The Native Mind.

How Misunderstandings Arise.

INABILITY to understand native psy chology leads to queer situations in connection with administration in Is land territories.

Some time ago, a building to be used by the natives as a market, was erected in Rabaul alongside Chinatown. From the commencement, even while the build ing was in course of construction, mis sionaries who saw it said: “The natives will not appreciate that place. There are only two exits and native women like to be able to gather up their goods and run at the first sign of a disturbance." And so it proved.

The natives had to be forced to use the building, and, as anyone in Rabaul may see to-day, the natives still prefer to hold their market under the spread ing trees near the building. Yet the of ficials ascribe the cause to the natives’ fear of evil spirits. Those who can talk with the natives in their own language (not in pidgin) say that the natives laugh at the official explanation.

The European inability to understand the native mind limits the usefulness of the Land Court. No one associated with that institution has any real acquaint ance with native customs and laws re garding the acquisition and transfer of land and property. It is ridiculous to try and determine ownership and transfer of native land unless one has a working knowledge of the native language and the native customs under which these transactions have taken place since time immemorial.