American anthropology is concerned with the past only. An attempt is here made to study a tribe in a state of complete disintegration. It is a systematical piece of sociological work which affords some insight into the psychological processes. A remark of the author seems to throw some light on the psychology of virginity. "A characteristic of virginity is believed to be such an extreme form of modesty that it amounts to panic, immobility, and helplessness, in the face of attack" (p. 187). The menstruation taboo was originally a measure to protect the men and is now enforced on principles of birth control (p. 190). On the whole, however, the psychoanalytical reader will find less interest in this book than in the previous publications of the same author.