Alfred Cort Haddon (1855–1940) was a highly influential British anthropologist and ethnologist who was instrumental in the foundation of a school of anthropology at Cambridge University. During 1898 and 1899, Haddon led an expedition which conducted ethnographical research in the Torres Strait, New Guinea, and Borneo. The main results of this expedition were compiled in a series of volumes, containing contributions from a diverse range of specialists. Originally published in 1904, this is the fifth in that series. The text contains information on the societies and belief structures of the indigenous peoples living in the western islands of the Strait. A large number of illustrative figures are also included, demonstrating a broad variety of traditional practices. This is a fascinating book that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the development of anthropology and ethnology.
