Zharashova Zhyldyz
Summary
ANTH-108
Kula; the Circulating Exchange of Valuables in the
Archipelagoes of Eastern New Guinea. By B. Malinowskiy
The thesis of
this summary is a special trade system of a tribe Kula and the tribes in the
East End of New Guinea. The trading system is usually built
on exchanging highly used goods like dried fish, pottery, sago, canoes and yams.
This trading system is usually based on circulation of two goods like those
that arm shells and necklaces of red
shell-discs, both meant for ornaments but never used by tribes. These two goods
travel in a circular form traveling among many islands and tribes. These goods
travel in clock direction and never stop in one tribe or a member of a tribe
for a long time. However, none of these tribes ever uses them as both of these
goods are for used only for exchanging but not for owning. The arm shells and
necklaces are always traveling in their own direction on the ring; they never
travel back in the wrong direction. In addition, they never stop. This trading
system involves not only Kula tribe and islands of the East End of New Guinea,
but also the Lousiades, Woodlark
Island, the Loughlans,
the Troriand Archipelago and the d’Entrecasteanx Group. It includes the
continent of New Guinea
and extends the northern and southern coasts of the mainland.
People
of the tribe Kula who are involved in this exchange system are called Massim.
Those people, who are living on big islands, are tending to have highly
developed agriculture. Such islands are Woodlark islands, of the Trobriands, of
the d’Entrecasteaux Group. But other people, who are living on small islands,
like the volcanic Amphlett Rocks, Teste Island, and some of the Marshall island
Bennett, are not supported comparing to those who live on big islands. The
peoples of such small islands are concentrating on industries and canoe
building.
The necklaces and arm shells that are used in the trading
system are high-value among Massi. However, not all men in a Kula tribe
participate in this exchanging system. They are out of this altogether.
What’s
more, the major importance of this exchanging is when a person sends his
initial gift to another one, he waits to receive restoration gift from that
person. If that person, who receives the initial gift, sends back the less
valuable gift, the first person will wait for another gift to be repaid. Then
he again receives an intermediary gift and needs to send back equivalent gift.
This does not tire the features of Kula tribe.
Another
importance of this exchanging is when one inhabitant of Sinaketa a pair of arm
shell more then usually good; he will have the fame for it. Thus, other members
of that tribe compete for receiving such goods. However, they can offer him any
other goods for exchanging. The offerings are consisted of fine bananas, yams
and taro.
All the
tribes of this exchange system are involved in going for expeditions in order
to exchange their goods. When the one tribe is going on canoe, and is absent
while doing expedition another tribe must not come to their village. If one is
caught especially at night while the tribe has gone, he will be punished. Nevertheless,
the tribe will be off for a long time, as they do magic rituals while traveling
to another island. For instance, the people gather some, coconuts, leaves and wear
them to themselves as ritual. Then they continue their traveling to the island,
exchange goods, and right after several times they come back. When the tribe
arrives, as the custom, the Dobuas meet them with necklaces and ceremonially
offer them. After a year or so, Dobuans will make their expedition to Sinaketa,
with the same ceremonial and magic. On this expedition, they will receive some
arm shells in exchange for the necklaces, and on and on. Thus the expedition
and the trading, exchanging system among these tribes never stop.
