File:The history of mankind (1896) (14577253778) (cropped).jpg

Identifier: historyofmankind01ratz (find matches)
Title: The history of mankind
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Ratzel, Friedrich, 1844-1904 Butler, Arthur John, 1844-1910
Subjects: Ethnology Anthropology
Publisher: London, Macmillan and co., ltd. New York, The Macmillan co.
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Wellesley College Library

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whole wealth of afamily ; and then the family, losing with it the credit based upon it, drops several LABOUR, DWELLINGS, AND FOOD IN OCEANIA J49 steps in the social ladder. Thus money is, to put it briefly, next to religioustradition, the basis of political influence and the standard of social position. Thecoinage also plays an important part in the inter-tribal festivals. Every islandof the Pelew group gives from time to time a ruk, at which the representatives ofa certain number of allied islands bring to the government a fixed contributionin native money. The visiting chiefs pay their host according to their rank.Besides this mulbckcl, there are other niks, in which only the small places of adistrict join with a view of showing friendship and good fellowship. In general the economic life of the Melanesians gives the impression of amoderate activity under favourable natural conditions. Melanesians from theeastern parts, when serving on European plantations or on board ship, show an
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i. Bamboo drinking horns from New Guinea—one-third real size. 2. Carved gourd, used for betel-box,from the Trobriand Islands—one-third real size. (Christy Collection.) amount of efficiency exceeding that of the Polynesians. In New Caledonia theconditions are less gratifying, the indolence and poverty often reminding us ofAustralians. Both sexes take part in labour. Of the mode of life in NewGuinea, DAlbertis has drawn a picture which would be well fitted by the mottofestina lente. The natives as a rule get up early, but sleep for several hours in thecourse of the day. When their toilet is completed the men occupy themselvesduring the cool morning hours in making twine for their nets. The women cleanthe huts, fetch water, and cook the first meal, which is eaten in common: themen trim the meat cleverly with their bamboo knives ; then most of them leavethe village and betake themselves to the field—the men armed with their spears,the women with pouch-shaped nets and carved clubs to

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