708 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 



say kneaded the first man and woman out of clay, a some- 

 what remarkable similarity to the narrative of the Creation 

 in Genesis. This would seem to make Bokor a sujjreme 

 universal deity, but some of their other stories represent 

 him as local, in fact only as a great chief living among 

 men and taking a keen interest in human affairs and 

 amusements. On this reef opposite our house there is a 

 stone, about 8 feet high, called Nevit Penepen, "the 

 walking-stone." This boulder, long ago, was on the top 

 of a hill some miles inland ; Bokor lived there with his 

 son, a young boy. There was a hollow behind the house at 

 some distance in which his water had formed a considerable 

 lake. One day Bokor went to a Mangkea at some distance, 

 leaving his son to make a pudding ; he did so, and after 

 his work was over strolled out and discovered this lake ; on 

 tasting it he fancied that it was salt water (netis), and that it 

 would be good flavouring for the pudding ; accordingly, he 

 poured some over it. Bokor returned and began to eat it, 

 but having tasted it he demanded where he got the water ; 

 on the boy telling him, he went out and dashed down the 

 side of the lake with his foot, which broke down the valley, 

 carrying houses and everything before it, and this boulder 

 with the rest. 



Their story as to the origin of fire is that a woman and 

 her little boy were out in the bush, and he began to cry and 

 refused to eat the raw food. She tried to amuse him by 

 rubbing a stick on a piece of dry wood, and was astonished to 

 see it smoke and smoulder and at last break into flame. She 

 laid the food on this and found it much better. After this, 

 all began to use fire. 



9.— ANEITYUM, NEW HEBRIDES. 



By REV. J. LAWRIE. 



Birth and Childhood. 

 There is much rejoicing at the birth of a boy, but comparative 

 silence at the birth of a girl. When the islanders were 

 heathen, infanticide of female children occasionally took place 

 by simply leaving them to die in the bush. The nearest 

 male relative has the privilege of naming the child, if a boy, 

 and the same with the nearest female relative, if the child is 

 a girl. The child is suckled for about two years. A feast of 



