660 



The leaves in the bamboo are not thrown away, but always 

 brought back to the village and used over and over again. 



The formula recited in this case seemed more obscure than 

 the previous one. After having translated it verbally into 

 Motu, and then into English, I made the following version : — 

 "Trembling (or shaking) of banana leaves, come! 

 Banana flowers hanging down, come. 

 Big fruit, come ! 

 Many fruits, come ! 

 All the bands of bananas, come ! 

 Much food comes." 



Whether the whole of the invocation, or part of it only,, 

 ought to be translated in the imperative I do not know, but 

 I think it is certain that all the single words are correctly 

 translated. It is obviously a ''sympathetic" invocation, 

 enumerating all the various things which are hoped to be 

 obtained by the recitation of the spell. Needless to add, that 

 if the magic is properly performed and the taboo strictly 

 observed the banana crop is splendid. 



I have been told by Omdga and other informants that 

 nearly all the individual magic of this description refers to 

 economic objects, the only exception being the faculty for 

 doctoring possessed by some men, which is also a kind of indi- 

 vidual magic. These men also observe some taboos on that 

 account, know certain spells, and use herbs. But I was unable 

 to obtain any satisfactory information on the point, nor do I 

 know whether such doctors would exert their powers on behalf 

 of others for a remuneration, or whether, as the others do, 

 they would keep their magic to themselves. 



Magic of General Usage. — We may now refer to the other 

 class of minor white magic — to the spells not monopolized by 

 individual men. 



Here belong in the first place the simple spells or prayers 

 uttered on many important and critical occasions, as, for 

 instance, when they set out on a sailing journey, or when 

 caught by a stiff gale, during an economic enterprise, as in 

 the arm-shell selling expedition to Aroma, or when fishing or 

 hunting. 



Such spells, or prayers, were always, as far as I know, 

 accompanied by some magico-religious performances. (S'*) 



Thus some betelnut (Weni), wild ginger root (Ardva; 

 Motu, Po'po), and native cinnamon bark (Gohu) were usually 



(84) I am trying to introduce as few theoretical preconclusions 



as possible, and to avoid any definite decision, whether the facts 



described ought to be regarded as magical or religious. Following 



Dr. Marett's advice in the "Notes and Queries," I will call them 



magico-religious. 



i 



