150 PRIMITIVE PATERNITY 



violently resented on ordinary occasions, and that 

 from the time of the women's coming to the nanga to 

 the close of the ceremonies very great licence prevails." 

 Nor is this the only occasion. When a chiefs son is 

 circumcised a great feast follows, ushering a period of 

 revelry. " All distinctions of property are for the time 

 being suspended. Men and women array themselves 

 in all manner of fantastic garbs, address one another in 

 the most indecent phrases and practice unmentionable 

 abominations openly in the public square of the town. 

 The nearest relationships even that of own brother 

 and sister seem to be no bar to the general licence, 

 the extent of which may be indicated by the expressive 

 phrase of an old Nandi chief, who said * While it lasts 

 we are just like the pigs.' This feasting and frolic may 

 be kept up for several days, after which the ordinary 

 restrictions recur once more. The rights of property 

 are again respected, the abandoned revellers settle 

 down into steady-going married couples, and brothers 

 and sisters may not so much as speak to one 

 another." 1 



The Melanesian husband pays a bride-price for his 

 wife ; he takes her to his own home ; and his potestas 

 is highly developed even where motherright prevails. 

 The woman occupy quite a subordinate position ; and 

 on the whole it may be said that jealousy on the part 

 of the husband seems to arise from his sense of 

 property, rather than from any other cause. His 

 property is not infringed by the voluntary lending of 



1 Fison, J. A. I. xiv. 24, 28. Another account of these cere- 

 monies by Mr. Adolph B. Joske of Fiji varies in some particulars 

 from Dr. Fison's account and does not admit the licence (Int. Arch. 

 ii. 254). Independent inquiry, however, as stated below, confirms 

 the correctness of Dr. Fison's information. 



