village, that village is greatly perturbed, 

 especially if the inhabitants had taken part in killing and eating a 

 person. Vengeance from a power they cannot successfully contend 

 against is feared. So conscience makes cowards of us all, savage and 

 civilised. 



Communication with the spirit world is held to be possible, and 

 there are no more faithful and ardent spiritualists in the world than 

 the New Britain savages. I was once present at a native seance, 

 which was held in an open space in the bush. The suiTOunding trees 

 cast a deep darkness on the spot, so that it was impossible to see 

 more than a yard or so ahead. It was black unrelieved darkness. I 

 knew by the sound of much whispering that a great crowd of people 

 was there. In the space there were two companies of men, one com- 

 pany at each end of the open space. They were all dressed in white, 

 the spirits being supposed to like that colour. At the sound of a 

 whistle these two companies marched past each other across the 

 open, and so changed ends, making a weird procession, amid a pro- 

 found silence. I said something to my neighbour and was immediately 

 warned to keep silent. In answer to the question put in the lowest 

 of whispers. What are they doing? I was informed that Ingal, the 

 spirit they sought, would presently be so pleased with their wooing 

 in this way, that he would reveal himself to them. There was deep 

 feeling and great expectancy on the part of the crowd, so much so 

 that the murky atmosphere was charged with it, and under such 

 circumstances one does not wonder that the people think they actually 

 see what they came to see. In addition to the marching already 

 mentioned, there were in a house close by a number of the leading 

 spiritualists of the town muttering and chirping as men did in the 

 ages past. Presently a sound was heard in the forest, and a great 

 subdued sob Avent up from the multitude, for was not Ingal comingl 

 I waited long, but he came not that night, and it was soon mentioned 

 that I was the unbeliever who kept him away, and I was iirged to 

 leave, which after a while I did. I was told next day that after I 

 left he came, a sure evidence that I was the hindrance, which added 

 to my security, for if I was stronger than Ingal I must indeed be 

 strong. I was never again invited to a seance. This Ingal may 

 enter into a man, and through him may be revealed the secrets of 

 the malira, or charm either for good or evil use, and he is there- 

 fore much sought after. Ingal is supposed to live at the top of 

 very high trees, and may be induced to come down and converse with 

 men. 



It is believed that the spirit of man may leave his body for a 

 time, and enter into animals, birds, or fish. But should the creature 



