Item 42 - Copy letter from J. G. Frazer to E. S. Hartland

1 item; typescript copy

Trinity College, Cambridge. Dated 22 September, 1901 - Agrees that they should get [George McCall] Theal's authority for South African totemism, asks Hartland to write as he abhors correspondence, especially with a stranger; has had letters from Baldwin Spencer on the totemism of the Kaitish, and his [and Alfred Howitt's] dislike of [Andrew] Lang's use of Howitt's statements; Frazer believes that [Henry] Roth feels the same way about Lang's use of his writings; Frazer has not read Lang's book but has found him obtuse on the subject of Spencer and Gillen's writings, and [E. B.] Tylor went so far as to suggest to George Macmillan that the chapter of 'intichima ceremonies' be curtailed, to which Frazer strenously objected; benefited from his visit to Wiesbaden to see [Hermann] Pagenstecher about his eyes; thanks him for the [F. B.] Jevons articles on the science of religion, finds that the discovery that totemism is probably not a religion but a system of magic has badly affected his argument, was aware of the blows he was giving Jevons' arguments when he wrote his articles on totemism.

Published in Ackerman, Robert, ed. 'Selected Letters of Sir J. G. Frazer'. Oxford: Oxford University Press, [2005].