Rope Of Moka, The: New Guinea

Description: In 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. Table of Contents: 1. Introduction; 2. Groups; 3. Ceremonial grounds; 4. Warfare, alliance, and compensation; 5. Moka transactions and media of exchange; 6. Moka chains; 7. Counting pigs and shells; 8. Disputes and struggles precipitated by moka occasions; 9. Moka and the status of big-man; 10. The moka system and the behaviour of big-men; Appendices