The discussion of modesty is complicated by the difficulty, and even
impossibility, of excluding closely-allied emotions--shame, shyness,
bashfulness, timidity, etc.--all of which, indeed, however defined, adjoin
or overlap modesty.[3] It is not, however, impossible to isolate the main
body of the emotion of modesty, on account of its special connection, on
the whole, with the consciousness of sex. I here attempt, however
imperfectly, to sketch out a fairly-complete analysis of its constitution
and to trace its development.

In entering upon this investigation a few facts with regard to
the various manifestations of modesty may be helpful to us. I
have selected these from scattered original sources, and have
sought to bring out the variety and complexity of the problems
with which we are here concerned.

The New Georgians of the Solomon Islands, so low a race that they
are ignorant both of pottery and weaving, and wear only a loin
cloth, "have the same ideas of what is decent with regard to
certain acts and exposures that we ourselves have;" so that it is
difficult to observe whether they practice circumcision.
(Somerville, _Journal of the Anthropological Institute_, 1897, p.
394.)

In the New Hebrides "the closest secrecy is adopted with regard
to the penis, not at all from a sense of decency, but to avoid
Narak, the _sight_ even of that of another man being considered
most dangerous. The natives of this savage island, accordingly,
wrap the penis around with many yards of calico, and other like
materials, winding and folding them until a preposterous bundle