738 REPORT — 1902. 



Section H.— ANTHROPOLOGY. 

 Peesident op the Section — A. C. HiDDON, M.A., Sc.D., F.R.S., M.R.I.A. 



THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. 



The President delivered the following address : — ■ 



So much has heen written of late on totemism that I feel some diflidence in 

 burdening Still further the literature of the subject. But I may plead a slight 

 claim on your attention, as I happen to be an unworthy member of the Crocodile 

 kin of the Western tribe of Torres Straits, and I have been recognised as such 

 in another island than the one where I changed names with Maino, the chief of 

 Tutu, and thereby became a member of his kin. 



I do not intend to discuss the many theories about totemism, as this would 

 occupy too much time : nor can I profess to be able to throw much light upon the 

 problems connected with it ; but I chiefly desire to place before you the main 

 issues in as clear a manner as may be, and I venture to ofiier for your consideration 

 one way in and some ways out of totemism. 



A few years ago M. Marillier wrote ^ that ' totemism is one of the rare forms 

 of culture : it is incapable of evolution and transformation, and is intelligible only 

 in its relations with certain types of social organisation. When these disappear 

 it also disappears. Totemism in its complete development is antagonistic alike to 

 transformation or progress.' In due course I shall describe how one people at 

 le.ist is emerging from totemism. At the outset I wish it to be distinctly under- 

 stood that I do not regard this as the only way out ; doubtless there have been 

 several transformations, but a record of what appears to be taking place appeals 

 more to most students than a guess as to what may have happened. 



What is most needed at the present time is fresh investigation in the field. 

 Those who are familiar with the literature of the subject are only too well aware 

 of the imperfection of the available records. There are several reasons which 

 account for this. Some of the customs and beliefs associated with totemism have 

 a sacred significance, and the average savage is too reverent to speak lightly of 

 what touches him so deeply. Natives cannot explain their mysteries any more 

 than the adherents of more civilised religions can fully explain theirs. Further, 

 they particularly dislike the unsympathetic attitude of most inquirers, and nothing 

 silences a native more effectually than the fear of ridicule. 



Language is another difficulty. Even supposing the white man has acquired 

 the language, the vocabulary of the native is not sufficiently full or precise to 

 explain those distinctions which appeal to us, but which are immaterial to him. 



Granting the willingness of the native to communicate his ideas, and that the 

 hindrance of language has been overcome, there remains the difficulty of the native 

 understanding what it is the white man wishes to learn. If there is a practically 



' Rev. de VHist. des Religions, xxsvi. 1897, pp. 368, 3G9. 



