Chapter XLIV

.

[89] Cf. Professor C. G. Seligman. Op. cit., p. 584.

[90] The ethnographic researches at present carried on in Su'a'u by Mr. W. E. Armstrong, of Cambridge, will no doubt throw light on this subject.

[91] Seligman. Op. cit., p. 524.

[92] Op. cit., p. 538.

[93] Ibid.

[94] Cf. Op. cit., pp. 536-537.

[95] I cannot follow Professor Seligman in his use of the word currency, which is not very clearly defined by him. This word can be correctly applied to the armshells, spondylus discs, big polished blades of green stones, etc., only if we give it simply the meaning of "objects" or "tokens of wealth." Currency as a rule means a medium of exchange and standard of value, and none of the Massim valuables fulfil these functions.

[96] A short article on this subject has been published by the Rev. M. Gilmour, now head of the Methodist Mission in New Guinea. (Annual Report of British New Guinea, 1904-5, p. 71.) I used this article in the field, going over it with several natives of Kavataria, and I found it substantially correct, and on the whole formulated with precision. The need for extreme compression of statement has, however, led the Author into one or two ambiguities. Thus, the constant mention of "feasting" might give a wrong impression, for it is always the matter of a public distribution of food, which is then eaten apart, or in small groups, while the word "feast" suggests eating in common. Again, the data about the "sea-chief," as Mr. Gilmour calls the leader of the privileged clan in Kavataria (cf.