Portraits Of Primitives

A DEPARTURE from his usual work is Lewis Lett’s latest book. “Savage Tales” is a small volume of about a dozen short stories which deal exclusively with the Papuan native, ancient and modern, and his reaction to his enviro ment or to the changing scene about him.

The first two Tales are myths from Eastern Papua and attempt to explain the creation of woman and of the first coconut. They are interesting trifles but are obviously not expected to be taken any more seriously than the Jewish folk-tale that Eve was created from one of Adam’s ribs.

The other stories, if they do not come entirely from actual fact and incident, are based on the author’s real under standing of the primitive Papuan and his only partly-civilised son. There are no jarring notes or incongruities and, from a purely literary point of view, this is probably the best work that Lett has done.

The Tales may not be as popular as his other books—volumes of short stories seldom make the best-seller class—but they contribute something to our know ledge of the Papuan, in a readable and entertaining fashion. A welcome addi tion to the shelves of one’s Pacific li

brary; or an excellent gift book for a friend of any age. (Published by F. W. Cheshire Pty., Ltd., Melbourne, priced at 8/6,)