Among certain peoples the formalities of meeting and greeting occupy at least a quarter of an hour. The Chinese, who have a kind of ritual by which they regulate the number of words and bows to be used, not only depreciate their own status in greeting, but attempt to exaggerate that of the other person. The result is a verbose salutation which is somewhat tedious to the traveller. If a Chinese man meets another after a long separation, he falls on his knees, bends his face to the earth, and employs other affected modes of greeting. But the common salutation amongst the lower orders is simply an inclination of the body and the phrase, "Ya fan?"-meaning, "Have you eaten your rice?" With the influx of the Europeans into China many of the old and picturesque customs are falling into disuse. A good many are already obsolete, except in the smaller provinces. The Japanese do not kiss or clasp hands. But they have an exquisite courtesy and kindness which never fails to impress the stranger. The Kissing as a form of greeting and affection did not come until comparatively late. The habit of kissing is unknown to the Polynesians who greet by pressing noses. Laplanders also apply their noses against the person they wish to salute. In Otaheite, we are told, they rub their noses together, and of course we all know this is the favourite form of greeting and affection among the Eskimos. The Greenlanders have no forms of introduction and no forms of greeting based upon precedence or superiority. They laugh at the idea of one person being inferior to another. The North American Indians, though of extreme politeness and noted for their hospitality, do not have many conventional forms of salutation. Their etiquette is to meet in silence and generally to smoke before speaking. Smoking together among the Indians is symbolic of peace and friendliness, just as eating together symbolizes friendliness among other peoples. We are told that islanders near the Philippines take a person's hand or foot and rub it over their face. In the Straits of the Sound it is customary to raise the left foot of the person greeted, pass it gently over the right leg, and then over the face-a rather complicated and awkward ceremony. Natives of the Philippines bend very low, raising one foot in the air with the knee bent. They also place their hands on their cheeks in saluting a friend. The inhabitants of Carmene, when they wish to indicate particular attachment, break a vein and present the blood to the friend or acquaintance as a beverage. To refuse to drink the beverage is as much an insult as to refuse to acknowledge an introduction in modern life. Lefevre tells us of the early Romans that if any one entered whilst they were sitting, they rose up to do him honour, and did not meet in the streets without saluting each other, in the morning with the word "Ave" and in the evening with "Salve." It was the custom to cover the head with a corner of the robe to defend it from the injuries of the weather; but when any acquaintance accosted them, they immediately uncovered. In New Ireland when one man says to another "I am glad to see you" he pats him on the head. With us he slaps him on the back. In following any custom through its periods of development we must remember that man has always been influenced by his environment. The Europeans with their mountains and their clear, cool air, and their lakes and seas, very naturally were of a different type than the people of Central Africa, who lived and bred in the heat of the jungle. They developed more rapidly because natural conditions were more favourable to development. To-day they have civilization and culture; but civilization has not yet penetrated to the heart of the jungle in Central Africa. We can see, even from the customs of salutation and greeting in the various countries, how natural conditions affect the manners and customs of the people. The Dutch, for instance, who are known to be great eaters, have a morning salutation which is common to all ranks and classes. People say to one another, "Smaakel yk eeten!" (May you eat a hearty dinner!) as frequently as we say, "Good morning." In Cairo, where a dry skin is a sure indication of a destructive fever, the usual salutation is the equivalent for our "How do you sweat?" The proud gait of the Spaniard and his haughty, inflexible solemnity are expressed in his mode of salutation. He says simply, "¿Cómo está?" (How do you stand?) The French carries a more frivolous tone, a certain light gaiety characteristic of the Frenchman: "Comment vous portez-vous?" (How do you carry yourself?) Leave-taking has always been ceremonious. One Arab, when leaving another to whom he has been introduced, usually says, "May your day be white!" The answer is, "May your day be like milk." The Papuans have a curious mode of leave-taking. They smear themselves with river mud and wail piteously. It sounds sincere enough until the stranger is out of sight. Then they wash off the mud and begin singing, laughing, and enjoying themselves again. Before leaving, a group of Abipones will say, "Ma chik kla leyá?" (Have we not talked enough?) No attention is paid to the first person who quotes this customary phrase. But the next person takes it up, repeats it, and it travels around the circle. The last person says, "Kla leya" (We have talked enough), and they all rise together and depart in their various ways. CHAPTER VI DÉBUTANTES OF YESTERDAY When human beings began to come together in social relations there developed among them customs, or methods of action, sanctioned by usage. If a person lives by himself he becomes a law unto himself, but if he lives with his fellows, his habits must harmonize with theirs for the sake of the common welfare. Hence, in early civilization whatever conduced to group safety was enforced by public opinion. Conversely what was inimical to public safety was frowned on, and became tabu, or prohibited. N THE GIRL IN PRIMITIVE LIFE J. Q. DEALEY. OTHING very definite is known about woman in early life. She seems to to be the background against which man emerged from the darkness and made himself known. The little information which has been culled from various corners of the world seems to indicate that among some early peoples the woman was worshipped and feared; among others she was subjugated and made to feel her inferiority. We know, however, that primitive man feared whatever he did not understand; and it is very possible that the miracle of birth so filled him with awe and amazement that he regarded all of womankind with a superstitious respect. Nevertheless, the position of the young girl in primitive life must have been precarious. For a while, undoubtedly, she romped and played as any young child does to-day— with pebbles and knuckle-bones as playthings instead of kiddie cars and clever mechanical toys. But as she approached marriageable age, she was either stolen by some wandering tribe or bartered by her own people. Woman is of the "weaker sex" not only because biology |