XXVI Congreso Internacional de Americanistas

- 33°biguous
term applicaqle to performances of diverse nature resulting irom
various stimuli and found in various parts of the world.
Jn.it¡otion eererrnonies. -- Great stress is placed upon tbe initiation
ceremonies of the Yahgan and Kurnai and it is held that historical
relationship is indicated because the former reputedly demand at a11
times equal treatment of boys and girls, whereas the latter permit the
girls to participate slightly only in a small part of the preparatory performances!
Koppers al so believes that the same conclusion is indicated
beca use the initiates of both tribes are exhorted to be altruistic and kind,
Lo be peaceful, to respect old age and foreign women, to acquire selfcontrol
and fortitude. But surely such good advice tends to be universal,
if not in association with formal initiation in tribes or religious groups,
then as normal admonitions of the home or family. There seems to be
no reason for doubting that psychological incentives might produce a set
oi similar instructions in any human society. Similarly \Ve are asked to
believe that the religious sanction given these ceremonies and their control
by an A11-father indicate a unitary origino However it seems hardly
necessary to point out that religion genera11y is ca11ed upon to bless and
to lend authoi:ity to a11 important ceremonies in a11 parts of the world
and that in those cultures where an A11-father concept is present it is
customary to conceive of such a deity as the director of human activities.
Half-hitclt Coited Basketry.-As already remarked this trait seems
to be the only one of sufficiently definite character to permit a ready
comparison. AJthough there is a possibility that there may have been
independentdeve!opment in two separated localities the theory of historical
relationship with a derivation from Asia, where this technique
is found in Japan, seems reasonable as a working hypothesis.
There are various other traits of a simple nature or designated by
loosely employed terms commonly distributed in Australia and Fuegia
but not included by Koppers. The incluse bone awls, simple spears,
abortion, infanticide, spear-throwing as a game, medecine-men and explanatory
myths. Although to my mind their presence in the two regions
indicates nothing of historical value, it vvould seem that they are no less
valid for such an interpretation than those offered by Koppers. Sti11
other traits of Fuegia which have their counterparts in restricted distributions
in Australia include (1) Bark buckets of the Kimberley coast
which are most similar to the Fuegian, (2) Two-pronged and fourpronged
fish-spears, commonly distributed along the eastern coast of
Australia, (3) Harpoons, limited to northeastern Australia from Groote
Island to the southeastern coast of Queensland, (4) Maks, restricted
to the Cape York Península. Obvrously sume of these traits are of rela­