490 



NA TURE 



[March 23, 1905 



able reproductions, but \vc have nowadays become 

 accustomed to good things of this kind. It is rarely, 

 however, that we have seen such satisfactory repro- 

 ductions of photographs taken directly from the 

 fossils as we have in the two plates. Most of the 

 good collotype reproductions of fossils that have 

 recently appeared are from photographs of water- 

 colour drawings, and some of them are certainly very 

 effective; but there is the artist's equation to allow 

 for. In the present case, no such allowance has to 

 be made, and the figures of the lion's jaw as well as 

 of the teeth of the fallow deer and elephant are 

 admirable. These plates do credit to all concerned in 

 their production. 



F////1A' FOLK-TALES.' 



ETHNOLOGISTS have all along suspected that 

 Mr. Fison has plenty of unpublished information 

 concerning Fiji. They are grateful to him for what 

 he has already published in the Jouriml of the 



i 



can be claimed is that it is of the native pattern." 

 The tales are interesting as stories, and have increased 

 value when compared with other tales from Oceania, 

 but their greatest importance rests in their value as 

 evidence of the ideas and actions of the natives before 

 the white man came. In the introduction Mr. Fison 

 gives a long discussion concerning cannibalism, and 

 he sums it up thus : — 



" It is impossible to establish a certainty as to the 

 origin of cannibalism, and the question resolves itself 

 into a comparison of probabilities, the balance being 

 in favour of the strongest motive. This is un- 

 doubtedlv Hunger. It is stronger than Superstition ; 

 it is stronger than Revenge. Man is a carnivorous 

 animal, whatever the vegetarians may say; and in a 

 savage state of society, if he cannot get the food for 

 which his stomach craves, he will ' kusima ' (crave, 

 or hunger after flesh) until he eats his brother." 



For, as Mr. Fison argues, the Fijians were formerly 

 scantily supplied with animal food. The seriou> 

 student is occasionallv tanl.-ilised bv hints of further 



r..lf, from Old Fiji. 



.\nthropological Inslitule, but ihev clamoured for 

 more, and even now they will not remain satisfied 

 with the handsome book that has just been issued by 

 the De La More Press. This new book contains a 

 dozen folk-tales capitally told; "each contains a 

 genuine legend as its skeleton, for the flesh with 

 which that skeleton has been covered, the most that 



' " Tales from Old Fiji." By Lorimcr Fi- 

 (London; A. M.rii.g, Ltd., the D= l.a Mo 



NO. 1847, VOL. 71] 



Pp. J1IV + 17S ; illustrated, 

 ress, 1904.) Price 71. 6,/. 



information, and bv allu-iions to possible discussions 

 of social and other questions, all of which are passed 

 bv as not being suitable for a popular book ; doubt- 

 less Mr. Fison was wise in restraining himself, but, 

 for the sake of science, it is sincerely to be hoped that 

 he will give all his information to the world in some 

 form or another. In the meantime we thank Mr. 

 Fison for this publication, which can be recommended 

 to those who like interesting information about real 

 savages lold in a pleasing manner. 



