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PREFACE xxvii
packing up his specimens and effects and happy in the prospect
of his Lecturership in the University of Sydney and of the
oongenial and inspiring society to be found there. He knew
that he had accomplished good ï¬Åeld-work, the results of which
he was looking forward to working up into a comprehensive
survey of Malekulan culture, and that he had laid the foundations
for a more extensive study of various ethnological problems.
He was just entering into the life for which he was so well prepared
and for which his friends conï¬Ådently anticipated a brilliant
successwwhen on Saturday, 5th March, according to a letter
from Mrs. Boyd to Mrs. Deacon, he began to feel unwell, two
days later blackwater fever declared itself. On the evening of
Wednesday the» crisis came; the blackwater fever entirely lett
him, but he had great weakness. On Thursday, he suffered from
palpitation, on Saturday Izth March, I927, he took a good deal
of nourishment, had no pain, and at times his mind wandered,
but he had rational moments in between. Then the end came.
The present book will give but a faint idea of the book that
he himself would have written.
Recently I asked Miss L. E. Cheesman, who has done such
excellent ï¬Åeld-work in entomology in Oceania, to let me know
something about what impression Deacon had left behind him
in Malekula. She writes :—
“ I heard of Mr. Deacon from all quarters while working in
Malekula in I929 and I930. All the British residents spoke of
him warmly as did also his French neighbours at South-West
Bay, the Dillensegers, who were on very friendly tenns with
him. All were shocked by the news of his death and grieved as
for a personal friend.
“ The natives who worked for him alluded to him with a
nearer approach to affection than I have remarked in any
Malekulan. I had at different times three of his boys as guides.
At South-West Bay I employed Amanrantus who is mentioned
very often in Mr. Deacon‘s notes. He described very graphically
the surprise of bushmen when a white man visited them who
learnt their language so that he was able to talk to them in it.
Amanrantus accompanied him on most of his bush journeys,
encamped with him, acted as interpreter, and waited on him
during his last illness. He told me more than once how the