Sliell-Trnrnpets and their Distribution. 41 



There is a 7"rz'/<?«-trumpet in the British Museum from 

 the moutli of the Fly River, ]3ritish New Guinea, which, 

 according to Chahners, is used for calling to arms and for 

 frightening away the evil spirits of sickness from the 

 village.'- 



W. H. R. Rivers, in his work on " The History of 

 Melanesian Society " °^ tells us that the conch-shell is one 

 of the objects used in Banks Islands, in the ritual of 

 initiation into the Sii/cwe. On the initiation of a candi- 

 date into Kwatagiav, the conch-shell is blown five times, 

 three long continuous blasts and two interrupted blasts. 

 It is also used at initiation into the Tamate liwoa. In 

 Torres Islands the conch is blown at ceremonies of kava 

 drinking." 



From the same authority we learn that " the conch- 

 shell exists in two forms in Melanesia, one blown by means 

 of a circular hole in the side, and the other blown at 

 the end. The former is that u.sed at the Sukwe and 

 in most parts of Melanesia, and this form is also in 

 general use in Polynesia. Its occurrence in Polynesia 

 points to its ascription either to the kava-people or 

 to the people who interred their dead in the sitting 

 position, and there is reason to suppose that it was of 

 especial importance in connection with the chiefs. It may 

 also be noted that, in Malikolo, it is used at the funerals 

 of chiefs. This connection with chiefs both in Polynesia 

 and southern Melanesia, suggests that it was the kava- 

 people who brought with them the use of the conch, a 

 conclusion in harmony with its prominence in the ritual 

 of the Sukwe. 



" In the Solomons, however, the conch is of especial 

 importance in connection with head-hunting. It is used 



^- Haddoii, op.cit., p. 2S3. 



"° 2 vols., Cambridge, 1914. 



'■> Rivers, op. fit., i., pp. 64, 98, 1S6. 



