the bride lies down in her husband’s arms, and each male guest invited by the groom, except a blood relative, is solicited to enjoy sexual intercourse with the bride. The groom is the last to participate. This latter rite of incorporation, if memory serves me, is also practiced on several other islands of Polynesia, especially in the Marquesas group.
The initiation of divorce, according to Courtney, is among the most progressive of practices on The Three Sirens. Courtney was extremely reticent to give me any details. He did mention, however, that a panel of elders called the Hierarchy did not grant divorce merely on request of either party or on hearsay evidence. He said only that divorce was permitted after “long observation” of the parties concerned. My interest was aroused, but Courtney would go no further.
Courtney and Moreturi both spoke of an annual festival held in late June for one week. Although both men referred to sport competition, a ceremonial dance, a nude beauty contest, neither would speak at length of the primary purpose of the festival. Courtney said, “The ancient Romans had their annual Saturnalia, just as the natives of Upolu, in Samoa, still do. The festival on the Sirens is not precisely the same. Still, it is a form of release, in certain areas, affording license to long-married couples as well as unmarried people. There is simply too much adultery and divorce in America and Europe, don’t you think? There is hardly any on the Sirens. Back home, married people are often too miserable and restless and bored. That is not so here. The so-called civilized world outside might learn a lot from these supposed primitives.” That was his only oblique reference to the enigmatic festival.
More about love customs on the Sirens neither Courtney nor Moreturi would tell me. In summing up, Courtney said that nowhere else on earth, as far as he knew, was love practiced with less embarrassment, tension, fear.
There you have all that I have learned, Dr. Hayden. You may be curious to know more about this Thomas Courtney, but I cannot oblige you. Except for admitting that he had been an attorney in Chicago, and had come to the Sirens by accident, and had chosen to remain and been allowed to remain, he would say nothing. I found him attractive, learned, often cynical about society on the outside, and devoted to his adopted people. It is a great advantage, I think, that he knows of you and your work and respects it. I felt that he would trust you, and I believe he himself is sincere and honorable, although our meeting was of short duration and I cannot be positive.
This is the lengthiest letter that I have ever written. I can only hope the cause justifies its length. I do not know your present situation, Dr. Hayden, but if you are still active, then the door to a fresh and daring culture is wide open to you, within the limitations stated.
Please reply at your earliest convenience, but do not delay. You have four months for preparations, yet on this end, apparently, the time is all too short. If you intend to come here, tell me so and inform me of the approximate date. Let me know, also, the size of your staff. All of this I will promptly relay to Captain Rasmussen, who will transmit it to Courtney and the present Chief, Paoti Wright. They will then make arrangements for your arrival and accommodation. If circumstances make this undertaking impossible, let me know this, too. For I shall then attempt, with reluctance, believe me, to pass this information on to another anthropologist or two of my acquaintance.
The cost of this expedition, excepting transportation, should not be excessive. The people of the Sirens will furnish you both lodgings and food. The fee for Rasmussen’s services will be minor. For my part, I ask nothing of you, except your good will, and, of course, reimbursement of the $3,000 fee I forfeited by not passing this information on to Mr. Trevor of Canberra.
Hoping this finds you in good
The initiation of divorce, according to Courtney, is among the most progressive of practices on The Three Sirens. Courtney was extremely reticent to give me any details. He did mention, however, that a panel of elders called the Hierarchy did not grant divorce merely on request of either party or on hearsay evidence. He said only that divorce was permitted after “long observation” of the parties concerned. My interest was aroused, but Courtney would go no further.
Courtney and Moreturi both spoke of an annual festival held in late June for one week. Although both men referred to sport competition, a ceremonial dance, a nude beauty contest, neither would speak at length of the primary purpose of the festival. Courtney said, “The ancient Romans had their annual Saturnalia, just as the natives of Upolu, in Samoa, still do. The festival on the Sirens is not precisely the same. Still, it is a form of release, in certain areas, affording license to long-married couples as well as unmarried people. There is simply too much adultery and divorce in America and Europe, don’t you think? There is hardly any on the Sirens. Back home, married people are often too miserable and restless and bored. That is not so here. The so-called civilized world outside might learn a lot from these supposed primitives.” That was his only oblique reference to the enigmatic festival.
More about love customs on the Sirens neither Courtney nor Moreturi would tell me. In summing up, Courtney said that nowhere else on earth, as far as he knew, was love practiced with less embarrassment, tension, fear.
There you have all that I have learned, Dr. Hayden. You may be curious to know more about this Thomas Courtney, but I cannot oblige you. Except for admitting that he had been an attorney in Chicago, and had come to the Sirens by accident, and had chosen to remain and been allowed to remain, he would say nothing. I found him attractive, learned, often cynical about society on the outside, and devoted to his adopted people. It is a great advantage, I think, that he knows of you and your work and respects it. I felt that he would trust you, and I believe he himself is sincere and honorable, although our meeting was of short duration and I cannot be positive.
This is the lengthiest letter that I have ever written. I can only hope the cause justifies its length. I do not know your present situation, Dr. Hayden, but if you are still active, then the door to a fresh and daring culture is wide open to you, within the limitations stated.
Please reply at your earliest convenience, but do not delay. You have four months for preparations, yet on this end, apparently, the time is all too short. If you intend to come here, tell me so and inform me of the approximate date. Let me know, also, the size of your staff. All of this I will promptly relay to Captain Rasmussen, who will transmit it to Courtney and the present Chief, Paoti Wright. They will then make arrangements for your arrival and accommodation. If circumstances make this undertaking impossible, let me know this, too. For I shall then attempt, with reluctance, believe me, to pass this information on to another anthropologist or two of my acquaintance.
The cost of this expedition, excepting transportation, should not be excessive. The people of the Sirens will furnish you both lodgings and food. The fee for Rasmussen’s services will be minor. For my part, I ask nothing of you, except your good will, and, of course, reimbursement of the $3,000 fee I forfeited by not passing this information on to Mr. Trevor of Canberra.
Hoping this finds you in good
Similar Books
