Pacific Folklore
p. 98 · Read in the full issue
THE July-September issue of ths. jour nal of the American Folklore Society, is devoted to myths and folk beliefs of Pacific peoples.
Several well-known anthropologists are represented with articles that cover such islands as Guam, Hawaii, Philippines, and Tuamotus.
Considerable attention is given to the atoll of Kapingamarangi, an interesting speck in the Pacific and the most southern island in the Micronesian area, 400 miles SSE of Truk and 300 miles NNE of Rabaul, New Guinea. The atoll’s 520 inhabitants are neither Micronesian nor Melanesian, however, but Polynesian.
Although the Japs had a sea plane base and weather station there during the war, the native life was disturbed very little.
However, they can be said to be undis turbed no longer as American ships now call quite frequently to trade.
Wherever Americans have gone in the Pacific, natives have rapidly abandoned their old ways of life. It is a matter of opinion as to whether this is a good or a bad thing.
The Journal of American Folklore is published by the American Folklore Society at 450 Ahnaip Street, Menasha, Wisconsin, USA, Single copies are 1.50 dollars.