Item 175 - Copy letter from B. Malinowski to Sir James Frazer

1 item; typescript copy

S. S. 'Makambo' en route to Papua. Dated 25.10.17 - Thanks him for his encouraging letter; is off to the Trobriand Islands again; when he was in Melbourne he went over material from previous visits and has created an outline and a list of new questions; in reading Frazer's works he has learned to appreciate vividness and colour in descriptions of native life; was glad he approved his sally against 'Collective Consciousness'; disagrees with the tendency of field ethnographers to attack the 'psychological method', is interested in the mental life of the natives and the relationship between magic and religion on one hand and economic pursuits on the other; is not making physical measurements of the natives, can't see their philosophical value; thanks him for the anthropological questions with its kind inscription, which he will treasure; discusses his itinerary; is technically an enemy subject as an Austrian, but is in reality a Pole, so can't be suspected of Teutonic symphathies in the war; Mr Atlee Hunt in Melbourne has been most helpful, and he hopes to extend the six months he has been given to go to New Guinea, which will be up to Judge J. H. P. Murray; is provided for by Mr Robert Mond; will be in touch with his observations.