South Sea Memories
Siidsee. Travels in the South Seas. By H. A. Bernatzik. Translated by V. Ogilvie. (Constable. 10s. Oct.)
IN Sufism Dr. Bernatzik describes the indigenous inhabitants of the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, together with brief mention of the English in Australia, the Dutch in Java and the international tourists in Bali. It is admittedly not a scientific work (these results are to be published elsewhere) and the reader will have an impression that in this book the professional ethnologist is describing the South Seas in language he considers the layman capable of understanding. Nevertheless, with the camera Dr. Bematzik is a master, and his photographs convey even to the layman, a fuller and more accurate impression of life as it is lived' in the.,e parts than anything -except a personal visit could do.
Dr. Bernatzik began his South Sea researches in the Island of Owa Raha, one of the most easterly Solomons, and ha descriptions and photographs of this attractive little island are among the best that have been published on this part of the world. The island itself, according to a legend Dr. Bernatzik relates, was pulled up . from the sea bed by an old turtle to accommodate her children. So perfect was the island that the first human beings were born there, and to this day, if the photographs are to be trusted, the island's inhabitants are high spirited and comely. But it must not be imagined that here is the happiest of all countries, where the inhabitants have only to stretch out their hands for food and clothing, thus permitting the remainder of their time to be spent weaving garlands of orchids for one another, singing and dancing to speed the passing hours. It is to be questioned whether such a Paradise ever existed in the South Seas, or, for the matter of that, anywhere else, In point of fact, the tribes originally raided and fought among themselves at least as freely as the peoples of primitive Europe. The initiation rights which the youth of both sexes have to undergo upon attaining puberty are definitely worse than anything the youth of Europe can ever have experienced. None the less, those South Sea Islands still practically untouched by European influences or some of those commercial harpies masquerading as missionaries generally support a contented population.
In New Guinea, on the other hand, Dr. Bernatzik found that vigorous gold prospectors, accompanied by the bar sweepings of half a dozen nations, have carved aerodromes out of the primitive forests. The indigenous inhabitants come into contact with all that is worst in Western civilisa- tion, or are driven away from their traditional homes, thus causing bloody little inter-village wars with those they therefore endeavour to dispossess.
Bali has long justly been famous for the beauty of its inhabitants and monuments ; both, according to Dr. Bernatzik, are rapidly becoming spoiled. He is profoundly grateful that his visit took place before the ruin was complete, and he makes us feel that this is indeed the appropriate moment to end the account of his travels. The only criticism which can be applied to the book—and perhaps also to the spirit in which it is written—is that Dr. Bernatzik does not make clear to the reader the distinction between reconstruction of scenes and rites as they were and conditions existing today.
BOSWORTH GOLDMAN.
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