286 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 



2. Recent Discoveries in Prehistoric ArchoRology in Guernsey. 

 By Col. T. W. M. de Guerix. 



The recently discovered sculptured human figure on the under surface of 

 the second capstone of the central chamber of the dolmen of Dehus, Guernsey, 

 shows an affinity to the anthropomorphic figures of the late neolithic and 

 aenolithic periods of the valleys of the Seine and Marne and of south-eastern 

 France. Its presence in the central chamber, the first structure to be erected, 

 proves the late date of the dolmen. 



F. C. Lukis' account of the excavation of the dolmen showed evidence of its 

 use as a place of burial for a very long period, and of the erection of the four 

 secondary chambers at a later date than the central chamber. The discovery 

 of a copper knife-dagger and two rings points to its use in the aenolithic 

 period. 



There is evidence of the worship of the divinity represented by the figure 

 for a very long period in Guernsey, one of the two existing statue-menhirs in 

 the island being probably of the Iron Age. 



Evidence proves the existence of trade intercourse between Guernsey and 

 France at the end of the neolithic period and in the Bronze Age. 



Joint Meeting with Section C. — See Section C, p. 192. 



In the afternoon a Sectional Excursion took place to Dorchester Museum and 

 Maiimbury Rings. 



THUBSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Death Ritual in Eddysto)ie Island of the Solomons. 

 By A. M. HocART, M.A. 



The Eddystone Islanders expose the bodies of their dead in the embryonic 

 position. After the funeral four men catch the soul on a dracaena leaf and a 

 ring, in order to secure the soul's services in divination. The widow may be 

 strangled, but more often she is confined in a small enclosure with her knees 

 drawn up ; she may not wear any finery, nor eat of food cooked in the house. 

 On the fourth day a big feast is held, at which a long prayer is recited which 

 enables the soul later on to go to the land of the dead ; but in the meantime 

 it goes to wait in the cave at the top of the highest hill. After ten or twelve 

 days the skull is fetched away and put in the sun to bleach. The next event 

 is a small feast called ' Bathing.' On the eighteenth day the skull is put into 

 the skull-house by the mortuary priest, who makes a burnt offering of pudding. 

 On the thirty-sixth day a small feast is held, and four baskets are burnt. On 

 that day the ghosts come to take away the decea.sed to the land of the dead. 

 Sometimes a seance is held at night to converse with the ghosts, who answer 

 by whistling. Life in the other world is exactly as in this world, only it goes 

 on at night. On the fiftieth day is a big feast, which closes the series for 

 ordinary people. The day before they bury the string on which the days, or 

 rather nights, were counted, and put a basket into the skull-house. For chiefs 

 they have a feast on the hundredth night ; then, after a lapse of time which 

 depends upon supplies, they hold the final celebration or Night Festival, which 

 is one of the great functions in Eddystone. In olden days it appears to have 

 been often combined with the great head-hunting feast. 



