ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 30 March 1908, Page 3

ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH.

EXPEDITION TO THE PACIFIC. Amongst the passengers by the s.s. ?avua from the Islands yesterday was )r. William Rivers, M.D., of England, >"no has journeyed to the South Pacific o undertake anthropological and other cientific research throughout various •roups of the Polynesian and Melansian Archipelagoes. Dr. Rivers fills the >osition of lecturer at St. John's Colsge. Cambridge, and has obtained a ear's leave of absence for the purpose >f making the expedition. He was preiously engaged in similar work in New Guinea and in India, being a member of )r. Haddon's expedition to Torres traits 10 years ago. The objects of the work, as explained >y Dr. Rivers to a "Star" representaive this morning, are, in the main, the tudy of the social organisation, natures, emperaments, and caste systems of the ifferent races which people the Pacific slands. The expedition will be under he auspices of the Percy Sladen Trust, n organisation which governs the funds et apart for the financial supports of uch work by Mrs. Sladen, in memory of er late husband. In this way, scientists f any nationality may receive a grant owards enabling them to further their esearches in these directions. Dr. Rivers left England in December ist, and journeying by way of America, pent a month in Hawaii amongst the latives, gleaning information as to their ustoms and social conditions. Another nonth was spent in Fiji, the. island of >iti Leyu being crossed for the purpose >f gaining a deeper insight into the life if the natives of the interior. A<, the end of tlie present week, Dr. .livers leaves in the mission steamer Southern Cross for the Solomon Islands, >eing joined at Gavutu. by. Messrs. .Vheeler (of London) and Hocart (of Oxford), who have proceeded by way of Sydney. The party intend spending ibout six anonths in the group, their movements thereafter being still uncertain. On their return to England, a report of the results of the expedition will oe presented to the Trust.