[Note: this transcription was produced by an automatic OCR engine]

VAC 97

following remarks do not pretend to be correct in all
details. It is very hard to make any researches as
to these ‘matters, as the natives themselves have only
the vaguest notions on the subject, and entirely lack
abstract ideas, so that they fail to understand many
of the questions put to them. Without an exact
knowledge of the language, and much personal
observation, it is hardly possible to obtain reliable
results, especially as the old men are unwilling to
tell all they know, and the young know very little,
but’rely on the knowledge of the old chiefs. Inter-
preters are of no use, and direct questioning has but
little result, as the people soon become suspicious or
tired of thinking, and answer as they suppose the
white man would wish, so as to have done with the
catechizing as soon as possible. Perfect familiarity
with the language, habits and character of the natives
is necessary, and their confidence must be won, in
order to make any progress in the investigation of
these problems. Missionaries are the men to unite
these qualities, but, unfortunately, the missionaries of
the New Hebrides do not seem to take much interest
in the strange cult so highly developed here ; so that,
for want of something better, my own observations
may be acceptable.

The pig-cult, or “ Suque,” is found almost all over
Melanesia. It is most highly developed in the Banks
Islands and the Central New Hebrides, and rules the
entire life of the natives ; yet it forms only a part of
their religion, and probably a newer part, while the

fundamental principle is ancestor-worship. We must
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