586 REPORT-—1899 
II. Contributions to Comparative Psychology from Torres Straits and 
New Guinea. 
1.— General Account and Observations on Vision, Sc. By W. H. R. Rivers, 
Previous work on the psychology of savage peoples has been limited to deduc- 
tions from their behaviour, customs, and beliefs. The special object of the psycho- 
logical work of the Cambridge Anthropological expedition was to employ exact 
experimental methods in the investigation of the mental character of the natives 
of Torres Straits and New Guinea. By means of these methods it is only possible 
to investigate directly the more elementary mental processes, but in the course of 
such work one meets indirectly with many facts which illustrate the higher and 
more complex developments of mind. 
Observations were made in Murray Island by Messrs. McDougall, Myers, and 
myself on about 150 individuals. The subjects investigated included visual acuity, 
sensitiveness to light, colour vision, including colour-blindness, binocular vision, 
and visual space perception; acuity and range of hearing, appreciation of differences 
of tone and rhythm; tactile acuity and localisation, sensibility to pain, estimation 
of weight; smell and taste; simple reaction times to auditory and visual stimuli, 
and choice reaction times; estimation of intervals of time; memory; strength of 
grasp and accuracy of aim; reading, writing, and drawing; the influence of various 
mental states on blood-pressure; and the influence of fatigue and practice on 
mental work. 
In Kiwai and Mabuiag fewer observations could be made, owing to the fact that 
most of the apparatus had been taken on to Borneo, but observations were 
made by Mr. Seligmann and myself on more than 100 individuals, many of 
whom were not, however, natives of these islands. The subjects investigated were 
chiefly visual acuity and colour vision; auditory acuity; smell and touch; writing 
and drawing. 
It is not possible now to do more than give a rough sketch of our results. Most 
of the methods used had been in some degree modified to meet the unusual condi- 
tions, while some were new, and the consequence is that, with one or two 
exceptions, we have very few data with which to compare our results. The 
exact bearing of most of our observations will only become apparent when 
comparative data on European and other races have been collected. 
Our observations were in most cases made with very little difficulty, and, with 
some exceptions, we could feel sure that the natives were doing their best in all 
we asked them to do. This opinion is based not only on observation of their 
behaviour and expression while the tests were being carried out, but on the con- 
sistency of the results. The small deviations of individual observations from the 
average (mean variation) showed that the observations were made with due care 
and attention. 
The introspective side of psychological experimentation was almost completely 
absent. We were unable to supplement the objective measurements and observations 
by an account of what was actually passing in the minds of the natives while 
making these observations. Attempts were made in this direction without much 
success. 
One general result was to show very considerable variability. It was 
obvious that in general character and temperament the natives varied greatly 
from one another, and very considerable individual differences also came out in our 
experimental observations. How great the variations were as compared with those 
in a more complex community can only be determined after a large number of 
comparative data have been accumulated. 
Another general result which should be of great interest to anthropologists is that 
the natives did not appear to be especially susceptible to suggestion, but exhibited 
very considerable independence of opinion. Leading questions were found not to 
be so dangerous as was expected. It is hoped that when our results are worked 
out, it will be possible to express in some definite manner the suggestihility of 
these people as compared with Europeans, ; 
