SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—H. 523 
as compared with the transmission of acquired characters: seeing that 
cerebral neurons do not multiply after birth, phylogenetic cerebral increase 
must have been due to the selection of innate cerebral variations. (2) The 
stimulating influence of competitive social life. (3) The possession of 
exquisitely prehensile hands conferring survival value on super-average 
intelligence. (4) The scope factor, which widened out from the arboreal to 
the semi-terrestrial life, and from this to the wholly terrestrial life. (5) A 
hunting career, which, in the case of the proto-human (who lacked the 
equipment, anatomical and instinctive, of the carnivore), caused success in 
the hunt to depend largely upon the possession of a nimble intelligence, 
thus enhancing the survival value of super-average intelligence. (6) The 
influence of polygamy: the bravest and most intelligent leaders secured 
the largest number of mates, and thus left the most numerous progeny. 
(7) Inter-tribal warfare, which led to the elimination of the least intelligent 
groups. 
Mr. A. L. ArMsTtRoNG.—Summary of recent and current excavations at 
Creswell Crags (3.45). 
Dr. E. H. Hunt.—The Rafai fakirs of Hyderabad (5.30). 
Saturday, September 9. 
Excursion to Creswell Crags, Derbyshire; Southwell Minster ; 
Newark Castle ; Margidunum (in the Fosse Way). 
Sunday, September 10. 
AFTERNOON. 
Excursion to earthworks in East Leicestershire; Burrough Camp ; 
Sauvey Castle, and Castle Hill Camp, near Hallaton. 
Monday, September 11. 
Mr. A. W. CarpDINALL.—The strengthening of superstitious beliefs among 
the tribes of the Gold Coast (10.0). 
It is commonly agreed that contact with Europeans has been to a con- 
siderable extent destructive of African social, political and religious insti- 
tutions. This is only partly true; actually in certain spheres the reverse 
has been the case. 
The most prominent features of religion as observed in the Gold Coast 
are sumanism, nature-gods and witchcraft. Complementary to these are 
the observance of omens and a deeply ingrained belief in luck. 
In these European contact tends to increase superstition through example, 
inquiry, acquiescence and even belief therein by individuals. Authority 
has been forced on many occasions to recognise and support beliefs that 
were dying out ; and in the case of witchcraft European Administrations 
“have been placed in the dilemma either of recognising it in order to prohibit 
‘its practice or of strengthening its power by forbidding measures taken by 
the indigenes against its machinations. 
