Night School Page #2

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on our hands, a psycho vvho just likes going

around chopping off heads. And that's your

considered opinion, is it? -15 years on the force. -15 years?

And still a sergeant? Sticks and stones, lieutenant,

sticks and stones. I've got this invitation

to go away this weekend. That's great. I know.

I'm really excited. I have a chance

to go skiing. The only problem is that

I've gut so much vvork. Sorry I couldn't be more

helpful, lieutenant. But vvith 300 students, it's difficult

to get to knovv all of them intimately. Perhaps you can speak

to one of her classmates. That would help. I hope this doesn't mean vve'll be

inundated vvith nevvspaper people. There isn't much I can do

about that, miss Griffin. Anne was one

of our night students. Many of my girls do vvork during

the day and go to class at night. She vvas studying anthropology

vvith professor millett. This is his class

in here. - They'll be through in a moment.

- Miss Griffin. Yes, Kathy? There's some television people

dovvnstairs to see you. I suppose I'd better

go take care of them. Uh, you can introduce yourself

to professor millett. Don't worry

about it. I'll be in my office. Thank you. It's a sort of

naturalization process confirming the peace

between two tribes. This is the, uh,

most important of ceremonies among the asmats,

the adoption ceremony. Here we see the clan

preparing the man and woman chosen to become members

of the other clan. They thread long plaits of coconut fiber

in their hair, hiding their faces. This and similar tribal

ceremonies are to be found in the remote parts

of Borneo and new Guinea. This secret

and primitive ritual, um... I just can't believe it. We vvere

very privileged to photograph it. The 30 men,

each from the two villages, lay side by side

on their stomachs. Then 30 women stand over them

with their legs astride. And the two chosen pairs

of men and women wiggle through

the living tunnel. And as they pass, the women emit

groans as if in child birth. At the end of the tunnel, they drop

their loincloths over the cquples, symbolic of the rebirth

from a common mother. Then the newborns are

wrapped on coconut fibers like swaddling clothes. And the symbolic birth

is over, and the ceremony ended. Thank you, Kim. Scenes like this

are a direct link with man's primitive past. Modern man has only

to take a short step to wind up in the primeval

jungle of his ancestors. Hmm. Any questions? - Ah-choo!

- Bless you. We'll pick this up

next time. Now, do be prepared

with pages... 120... Through 127. Thank you. Vvhat's the meaning of this, vvalking in

during the middle of one of my lectures? I'm lieutenant Austin.

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