16



242 THB LAUGHTER OF SAVAGES

he felt himself projected into the middle of the tent among
the embers. The chief, his three wives and the other native
people in the tent " shrieked with laughter " at the catas-
trophe. The full measure of the good humour that lay-
behind this laughter revealed itself to the white visitor when
he saw emerging from the heap of robes the fourth and
youngest wife of the chief, who, to her credit be it said,
joined in the hilarity. ^

Something of the reflective element seems to peep out in
one variety of this laughter at the odd ways of the white
man. A missionary, one of the discerning ones as it would
seem, found the Sea Dyaks disposed to treat the idea of our
religious services as a joke. They were curious to learn
what was required of the religious worshipper, and parti-
cularly wanted to know whether he was forbidden to laugh;
and they explained their inquisitiveness by confessing that,
like Mr. Barrie's " Humorist," they were far from sure of
being able to restrain themselves.^ Solemn ceremony with
its severe demands will be apt, when its meaning is hidden,
to provoke in savages and in children alike a keen desire
for the relief of a laugh.
