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present in the minds of the natives. Thus, as a rule, nobodjr 

 would dream of selling his magic, and indeed my other 

 informants told me that Pikana's behaviour was quite incorrect 

 and exceptional. One of these, whom, before I quite appre- 

 ciated the situation, I had unwittingly pressed for details of 

 his magic in the presence of other Mailu men, told me after- 

 wards that, had he disclosed anything in the presence of others 

 and had they practised his magic, his previously charmed 

 banana crops would have been blasted by such an interference, 

 his own magic having become quite useless. This view was 

 afterwards confirmed by others. Thus the individual rights 

 to a form of magic derive their importance, not only from the 

 actual economic value of the charm, but from the fear of its. 

 being spoilt altogether by divulgation. 



I shall also adduce a concrete instance of the hereditary 

 way in which charms are transmitted, in order to illustrate 

 the general principles laid down above. 



This is the genealogy of Omdga, one of my informants : — 

 Ondga ^^o Meria 



Kdvanai Omdga 



Awdri Mard'i 



Done 



c 

 Digu 



Wond'i 



O 

 Dagdea 



The father of Omdga, Ondga, knew two forms of magic — 

 a banana charm and a coconut charm. When the eldest son 

 (Kdvanai) had grown up, Ondga taught him the former. He 

 had previously taught his wife, Meria, how to make both 

 charms. As Ondga died before his other children were adult, 

 it was the mother who imparted to Omdga the knowledge of 

 coconut magic, which is now his own magic. It is to be noted, 

 however, that the two brothers, Kdvanai and Omdga ^ who live 

 in the same house and keep a common household, have also 

 their magic in common. Omdga knows and recites his 

 brother's formula when planting his bananas. Kdvanai uses 

 Omdga' & charm for his coconuts. Again there is a small 

 brother left, Wond'i, who will be taught both formulas when 

 he grows up. The two females of the family, Digu and 

 Dagdea, are not instructed in the family magic. As soon as 

 they marry they will be taught the magical charms of their 

 husbands. Of course, both brothers have to keep the two 



