752 REPORT — 1902. 



erections with much chance of their permanence. There 13 only one remedy for 

 this, and that is more extensive and mora thorough field work. The problems 

 connected with totemism bear upon many of the most important phases in the 

 social and religious evolution of man, the solution of which can only be obtained 

 within the space of a few years. The delay of each year in the investigation of 

 primitive peoples means that so much less information is possible to be obtained. 

 There is no exaggeratioa in this. Those who have a practical experience of 

 backward man and who have travelled in out-of-the-way places can testify as to 

 the surprising rapidity with which the old order changeth. In sober earnestness 

 I appeal to all those who are interested in the history and character of man, 

 whether they be theologians, historians, sociologists, psychologists, or anthropo- 

 logists, to face the plain fact that the only available data for the solution of 

 many problems of the highest interest are daily slipping away beyond recovery. 



The following Papars were read : — 



1. The Initiation Ceremonies of the Natives of the Papuan Gulf. 

 By Rev. J. H. Holmes. 



If his friends can afford it, a boy is isolated in the eravo at the commencement 

 of puberty, and he is not released until his hair has grown to its full length. An old 

 man looks after the boys and instructs them. There are several taboos : seeing or 

 speaking to womea ; certain food ; utensils. The boy is taught to be brave, and all 

 social customs attending birth, courtship, marriage, and death, as well as religious 

 duties. During the socluiion the boy's body must not be exposed to the sun, so 

 that they may have strong bodies and grow into big men. The bull-roarer, tiparu, 

 is shown and explained. Masks play a great part in the more important ceremonies. 



2. The Religious Ideas, Totems, Spirits, and Gods of Elema. 

 By Rev. J. H. Holmes, 



From certain customs and taboos it is evident the natives of the Papuan Gulf 

 were totemic peoples, but they appear to have partially passed beyond this phase. 

 There are four classes of spirits : (1) Of those who have died a natural death ; 



(2) of those who have died in a fight ; (;3) of those who have been murdered ; 



(3) of those killed by crocodiles. 



Several tribes of the Papuan Gulf beliere in gods. For example, Ivivavea is the 

 deified ancestor of the Vailala tribe ; this is the Kivovia of the Toaripi, who made 

 sago, betel-nuts, &c. Other gods of the Toaripi are Harisu, the chief god, who 

 presides over hosts of deities ; occasionally a man is recognised as his messenger 

 (Harohoha) to men. Karisu is the evil god, who presides over the host of the 

 flub-deities of evil. Ualare is the god who made the sun, moon, and stars, the sea 

 and all that is therein, and the land and what lives on the land, with the exception 

 of certain kinds of food. Ivaove Maialaove is the god of death. Saukroo is a tree- 

 god who kills men. lliovaki is the god of war who terrifies the enemy, and only 

 those who fall in battle go to him. The banana has two gods, the sweet potato 

 has one : the taro has another. Every family of living things, from man down- 

 wards, has its special god or guardian angel, for whom there is a feeling of 

 respect. 



3. Human Souls and Ghosts among the Malays of Patani. 

 By Nelson Annandale. 



After summarising the sources of information the paper describes the Malay 

 beliefs as to the various non-material elements and their functions in man, the 

 ghosts of murdered men, and the other ghosts that arise from men in an ill defined 

 manner. It discusses the question of kramat and inspired magic'ans ; the 



