430 TWO REMARKABLE SKULLS 



that No. 1 skull was that of a prominent chief, whose counte- 

 nance, it was arranged, should be immortalised in clay many 

 years after his death. This theory is strengthened by the 

 fact that the bodies of the common people in the New Hebrides 

 were usually thrown into the sea, a fact which is mentioned 

 in Dr. Annand's letter (see page 405) and also in the life of 

 Dr. John Geddie. 



The writer was able to glean much suggestive information 

 bearing upon these skulls from the extensive writings of 

 Sir J. G. Frazer, and was particularly impressed by the 

 following remarks^"^^^ regarding the customs of the inhabitants 

 of New Guinea, who it may be mentioned, are usually classed 

 as Melanesians: "The preservation of the skulls and bones 

 of chiefs and other noteables for years . . . must 

 apparently be designed to propitiate or influence in some 

 way the ghosts of the persons to whom the skulls and bones 

 belonged in their lifetime." Again, in another of his works /^°) 

 the same authority makes the significant statement that 

 the head of a chief is held in the greatest sanctity throughout 

 Polynesia. It was no doubt this fact which inspired the idea 

 of preserving his head and features as a possible means of 

 protection against misfortune and the influences of evil. 



The moulding of the facial features in No. 1 skull, and 

 the subsequent decorative scheme certainly suggests to 

 the writer that some Polynesian influence was at work here. 



On now studying the condition in No. 2 skull, it will be 

 noted that this showed extreme Melanesian cranial indices, 

 while the moulding of the facial features was also undoubtedly 

 Melanesian. The decoration also shows a marked difference 

 from that in No. 1, there being no suggestion of the character- 

 istic circular design. Professor Falconer of Pine Hill College 

 very kindly showed me an elaborately painted wooden god 

 from the New Hebrides which seemed to offer a clue to this 

 style of decoration, for on the right half of the forehead and 

 on the left cheek were patches of blue of exactly the same 



