The Rope of Moka: Big-men and Ceremonial Exchange in Mount Hagen New GuineaIn the Mount Hagen area of central New Guinea, warfare has been replaced since the arrival of the Europeans by a vigorous development of moka, a competitive ceremonial exchange of wealth objects. The exchanges of pigs, shells and other valuables are interpreted as acting as a bond between groups, and as a means whereby individuals, notably the big-men, can maximize their status. Professor Strathern analyses the ways in which competition between big-men actually takes place, and the effects of this competition on the overall political system. |
Contents
Introduction I | 1 |
Groups | 15 |
Ceremonial grounds | 37 |
Warfare alliance and compensation | 53 |
Moka transactions and media of exchange | 93 |
Moka chains | 115 |
Counting pigs and shells | 137 |
Disputes and struggles precipitated by moka occasions | 168 |
The size of exogamous units | 231 |
Terminology for groups used by Vicedom and Strauss | 232 |
Songs and spells for attracting shells | 233 |
A note on kik kapa payments | 234 |
The evaluation of pearl shells and their preparation for use in exchanges | 235 |
Examples of elık style | 240 |
Ascriptions of bigman status | 242 |
Bibliography | 244 |
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The Rope of Moka: Big-men and Ceremonial Exchange in Mount Hagen New Guinea Andrew Strathern No preview available - 1975 |
Common terms and phrases
activities actually affines alliance allies associated become big-men brothers called ceremonial ground chapter clan clansmen close competition cooked dance death decorations described direct discuss donors enemies example exchange fact father fighting final further gave gifts give given groups Hagen Highlands hold immediate important individual initiatory gifts involved Kawelka Kendike Kengeke killed kind Kitepi Kundmbo later less lineage linked live major major big-men major enemies marriage married means Melpa Membo men's Minembi minor moka names obtain occasion Oklembo Ongka ordinary pair particular partners partnerships past payments pearl shells pena persons pigs poisoning political possible prestations received recipients relations relationship segments separate sequence shows side single situation sometimes sons status sub-clan suggested supporters Table territory Tipuka tribe valuables Vicedom warfare whole wives Yelipi