308 G. A. J. VAN DER SANDE. 



to be found at the same spot, on the 2^ whorl, outside the 3 ld varix; wing-shells 

 (N°. 131S, PI, XXIX, fig. 23) hâve, however, as also observed by MOSELY [1879, 438], a 

 blow hole at the apex of the spire (see the black dots in the figs.). Both kinds were offered 

 to me inside a temple, but had not to be concealed from the women. In fact they are also 

 used outside, as also reported from elsewhere (Van DER GOES [1858, 46, 125], ScHMELTZ 

 [1895, 243]), as instruments of call, producing a very loud sound when blown. In British 

 N. G. they are used also to drive away evil spirits (CHALMERS [1903, 124]). 



Rat tiers consisting of bunches of dried nuts without kernels (CHALMERS [1903, 120]), 

 baskets of split bamboo, containing pièces of stone (Berlin Muséum, N°. 10339), or bunches of 

 shells to be held in the hand as known of Konstantin Harbour (SCHMELTZ [1895, 243, PI. 

 XVI, fig. []), or to be tied to the body or to the limbs, like N°. 502 (PI. XVII, fig. 1) 

 (see also BlRO [1899, 58, PI. I, fig. 7]), I hâve not seen used with social festivals. 



More or less complète particulars of feasts, at which singing and dancing takes place, 

 were only collected of Tobâdi, where the large platform near the temple was used for this 

 purpose. Each dance has its particular song, and it is a very remarkable fact that the 

 language of the songs, as well in Humboldt Bay as in the district of Sëkâ and to the west, 

 is said to be an ancient language, which is now no longer spoken and only imperfectly 

 understood. The verses hâve no caudate rime, as Mac Farlane [1888, 98] also mentions. 

 The same author writes that the short sounds sung in chorus hâve no meaning; — perhaps 

 the meaning has got lost, as suggested above. Similar particulars were gathered by Mac 

 GREGOR [1897, yj], and in K. W. Land by SCHELLONG [1889a, 86] and PôCH [1905, 446]; — 

 this matter is worthy of further investigation ! — The use of that old language enables the 

 villagers, who with or without their wives, visit other villages, to join in the gênerai song. 



Thèse visits are said to take place more particularly at the commencement of the 

 new year (probably the opening of the east monsoon is meant), when (ERDWEG [1902, 371]) 

 the condition of the sea makes sea voyages possible. The men of Tobâdi then go as far as 

 Jamna. Moreover, on the occasion of such visits songs and dances are also taken over from 

 each other, and thus the dance to be described below as "Unanung" is said to hâve corne 

 from the village of Sisindo, situated far in the east and where, as we inferred, a bird- 

 hunter was killed some years ago ; perhaps Sis s an 6 is meant. ERDWEG [1902, 305] also 

 mentions that people of Tumleo knew dances of other villages, but amongst those which he 

 describes as such, none appear of H. B. 



Still the open-air dances of H. B. and of Tumleo agrée in so far as firstly the 

 dancers are standing side by side in circles (closed or partly open), with their faces towards 

 the centre, and .as the individuals do not move backwards or forward, but sideways, ail of 

 them thus describe the same circle. Only with some dances e. g. with the u Iàâ jondige" 

 and with the dance at Kaptiau (see fig. 2) the participators walk round. With ail thèse 

 dances the movement takes place in the direction opposed to the hands of the clock, as 

 was also remarked of the temple dances (see p. 295). This is in contrast with the dances 

 mentioned by HADDON [1901, 113], in which the direction changes. The accuracy of the 

 step and the time are, as with the dances of the Bogadjim (HaGEN [1899, 271]), often quite 

 unimpeachable, and there can be no question at ail of the violent jumping up and down, 

 accompanied by wild singing and noise, by which FlNSCH [1888 — 93, 254], SCHMIDT- 



