COLLECTORS OF SPECIMENS HOLMES AND MASON. [14] 



shoes, hats, buttons, jeweliy, umbrellas, fans, and posture of the 

 bod}^, belong- here. 



10. Dramas. — This is an important element in the life of all Ma- 

 layan and other southeastern Asian peoples. The theater and all 

 the pantomime and small pla}^ that belong- with it, so different in 

 method from our own, is a fascinating- topic for the collector. It is 

 desirable, if practicable, to secure sets of masks, costumes, and para- 

 phernalia for a single pla}-. A collection of native pictures of their 

 dramas would throw much light on the drama itself. 



11. Oratory. — A great deal is thought of public speaking- among 

 primitive peoples. Ascertain whether a class of such persons exists, 

 also what their functions are, what occasions call them forth, and what 

 are their ideals in eloquence. 



12. Literature. — Since the invasion of the Philippines from India 

 in the few centuries before our era, the brown race have been a liter- 

 aiy people. Collections of native efforts in poetr}", pi'overb, and 

 prose should be secured now. Already, three centuries of contact 

 with Europeans have obliterated and modified a great deal of the 

 native literature, but the preservation of what remains will form an 

 excellent bod}^ of material for comparative studies. 



v.— KNOWLEDGE. 



It is now known that knowledge and science have not sprung up 

 suddenly, but have been acquired through long efforts. All peoples 

 have their lore and their wise men. The intellectual status of a tribe 

 truly rests on their progress in this direction. This class of studies 

 must not be confounded with the rest. What does this or that tribe 

 really know about nature and the nature of things? How do the}^ 

 explain nature and forces other than by reference to sorcerj^? 



1. Traditions. — These are tribal memories, often mixed with other 

 things, but the}^ are the beginnings of histoiy. It is important to 

 know who keeps them, how and when they are recited, whether anj^ 

 paintings, knotted cords, notched or framed sticks are used as aids to 

 the memory, and to secure these as well as the stories themselves. 



2. Sayings. — Commonl}'^ called proverbs. They are accumulated 

 tribal wisdom about practical matters. The maxims of life, at home 

 and abroad, in the field, on the waters, about the daily task, are the 

 best ways of acting, found out by many efforts and failures. 



3. Knowledge. — This is the beginning of science. In this class 

 belong the knowledge and use of numbers; observations on the 

 heavenly bodies, not in a mythical sense, but really; knowledge of 

 rocks, plants, animals, waters, winds, mechanical powers; aside from 

 the fabulous, there exists among even the lowest tribes a certain 

 amount of actual useful observation. 



