Head Hunters, Black, White, and Brown. By Alfred C. Haddon.
(Methuen and Co. 15s.)—We cannot attempt to give anything iike an adequate account of this book. It is a typical specimen of present-day travelling. A generation ago a volume bearing this title would have probably consisted of a narrative of adven- ture, with descriptions of scenery and, possibly, some notes on the fauna and flora of the regions visited. Mr. Haddon's book is a scientific study. The preface describes the organisation of the expedhion, which was subsidised by University funds (Ur. Haddon is a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, and University Lecturer in Ethnology). One of the travellers devoted himself to experimental psychology ; another "specialised in the study of the hearing and music of the natives "; a third was a linguist ; a fourth observed medical phenomena ; and there was an expert in photography, who also "investigated the construction of the houses, land tenure, transference of property, and other social data of various districts." It is needless to say that any critical exami- nation of a volume produced under these conditions would bd a very formidable task. It must not be supposed, however, that there is any want of general interest in the book. A reader need not be a student of scientific ethnology to enjoy it. There is a very wide and varied human interest in it, and this may be viewed in many aspects. One great fact may be said to dominate the whole,—that there is a meaning, and that a very important meaning, in customs and practices which a casual observer might be inclined to regard as childish and unmeaning. Another considerable fact is the analogy which can be traced between these practices and others observed in very remote places. There is nothing new in these two observations ; but there is a very large and significant mass of evidence collected to reinforce them. Of a different class is the observation that the old beliefs and rituals are dying out. Their disappearance is not an un- mixed good, unless there is something better to replace them. Here comes in the advantage of missionary work, an advantage which the superficial observer is not qualified to appreciate. The missionary may not be a wholly disinterested or admirable person, though it would be difficult to find the equal of men like Paton or Campbell, and the Christianised native may not be much better than his average co-religionists living in Mayfair or Hyde Park Corner; but the necessity for the mission still remains. Our notice of this book has been necessarily of the most general kind. Were we to attempt to give specimens there .would be no end. Let any one turn to chap. 11, "Marriage Customs," a matter on which the whole world is kin. A common, though not universal, practice is for the woman to propose. She begins by giving a string to the young man's sister, to be handed to the beloved object. If this is favourably received, a meeting is arranged in the bush. The girl tells her parents that she is going to fetch some wood. The interview is conducted with the utmost propriety. "You like me proper?" asks Damon. "I like you proper with my heart inside," replies Phyllis. After other negotiations, the affair is wound up by a ceremonial fight between the relatives. "Girl more big than boy,"—i.e., the bride was of more value than the bridegroom, and had to be obtained by force. We might give scores of such extracts.—There is very little resemblance between the volume just noticed and Afoot Through the Kashmir Valleys, by Marion Doughty (Sands and Co., 75. Gd. net); but this, too, is representative of modern travel. Who would have thought thirty years ago of a lady taking a pedestrian tour through "Cashmere," as we then used ignorantly to call it ? Well, things are changed ; and, among other results of the change, we have the advantage of reading a very pleasant volume. Mis- Doughty saw some strange contrasts. Her own experiences as a walker symbolised them. The rough tracks bliss tered her feet, while the conditions of her journey, as far as climate, scenery, fib., were concerned, were all that was delightful. The life of to day and the remains of old civilisations, for the Kashmir valleys have been a hunting- ground of many races, supplied an ever varying interest. She has helped her readers to share in it by the use of a skilful pen and some excellent illustrations. (Let the reader turn to the "Group of Gujars" on p. 198, and the "View from the Circular Road, Gulmerg," p. 200, or the "Kashmir Valley," p. 226.) Miss Doughty is quite capable of .dealing with serious subjects, and she can be entertaining when she pleases. There are some note. worthy remarks, for instance, on Kashmir metal work, and an amusing account of a " deal " in it. This was being con- ducted in a boat. A rival tried to pass too near, and the mem- sahib was entreated to hold up her umbrella. This done, one merchant taunted the other : "Go, weep; this memsahib is buying largely; she has bought a coffee set for 600 rupees, and dishes for 1,000; the Presence buys from no one else ; cry your loudest ;
weep, bad men," "The Presence" was thinking of laying out 15 rupees or so.
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