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alm； grubbed up with the roots； stands for the backbone of the great being and its clustering fibres for his hair； and to complete the resemblance the butt end of the building is adorned by a native artist with a pair of goggle eyes and a gaping mouth。 When after a tearful parting from their mothers and women folk； who believe or pretend to believe in the monster that swallows their dear ones； the awe…struck novices are brought face to face with this imposing structure； the huge creature emits a sullen growl； which is in fact no other than the humming note of bull…roarers swung by men concealed in the monster's belly。 The actual process of deglutition is variously enacted。 Among the Tami it is represented by causing the candidates to defile past a row of men who hold bull…roarers over their heads； among the Kai it is more graphically set forth by making them pass under a scaffold on which stands a man； who makes a gesture of swallowing and takes in fact a gulp of water as each trembling novice passes beneath him。 But the present of a pig； opportunely offered for the redemption of the youth； induces the monster to relent and disgorge his victim； the man who represents the monster accepts the gift vicariously； a gurgling sound is heard； and the water which had just been swallowed descends in a jet on the novice。 This signifies that the young man has been released from the monster's belly。 However； he has now to undergo the more painful and dangerous operation of circumcision。 It follows immediately； and the cut made by the knife of the operator is explained to be a bite or scratch which the monster inflicted on the novice in spewing him out of his capacious maw。 While the operation is proceeding； a prodigious noise is made by the swinging of bull…roarers to represent the roar of the dreadful being who is in the act of swallowing the young man。
When； as sometimes happens； a lad dies from the effect of the operation； he is buried secretly in the forest； and his sorrowing mother is told that the monster has a pig's stomach as well as a human stomach； and that unfortunately her son slipped into the wrong stomach； from which it was impossible to extricate him。 After they have been circumcised the lads must remain for some months in seclusion； shunning all contact with women and even the sight of them。 They live in the long hut which represents the monster's belly。 When at last the lads； now ranking as initiated men； are brought back with great pomp and ceremony to the village； they are received with sobs and tears of joy by the women； as if the grave had given up its dead。 At first the young men keep their eyes rigidly closed or even sealed with a plaster of chalk； and they appear not to understand the words of command which are given them by an elder。 Gradually； however； they come to themselves as if awakening from a stupor； and next day they bathe and wash off the crust of white chalk with which their bodies had been coated。
It is highly significant that all these tribes of New Guinea apply the same word to the bull…roarer and to the monster； who is supposed to swallow the novices at circumcision； and whose fearful roar is represented by the hum of the harmless wooden instruments。 Further； it deserves to be noted that in three languages out of the four the same word which is applied to the bull…roarer and to the monster means also a ghost or spirit of the dead； while in the fourth language （the Kai） it signifies grandfather。 From this it seems to follow that the being who swallows and disgorges the novices at initiation is believed to be a powerful ghost or ancestral spirit； and that the bull…roarer； which bears his name； is his material representative。 That would explain the jealous secrecy with which the sacred implement is kept from the sight of women。 While they are not in use； the bull…roarers are stowed away in the men's club…houses； which no woman may enter； indeed no woman or uninitiated person may set eyes on a bull…roarer under pain of death。 Similarly among the Tugeri or Kaya…Kaya； a large Papuan tribe on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea； the name of the bull…roarer； which they call sosom； is given to a mythical giant； who is supposed to appear every year with the south…east monsoon。 When he comes； a festival is held in his honour and bull…roarers are swung。 Boys are presented to the giant； and he kills them； but considerately brings them to life again。
In certain districts of Viti Levu； the largest of the Fijian Islands； the drama of death and resurrection used to be acted with much solemnity before the eyes of young men at initiation。 In a sacred enclosure they were shown a row of dead or seemingly dead men lying on the ground； their bodies cut open and covered with blood； their entrails protruding。 But at a yell from the high priest the counterfeit dead men started to their feet and ran down to the river to cleanse themselves from the blood and guts of pigs with which they were beslobbered。 Soon they marched back to the sacred enclosure as if come to life； clean； fresh； and garlanded； swaying their bodies in time to the music of a solemn hymn； and took their places in front of the novices。 Such was the drama of death and resurrection。
The people of Rook； an island between New Guinea and New Britain； hold festivals at which one or two disguised men； their heads covered with wooden masks； go dancing through the village； followed by all the other men。 They demand that the circumcised boys who have not yet been swallowed by Marsaba （the devil） shall be given up to them。 The boys； trembling and shrieking； are delivered to them； and must creep between the legs of the disguised men。 Then the procession moves through the village again； and announces that Marsaba has eaten up the boys； and will not disgorge them till he receives a present of pigs； taro； and so forth。 So all the villagers； according to their means； contribute provisions； which are then consumed in the name of Marsaba。
In the west of Ceram boys at puberty are admitted to the Kakian association。 Modern writers have commonly regarded this association as primarily a political league instituted to resist foreign domination。 In reality its objects are purely religious and social； though it is possible that the priests may have occasionally used their powerful influence for political ends。 The society is in fact merely one of those widely…diffused primitive institutions； of which a chief object is the initiation of young men。 In recent years the true nature of the association has been duly recognised by the distinguished Dutch ethnologist； J。 G。 F。 Riedel。 The Kakian house is an oblong wooden shed； situated under the darkest trees in the depth of the forest； and is built to admit so little light that it is impossible to see what goes on in it。 Every village has such a house。 Thither the boys who are to be initiated are conducted blindfold； followed by their parents and relations。 Each boy is led by the hand of two men； who act as his sponsors or guardians； looking after him during the period of initiation。 When all are assembled before the shed； the high priest calls aloud upon the devils。 Immediately a hideous uproar is heard to proceed from the shed。 It is made by men with bamboo trumpets； who have been secretly introduced into the building by a back door； but the women and children think it is made by the devils； and are much terrified。 Then the priests enter the shed； followed by the boys； one at a time。 As soon as each boy has disappeared within the precincts； a dull chopping sound is heard； a fearful cry rings out； and a sword or spear； dripping with blood； is thrust through the roof of the shed。 This is a token that the boy's head has been cut off； and that the devil has carried him away to the other world； there to regenerate and transform him。 So at sight of the bloody sword the mothers weep and wail； crying that the devil has murdered their children。 In some places； it would seem； the boys are pushed through an opening made in the shape of a crocodile's jaws or a cassowary's beak； and it is then said that the devil has swallowed them。 The boys remain in the shed for five or nine days。 Sitting in the dark； they hear the blast of the bamboo trumpets； and from time to time the sound of musket shots and the clash of swords。 Every day they bathe； and their faces and bodies are smeared with a yellow dye； to give them the appearance of having been swallowed by the devil。 During his stay in the Kakian house each boy has one or two crosses tattooed with thorns on his breast or arm。 When they are not sleeping； the lads must sit in a crouching posture without moving a muscle。 As they sit in a row cross…legged； with their hands stretched out； the chief takes his trumpet； and placing the mouth of it on the hands of each lad； speaks through it in strange tones； imitating the voice of the spirits。 He warns the lads； under pain of death； to observe the rules of the Kakian society； and never to reveal what has passed in the Kakian house。 The novices are also told by the priests to behave well to their blood relations； and are taught the traditions and secrets of the tribe。
Meantime the mothers and sisters of the lads have gone home to weep and mourn。 But in a day or