RELIGION. 



On the 20 th of March 1903, when the expédition left by boat for Waba, the greater 

 part of the maie population in canoës was seen at a distance, in the south western corner 

 of the inner bay; it was impossible .to find ont what they were doing there, but loud 

 singing could be heard, and, judging by the Sound and the rythmus, entirely in the style 

 of the temple songs of Tobàdi. Shortly after our arrivai in the village, the whole of this 

 fleet, the men singing ail the time, also retur'ned there, the différent crafts being decorated 

 with foliage, and the men, some armed with bow and arrow, elaborately got up. They were 

 in a state of great mental excitement, swinging their bodies and moving their heads and 

 arms backwards and forwards, whilst shaking on their legs; — some placed arrows on their 

 bows (see fig. 179). When they had reached the shallow water near the shore, they jumped 

 out of their boats and continuing thèse excessive movements (fig. 180) some threw themselves 

 down in the water, to jump up a gain immediately and at last run to the shore. Many were 

 gasping for breath, partly from fatigue, and shouting at the same time, whilst some performed 

 with their arms strong vibrations and movements of the muscles, the weapons in their hands 

 shaking violently in conséquence. Thus 

 most of them ran past the visitors into 

 the village, where we met them a few 

 moments later on, near their houses and 

 without their ornaments, now in the 

 most peaceful state of mind. Interpreters 

 of Tobàdi said that this had been a 

 Satan feast, but I could not under- 

 stand what it meant. I only remark that 

 the fleet went, to hold the feast, to 

 that part of the inner bay where Waba 

 has its fishing rights. 



At another time, about the /th of June, 

 something similar happened with some un- 

 armed men of Ingrâs. On the shore of the 

 peninsula opposite their village, they were 

 running to and fro in ail directions, 

 staggering as if strength failed them to 

 walk properly, throwing backwards and 

 forwards their bodies and heads, now 

 moving their arms with great strength 

 and then again letting them hang by 

 their sides like lamed ; at the same time 

 booming sounds were raised, the meaning 



of which remained unknown to me. After moving from 30 — 50 paces in one direction, they 

 threw back their bodies as if being pushed back by an invisible power and then retreated 

 along a somewhat différent line. The whole did not last longer than + 40 minutes; women 

 and children paddling past this part of the shore in their boats, appeared to take no notice what- 

 ever of the proceedings. According to the interpreters this again was a Satan ce rem on y. 

 Nova Guinea. III. Ethnography. 37 



Fig. 181. Temple at Jarabuë. 



