A TRIP TO THE TROBRIANDS 71 



candidly admitted the facts. The leaders were sent 

 to gaol for three months, and the others for one month. 

 The incident would be of comparatively little import- 

 ance were it not for the underlying fact that the 

 offence was nothing more than a symptom of the 

 number of deaths which have occurred in the settled 

 parts of the Division during the last few years. These 

 deaths are all put down to sorcery and payment sought 

 in the usual way. It may be that the friends of the 

 deceased make pouri-pouri to kill the supposed 

 murderer. It may be that they demand pigs; it 

 may be that they attempt to square matters by killing 

 the supposed sorcerer or a relative ; or it may be that 

 they come to the magistrate and want to lay a 

 complaint for murder. 



" Sorcery is probably widespread in the Division, 

 but the fear of sorcery without due cause probably 

 does far more harm than the sorcerers do either directly 

 or indirectly by causing fear. In common with pretty 

 well all races in a low degree of culture the Papuan is 

 surrounded by natural processes he does not under- 

 stand, but which he vainly, although quite honestly, 

 believes he can control/ at least if a more expert 

 sorcerer does not thwart him. He sees a friend die 

 it may be of pneumonia but the fact is proof 

 positive to him that some one has murdered him by 

 magical means. If he wants rain to come he has 

 only to apply to the nearest rain-maker, who puts the 

 appropriate articles in a stream of water and perhaps 



