ttributed their selfishness and
ingratitude. "Its influence is supposed to extend even to the
next life. There is not a custom connected with life or death in
which this money does not play a great and leading part.... Take
away their money and their secret societies sink at once into
nothing, and most of their customs become nothing."[322]
Evidently the missionary testifies that the money stimulates
commercialism with all its good and ill. Coils of feathers which
are spoken of as money are also reported from the New Hebrides
and Santa Cruz. Feathers are attached with resin to the outside
of coils, inside of which are charms, each possessing a
protective property. This money is very rare and, if shown, may
be handled only by the owner.[323] Our information as to the
commercial uses and effects of these island shell moneys is very
imperfect. The money seems to be still on the stage of gems. It
is used to buy steps of rank in the secret society, which cost
pigs and money and mark social importance, which is, like other
forms of force, regarded as supernatural. Rank can be gained only
by the consent of those who already have it.[324]

+150. Plutocratic effects of money.+ It must not be understood that the
money, on the barbaric stage, enters into the struggle for existence, at
least for food. There is only slight organization of labor. Each one
produces what he needs. There is little luxury. "Nevertheless, money
plays the chief role in the life of the people. The man, regarded as an
animal, has enough to do to support life. If he wants a wife, wants to
found a family, wants to be a member of the state, he must have
money."[325] It is evident that the circulation of this money must
produce phenomena which are unfamiliar to us.

The estimate placed by the Solomon Islanders on great stones of
aragonite, obtained in the southern Palau islands, is such that
they incur great risks in going to get them in their frail
boats.[326] The pieces have the appearance of our own
grindstones. They are set in rows by the men's clubhouses, and
are in care of the chiefs. Christian mentions two of the Big
Houses on Yap with stone money piled against the foundations. One
piece was twelve feet in diameter and one and a half feet thick,
and had a hole in the center two and a half feet in
diameter.[327] A certain Captain O'Keefe, in 1882, fitted out a
Chinese