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south coast of Dutch New Guinea； the name of the bull…roarer； which they call sosom； is given to a mythical giant； who is supposed to appear every year with the south…east monsoon。 When he comes； a festival is held in his honour and bull…roarers are swung。 Boys are presented to the giant； and he kills them； but considerately brings them to life again。
In certain districts of Viti Levu； the largest of the Fijian Islands； the drama of death and resurrection used to be acted with much solemnity before the eyes of young men at initiation。 In a sacred enclosure they were shown a row of dead or seemingly dead men lying on the ground； their bodies cut open and covered with blood； their entrails protruding。 But at a yell from the high priest the counterfeit dead men started to their feet and ran down to the river to cleanse themselves from the blood and guts of pigs with which they were beslobbered。 Soon they marched back to the sacred enclosure as if come to life； clean； fresh； and garlanded； swaying their bodies in time to the music of a solemn hymn； and took their places in front of the novices。 Such was the drama of death and resurrection。
The people of Rook； an island between New Guinea and New Britain； hold festivals at which one or two disguised men； their heads covered with wooden masks； go dancing through the village； followed by all the other men。 They demand that the circumcised boys who have not yet been swallowed by Marsaba （the devil） shall be given up to them。 The boys； trembling and shrieking； are delivered to them； and must creep between the legs of the disguised men。 Then the procession moves through the village again； and announces that Marsaba has eaten up the boys； and will not disgorge them till he receives a present of pigs； taro； and so forth。 So all the villagers； according to their means； contribute provisions； which are then consumed in the name of Marsaba。
In the west of Ceram boys at puberty are admitted to the Kakian association。 Modern writers have commonly regarded this association as primarily a political league instituted to resist foreign domination。 In reality its objects are purely religious and social； though it is possible that the priests may have occasionally used their powerful influence for political ends。 The society is in fact merely one of those widely…diffused primitive institutions； of which a chief object is the initiation of young men。 In recent years the true nature of the association has been duly recognised by the distinguished Dutch ethnologist； J。 G。 F。 Riedel。 The Kakian house is an oblong wooden shed； situated under the darkest trees in the depth of the forest； and is built to admit so little light that it is impossible to see what goes on in it。 Every village has such a house。 Thither the boys who are to be initiated are conducted blindfold； followed by their parents and relations。 Each boy is led by the hand of two men； who act as his sponsors or guardians； looking after him during the period of initiation。 When all are assembled before the shed； the high priest calls aloud upon the devils。 Immediately a hideous uproar is heard to proceed from the shed。 It is made by men with bamboo trumpets； who have been secretly introduced into the building by a back door； but the women and children think it is made by the devils； and are much terrified。 Then the priests enter the shed； followed by the boys； one at a time。 As soon as each boy has disappeared within the precincts； a dull chopping sound is heard； a fearful cry rings out； and a sword or spear； dripping with blood； is thrust through the roof of the shed。 This is a token that the boy's head has been cut off； and that the devil has carried him away to the other world； there to regenerate and transform him。 So at sight of the bloody sword the mothers weep and wail； crying that the devil has murdered their children。 In some places； it would seem； the boys are pushed through an opening made in the shape of a crocodile's jaws or a cassowary's beak； and it is then said that the devil has swallowed them。 The boys remain in the shed for five or nine days。 Sitting in the dark； they hear the blast of the bamboo trumpets； and from time to time the sound of musket shots and the clash of swords。 Every day they bathe； and their faces and bodies are smeared with a yellow dye； to give them the appearance of having been swallowed by the devil。 During his stay in the Kakian house each boy has one or two crosses tattooed with thorns on his breast or arm。 When they are not sleeping； the lads must sit in a crouching posture without moving a muscle。 As they sit in a row cross…legged； with their hands stretched out； the chief takes his trumpet； and placing the mouth of it on the hands of each lad； speaks through it in strange tones； imitating the voice of the spirits。 He warns the lads； under pain of death； to observe the rules of the Kakian society； and never to reveal what has passed in the Kakian house。 The novices are also told by the priests to behave well to their blood relations； and are taught the traditions and secrets of the tribe。
Meantime the mothers and sisters of the lads have gone home to weep and mourn。 But in a day or two the men who acted as guardians or sponsors to the novices return to the village with the glad tidings that the devil； at the intercession of the priests； has restored the lads to life。 The men who bring this news come in a fainting state and daubed with mud； like messengers freshly arrived from the nether world。 Before leaving the Kakian house； each lad receives from the priest a stick adorned at both ends with a cock's or cassowary's feathers。 The sticks are supposed to have been given to the lads by the devil at the time when he restored them to life； and they serve as a token that the youths have been in the spirit land。 When they return to their homes they totter in their walk； and enter the house backward； as if they had forgotten how to walk properly； or they enter the house by the back door。 If a plate of food is given to them； they hold it upside down。 They remain dumb； indicating their wants by signs only。 All this is to show that they are still under the influence of the devil or the spirits。 Their sponsors have to teach them all the common acts of life； as if they were newborn children。 Further； upon leaving the Kakian house the boys are strictly forbidden to eat of certain fruits until the next celebration of the rites has taken place。 And for twenty or thirty days their hair may not be combed by their mothers or sisters。 At the end of that time the high priest takes them to a lonely place in the forest； and cuts off a lock of hair from the crown of each of their heads。 After these initiatory rites the lads are deemed men； and may marry； it would be a scandal if they married before。
In the region of the Lower Congo a simulation of death and resurrection is； or rather used to be； practised by the members of a guild or secret society called ndembo。 In the practice of Ndembo the initiating doctors get some one to fall down in a pretended fit； and in that state he is carried away to an enclosed place outside the town。 This is called 'dying Ndembo。' Others follow suit； generally boys and girls； but