636 



a,s the case may be. Thus the man giving the order for the 

 hunt v/as a Iduhu rohi^ a headm.an of a clan. In Mailu the 

 Diihu guhina would have to decide when a net (Gauma) 

 should be used, or when a canoe should sail, and who should 

 take part in the operation. It is characteristic that there is 

 only one word for owner , and for headman, chief, or master 

 (in Mailu, Guhina; in Motu, Biaguna). The main psycholo- 

 gical element in this form of ''ownership" seems to be rather 

 the craving for social prominence than desire for a greater 

 share of material goods. The chief at the annual feast, the 

 man who makes a big catch of fish, the owner of a pig which 

 is slaughtered — these do not get a greater share than their 

 friends; indeed, in many instances they get much less (comp., 

 for instance, sec. 2 of the next chapter, concerning the taboos 

 inherent to dugong magic). But they play a prominent part 

 in the performance ; in the first place they divide the goods 

 to be distributed, and they formally give them away. And 

 this form of using and enjoying wealth is immensely valued 

 by the natives. 



Another set of facts must be referred to in discussing 

 native views concerning property and real rights to things. I 

 mean the magical rights of an economic nature, appertaining 

 to fishing, gardening, and hunting, which are owned by indi- 

 viduals and used for their own benefit (see chap, v., sec. 2). 

 It is clear that the natives regard those rights as being of 

 economic value, and the fact that, under modern conditions, 

 they barter them shows that they even treat them simply as 

 '■'goods" — as interchangeable privileges. 



Native View of Economic Vahie. — When discussing 

 inheritance and marriage gifts with the natives, I was struck 

 by the fact that I had a tendency to attach the greatest import- 

 ance to certain classes of goods, whilst the natives seemed to 

 pay much more attention to others. In other words, I was 

 impressed by the fact that the natives have a scheme of values 

 different from our own. Thus, as land on Mailu Island was 

 allotted to individuals and inherited in the male line, I 

 used to pay the greatest attention to inheritance in land. The 

 natives, however, used to pass quickly over this subject and 

 give me only few details with reference to it, treating it as 

 altogether unimportant, and dwelling much more upon the 

 distribution of coconut palms and native ornaments. 



Consequently I inquired into the subject, and obtained 

 very clear, definite, and unanimous answers, with which a 

 number of independent witnesses unhesitatingly concurred. 

 In the native's mind, the native ornaments form the most 

 important class of property. Over these there is most concern 

 a,nd discussion when dividing a dead man's property among his 



