224 TOTEMISM AND EXOGAMY 



work containing over two thousand pages of read- 

 ing matter and numerous maps, and embodying, 

 as will be seen, a new theory of the origin of the 

 first-named custom, new, that is, to the author's 

 previous volume, but first given to the world in 

 the columns of the Fortnightly Review in 1905 

 and reprinted in Vol. I. of the present work. The 

 greater portion of three out of the four volumes 

 is occupied by an ethnographical survey of the 

 customs, as to the value of which there can be no 

 second opinion. Many years must elapse before 

 the time arrives when any ambitious writer will 

 essay the task of compiling a collection of facts 

 which shall render this book obsolete. And, as a 

 collection of facts, it is indispensable to all persons 

 engaged in the study of primitive races and their 

 ideas. The fourth volume is devoted to summaries 

 and conclusions. The former, expressing the essence 

 of what has been learnt from the survey, contain 

 those pages which will naturally be most referred 

 to by the general reader and sum the evidence up 

 in a manner of which it would be hypercritical to 

 complain. It is when we come to the conclusions, 

 the theory as distinguished from the facts, that 

 we find cause to confirm the belief raised in our 

 mind by the careful perusal of Professor Frazer's 

 other works, that whilst he is, perhaps, the most 

 painstaking collector of evidence in the world of 

 scholars, he is not the most trustworthy theorist, 

 but is apt to be led to what seem to us, with all 

 respect be it said, utterly improbable conclus- 

 ions by a too great reliance on isolated cases and 

 far-fetched analogies, TJjjs in no way lessens the 



