940 REPORT—1896. 
The natives hate the foreigners, and distrust even their fellow-countrymen. This 
seclusive disposition is taken as a key with which to open, to some extent at least, 
the mysteries with which the Melanesian loves to surround his actions. 
A lengthly description of the Duk Duk is not given, as it is fairly well known. 
It is here viewed psychologically. The ceremony apparently serves two purposes: 
(a) The first is to propitiate evil-disposed spirits—and there is no doubt that this 
part still represents some of the original traits of worship of the departed. It is, 
however, next to impossible to gain sufficient insight into the ceremony to establish 
a plausible theory. (6) The other purpose is a very materialistic one, as it is 
nothing but a clever system of levying black-mail from the women who may not 
be, and from the men who are not, members of the Duk Duk. 
The ZEineth ceremony is celebrated at irregular intervals, Within a dense 
hedge square huts are built, on the white clay plaster of which curious figures of 
birds, crocodiles, &c., are painted. On surrounding trees other figures, such as 
snakes, the sting-ray, &c., are drawn, and two shapeless figures, which are 
stated to be the spirits of deceased people. Only members of the Duk Duk can 
enter the enclosure. Amongst other ceremonies observed is that of placing a 
‘tambu’ on certain articles of food as well as on certain actions and words, 
During this period of tambu the participators meet at intervals and perform simple 
dances, 
The Marawot is celebrated only at very long intervals, A platform, 15 feet 
square and 50 to 60 feet high, is erected, and entirely covered with leaves; on this 
a sort of war dance is held. The meaning of this was not discovered. 
It is important—nay more, it is necessary—to clear up all the affected mysti- 
cism connected with the Duk Duk and the customs related to it before it is too 
late. The people themselves are forgetting their customs, because the Europeans, 
to whose trading interests they form an impediment, sneer them into derision, and 
the Duk Duk begins to retire into remoter parts. It is only through the study 
of the habits of people who, like the Kanakas, still live in a primeval state, that 
the development and history of our own race can ever be thoroughly understood. 
3. An Ancient British Interment. By F. T. Exiworrny. 
The author exhibited photographs of an ancient British interment discovered on 
August 29, 1896, by men in quarrying on the top of Culbone Hill, Somersetshire, 
close to the road from Porlock to Lynton. The kist is still 2 situ, but will have 
to be removed as the quarry advances. It is at about 5 feet from the surface of 
the soil; there is no appearance of there ever having been a cairn or barrow above 
it. The direction of the grave is due north and south, it measures 3 feet 6 inches 
long by 1 foot 10 inches by 1 foot Ginches high. It is constructed with four upright 
slabs of light-blue Devonian slate, of which plenty is to be found eight or nine 
miles off, but it is totally different from the Old Red Sandstone immediately 
beneath the interment. 
In the kist were found a yery perfect skull, together with several bones of the 
skeleton, of which photographs in three positions were shown. Alongside the 
skull at the north end of the kist was found an urn of yery early pottery, measur- 
ing 62 in. high x 5 in, diam. There were no weapons or other objects found. 
The find was on the property of Earl Lovelace, and it is hoped that on his 
return from abroad he will grant the request of the County Society, that the entire 
interment may be placed in their Museum at Taunton. 
Some sketches in oil by Mr. Whyte Holdich showing the general surroundings 
were also exhibited. 
The interment was pronounced by Dr. Montelius, Mr. Coffey, Dr. Munro, Sir 
John Evans and the President, to be certainly of the early Bronze Age, not later 
than the second millenium, B.c, 
