SUBJECT, METHOD AND SCOPE SUBJECT, METHOD AND SCOPE whether it be the state, or the church, or the army, is of it and F enpirical investigator with a mental chart, in accordance with in it, but has no vision of the resulting integral action of the which he can take his bearings and lay his course whole, still less could furnish any account of its organisation, To return to our example, a number of definite cases so it would be futile to attempt questioning a native in abstract, a dliscussed will reveal to the Ethnographer the social machinery sociological terms. The difference is that, in our society, for punishment. This is one part, one aspect of tribal every institution has its intelligent members, its historians uthority. Imagine further that by a similar method of and its archiv documents, whereas in a native society nference from definite data, he arrives at understanding leader- here are none of these. After this is realised an expedient has I ship in war, in economic enterprise, in tribal festivities-there to be found to overcome this diffculty. This expedient for an about tribal government and social authority. In actual he has at once all the data necessary to answer the questions and drawing the general inferences for himself. This seems field work, the comparison of such data, the attempt to piece obvious on the face of it but was not found out or at least hem together, will often reveal rifts and gaps in the infor- practised in Ethnography till field work was taken up by men mation which lead on to further investigations From my own experience, I can say that, very often,a easy to devise the concrete applications of this method, nor to, problem seemed settled, everything fixed and clear, till l began th y Though we cannot ask a native about abstract, general rules only then, did I see the enormous deficiencies, which would we can always enquire how a given case would be treated show me where lay new problems, and lead me on to new work Thus for instance, in asking how they would treat crime In fact, I spent a few months between my first and second or punish it, to put to a native xpeditions, and over a year between that and the subsequent for even words could not be found to express it in native, or i ready for publication each time though each time I knew I in pidgin. But an imaginary case, or still better, a real occurrence,will stimulate a native to express his opinion and to structive work and observation, I found most valuable, and I supply plentiful information. A real case indeed will start the lo not think I could have made real headway without it. I give natives on a wave of discussion, evoke expressions of indigna this bit of my own history merely to show that what has been tion, show them taking sides-all of which talk will probably said so far is not only an empty programme, but the result of contain a wealth of definite views, of moral censures, as well / personal experience. In this volume, the description is given of as reveal the social mechanism set in motion by the crime big institution connected with ever so many associated committed. From there, it will be easy to lead them on to activities, and presenting many aspects. To anyone who speak of other similar cases, to remember other actual occur.) about a phenomenon of such high complexity and of so man.? reflects on the subject, it will be clear that the informatio rences or to discuss them in all their implications and aspects amifications, could not be obtained with any degre range of facts, the inference is obtained by simple induction. i exactitude and completeness, without a constant interplay of The scientific treatment differs from that of good common sense, first in that a student will extend the completeness and systematic and methodical manner: and secondly, in that the expeditions. Each time, new problems and difficult minuteness of survey much further and in a pedantically dozen times while in the field and in the intervals betw scientifically trained mind, will push the inquiry along really presented themselves relevant lines, and towards aims possessing real importance. The collecting of concrete data over a wide range of facts is Indeed, the object of scientific training is to provide the hus one of the main points of field method. The obligation