New Britain herald., 1930-07-31

by refundlng the doWry, where women already have gained equal ity with men, where courtship and almost everything else is accom- plished by magic, and where there IS no religion in the sense of wor ship of deity.
 Tt is a world virtually without time, but years means nothing, and age is only comparative. Everything The people are brave and do not fear death, although to them it means eternal oblivion"
 After careful study to determine where in the world was the least | known tribe of savages, Dr. Powder maker selected New Ireland, an is | land 2e0 miles in length and about l 20 miles wide, with a mountain | range through the center Landed alone with her luggage at the sell | dom used wharf, she made her way, with hired natives, to a village so miles in the interior.
 There. when she made known her intention of living among them, she was the object of a constant curi- osity and not little mistrust. First she won the confidence of the wom- en by fondllng their babies; then, ' with the aid of an interpreter i frankly told the old men of the tribe that she was there to learn of their | life and customs, to observe their rites and dances and to learn all their secrets that could be divulged. 1 It was a bold move, but it work ! ed. 'The savages were more flat tered than anything else" said Miss Powdermaker. They built me a thatcn-roofed two-room house with a raised floor-an almost unheard- of Melanesian luxury. I went in with $50 worth of tobacco. and for 1 ten months I lived there I was the most important person in all the country
 Even from the first. I seemed to be perfectly safe. Apparently. they regarded me not as a woman, but only as white person. 1 was al- lowed at masculine feasts and rites where native women. were taboo"
 No Longer Cannibals
 Cannibalism has died out among ! the island inhabitants, she found, as a result of the orders against war fare issued by white officials. They never ate anyone except their ene- n.ies, but even the younger adults can remember the days when Hong pig was a great delicacy. At feasts and festivals the story-tellers still smack their lips and sigh for the good old days
 Prestige came imm ediately to the American woman when she donned a simple wash dress of bright red and white material. She had re- cording machine for. the native music which accompanies the two and three-day ceremonies of danc- ing and feasting. Several times officials begged her to show them the folk dances of her own tribe.
 Tt was difficult to refuse" she said, "but after all, anthropologist; are not supposed to introduce new Vl"llIVlllo oL NuIlult DtSluNS lIItl might have been shocked"
 The Melanesians' strange moa standards are rigidly upheld. MisI Powdermaker said. No man k allowed. for instance, to speak tc his mother-in-law, mention hel name, or even enter the same room with her. Both polygamy and poly andry are practiced in the village and tribes, but not in the same fam lilies. The old men have supreme control in political affairs, but tn women boss social life and love. / yong man asks the mother of hi sweetheart for her daughters hand and pays the mother with fvt strings of shells, which are the na tive currency. The girl may obtain a divorce at any time by repayinE this purchase price.
 Crimes Of Passion Unknown
 The tribe is divided into two totems. or groups, representative 0 the hawk and the eagle. A man O. one society must choose a wife iron the other or he faces lifelong dis S4 dtt' D!S-IOIltSlS lS pIdCllCdliy uN known among the savAges, anc crimes of passion almost always arr atoned by the suicides of the guilt. parties.
 There is special magic for every thing" said Dr. Powdermaker "ant the magicians are the richest mel on the island. They aid in every thing from the hunting of wild pig to the deaths of enemies, but they'r especially helpful in courtships.
 When a young man. generall about 12 years old, decides on prospective wife. he goes to a ma gician and has him throw a spel in the direction of his love. Tn men Of magic are considered in fallible. If their spells do not wor they always explain that anothe magician was busy at the same tim with a trick that enumerated thei own"
 Both sexes garb themselves onl in loin cloths, she reported, and tn tribes generally are very health, With unnumbered miles of jungl