Evening star., 1942-05-19
Of Stars, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
BIZ Thomas r. Henri.

BY Thomas r. Henry.
American occupation Of New Caledo-
| mia is bringing Uncle Sans soldiers in
| contact with one Of the least known,
ethnologically, Of the earth's peoples.
The native of this French possession,
both in physical characters and culture,
is a curious mixture Of the black, small
statured, primitive Melanesian and the
brown, robust, relatively advanced
Polynesian Of the Maori type.
Undoubtedly, the basic stock is
Melanesian. New Caledonia lies we'll
within the area of these dark little
people who include some Of the least
advanced of the human race. The
Polynesian mixture, however, came long
before the first white contacts. 1t is
especially apparent on the east coast
but has permeated to some extent the
whole stock.
Up to the time of white colonization
there was little cohesion among the
New Caledonian natives. In 1880 the
Rev. Maurice Leenhardt, agent Of the
Societe des Missions Evangeliques who
had spent a quarter of a century among
them, reported to the French Institut
dEthnologie that there were at least
vestiges OF 20 different languages
spoken on the island. Most Of these,
he found, were more distinctive than
dialects Of a common basic tongue.
The differentiation of the tribes was
aided by the geography of New Caledo-
nia split by a range Of high mountains
with many spurs extending nearly to
the coasts These formed deep, fertile
valleys through which swift rivers ran
seaward. Hence not only separation
but hostility between the different
groups.
Much OF this divergence now has
broken down and the languages them
selves are disappearing in an extremely
degenerate French. New Calendonia Is
an excellent example Of French ad-
ministration. Reserved denSely foreSted
areas have been set aside for the natives
IOf UnCI own pIObSCtiOu. SNoohy eSiioOASp
public and private, have been estab-
lished. There has been. however, no
deliberate program either to force on
the native the white mans way OF life
or to prevent him from adopting 1t. He
has the same rights as q French citizen.
Unfortunately, the New Caledonians
have been little studied by the pro-
roI nth
notes, gathered in the course OF mis-
sionary's busy life. contain the most
complete information on the native
ways OF life.
The characteristic dwelling Is bee
hive-shaped, grass-covered hut usually
occupied by u single family. To such =
structure may be attached several out
ally has Z large hut or group Of huts,
somewhat removed, which serve the
community as . whole. especially the
men. Also, M. Leenhardt records. each
village usually has q hidden retreat IN
the mountains to which the people can
retire In time Of danger
New Caledonians. he found, still use
III dealings WIN cdCu OUilCL = Cul lOUS
type of shell money. This consists Of
shells ground down by exhaustive labor
to form small globules. The value Is
determined largely by the amount Of
labor which goes into its preparation.
Highest in value is the so-called BLACK
pearl" 20 fine and delicate that 1t can
be moved by blowing the breath against
1t. French convicts early learned to
counterfeit this money, thus causing
considerable confusion in native eco
nomics Up to the outbreak Of the
war French merchants would accept
the pearls" 1T . standard rate Of ex-
change.
Tribal or elan organization, a.
described by M. Leenhardt. is extremely
complex. The New Caledonians re-
cogni7e at least 81 degrees of relation
ship, each designated by . different
term.
The religious life of these people, -
described by the French missionary. il
complex and somewhat secretive. with
great ceremonies Of Precipitation In
which all members Of . tribe take part
=
continuing for days, Is known as the
"pilou pilou"-a name the derivation
Of which M. Leenhardt was unable to
determine. There are . great number
Of native gods and they differ from
tribe to tribe
Like many other primitives, the native
OF New Caledonia believes in personal
spirit-his "ko"-which dwells In his body
but which can act independently. some
times to the great peril or embarrassment
of the physical partner. This "ko" Is
blown into the ear Of q newborn infant,
as soon after birth as possible, by the
maternal uncle During slumber 1t
has a habit Of leaving the body and
wandering about-sometimes on nefari-
Gus business. When a native is accused
Of a crime he never can plead in
nocent with an entirely clear conscience.
He never knows what his ko has been
doing while he was unconscious.
One Of the most rigid taboos is
against waking sleeper. The ko may
not be able to find its way back II the
man moves and this might we'll be fatal.
An Interpretation Of serious Illness is
that the ko has wandered away toward
the tomb. The job Of the medicine man
is to lure it back. The ko apparently is
not affected by the death Of the individ-
ual except that 1t looses its dwelling
place Natives believe that 1t finds itself
a new home in tree gall. However, 1t
g.