MALEKULA, NEW HEBRIDES. 697 



talcen as units, explain the raison cVttre of the terms. In 

 these trihes marriage and relationship are conceived, not as 

 between individual and individual, but as between group and 

 group. The group is, in fact, the social unit. 



It appears strange to me that, though the existence of the 

 group as the social unit among savage tribes has been so long 

 seen and acknowledged in other matters, it should still be so 

 vehemently denied with regard to marriage and relationship. 

 Land tenure and inheritance are based upon it ; it is seen in 

 succession to office where there is hereditary succession, and 

 blood feud proclaims it aloud. If the group be struck any- 

 Avhere, every member of it feels the stroke, and burns to 

 avenge it. If then it be the group, not the individual, that 

 holds land, that inherits, that is qualified to succeed to office, 

 that strikes and is struck, what difficulty is there in the way 

 of our accepting the fact that it is the group that marries and 

 is given in marriage ? And if group marriage be accepted, 

 group relationship follows as a matter of course. 



8.— MALEKULA, NEW HEBRIDES. 



Bi/ REV. T. WATT LEGGATT, Missionary/. 



£irth and Childhood. 



After a birth the woman is not allowed to leave the village 

 for 20 days. The child is named by a relative on or about 

 the 30th day. A pig is killed on the occasion, and a distribu- 

 tion of food made. The name is usually that of a relative, 

 and the surname that of the plot of ground on which the 

 child was born. 



The mother carries the child astride on her hip, sujjported 

 by a mat or calico under her arm and over the shoulder. 

 The father frequently carries the child. In fact it is nursed 

 either Ijy the one or other. After a birth the father remains 

 in the house nursing it until the mother is able to go about. 

 The cliild is lovingly, in fact indulgently treated. There 

 seems to be little or no discipline or training. Suckling is 

 continued for two years at least. 



Matt/rity. 

 I am unable to give any definite information yet. 



