Excerpt from Shells as Evidence of the Migration of Early Culture This book represents nothing more than the informa tion garnered in this preliminary survey; and no one recognises its incompleteness more than its author. But I have urged Mr. Jackson to make these results more generally accessible by collecting them into a book, because they reveal the richness and the importance Of this branch of ethnography. It is hoped that by appealing to the interest of conchologists and ethnologists it will stimulate some of them to join in the search for further evidence and assist in collecting and sifting the material for an exhaustive treatise. The numerous letters which Mr. Jackson has received from all parts of the world since he began the publication of his reports suggests that the interest in this line of investigation is real and widespread and that the wider distribution of this collection of essays will achieve the end he has In View. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

In most places where shells are used it is not their decorative or aesthetic value to which primary importance is attached. Some arbitrary meaning that, in the course of ages, has come to be attached to or associated with certain shells determined the value assigned to them and impelled men to search for them far and wide and often at great peril. The cowry is widely believed to confer fertility on women and to help in the process of parturition. They are, therefore, worn on girdles by maidens, presented to them as bridal offerings, and used by sterile or pregnant women to attain these respective benefits. They are also put into' graves to confer vitalising power and ensure the continuance of the deceased's existence, i.e., not merely life but also resurrection. They have been used as artificial eyes for mummies, and also as charms against the evil eye, and to bring good luck. Hence they are used for games of chance. They were probably the earliest form of currency. Many of these attributes of the cowry were also transferred to the snail shell. Like the cowry it also was the source of life, the parent of mankind, the dwelling place of the. deity who conferred the blessings of fertility, not only to mankind, but also to his crops. The murmur of the shell was the voice of the god, and the trumpet made of a shell became an important instrument in initiation ceremonies and in temple worship. In the search for these shells special significance probably first came to be attached to pearls, which, however, had been known for many ages before then to the oyster-eating makers of kitchen-middens; and some of the magical powers associated with shells were also transferred to pearls. Pearl-like bodies are obtained from a considerable number of shells in addition to those of the pearl oyster; and it is significant that a special cultural importance came to be attached to most, if not all of them.

From the INTRODUCTION. In most places where shells are used it is not their decorative or aesthetic value to which primary importance is attached. Some arbitrary meaning that, in the course of ages, has come to be attached to or associated with certain shells determined the value assigned to them and impelled men to search for them far and wide and often at great peril. The cowry is widely believed to confer fertility on women and to help in the process of parturition. They are, therefore, worn on girdles by maidens, presented to them as bridal offerings, and used by sterile or pregnant women to attain these respective benefits. They are also put into' graves to confer vitalising power and ensure the continuance of the deceased's existence, i.e., not merely life but also resurrection. They have been used as artificial eyes for mummies, and also as charms against the evil eye, and to bring good luck. Hence they are used for games of chance. They were probably the earliest form of currency. Many of these attributes of the cowry were also transferred to the snail shell. Like the cowry it also was the source of life, the parent of mankind, the dwelling place of the. deity who conferred the blessings of fertility, not only to mankind, but also to his crops. The murmur of the shell was the voice of the god, and the trumpet made of a shell became an important instrument in initiation ceremonies and in temple worship. In the search for these shells special significance probably first came to be attached to pearls, which, however, had been known for many ages before then to the oyster-eating makers of kitchen-middens; and some of the magical powers associated with shells were also transferred to pearls. Pearl-like bodies are obtained from a considerable number of shells in addition to those of the pearl oyster; and it is significant that a special cultural importance came to be attached to most, if not all of them. Of these the Abalone "(Haliotis)," the classical designation of which is "Ear of Venus," is used for ornament and currency. Its resemblance to a human ear and the serial arrangement of the perforations near its margin suggest the possibility that the custom of piercing the helix in a linear series may have some connexion with this likeness. It is all the more suggestive when this method of perforation is found in association with the use of an ear-pendant made of Haliotis shell. "Strombus gigas" (the common conch), which is used as a ceremonial trumpet, produces pink pearls; and "Turbinella pyrum" (the Indian chank), which is the trumpet and libation-vessel of India, Thibet and China, has pink and pale red pearls. Another of this series is "Tridacna gigas" (Giant Clam), which is used in Oceania as well as in the West Indies for making axes and other tools, and in certain Christian churches in Europe as receptacles for 'holy water.' "Venus mercenaria" (Quahog or Hard Clam) is used for making shell money "Wampum " in North America. "Nautilus pompilius" is cut up and used for ornament and as eyes for Torres Straits mummies. It is also used as a drinking vessel in India and elsewhere. If one asks the question how did these remarkable qualities come to be attributed to certain shells, the answer is plainly given by the collection of data brought together by Mr. Jackson.