The Jombee Dance of Montserrat: A Study of Trance Ritual in the West Indies

Abstract

true, therefore, to claim categorically that throughout the region it is the affinal relationships that are politically important because they contain the potential for expressing hierarchy (p. 73). Despite a notable enthusiasm for education, young people are often unfitted for traditional life by their exposure to the classroom. The most recent Brazilian material on the Waiwai also reinforces the point that the need for extended family relationships has been considerably reduced by access to modern technology and the influence of the mission. Not enough of these phenomena is reflected in Riviere. Perhaps the most useful aspect of Dr. Riviere's book is that it points the way to how much work needs to be done in Guyana. Because of his eminence, and because of the scarcity of work on the area, his is the touchstone which will no doubt spur others to check their findings against his. That surely is justification enough for any scholarly work.