Book

The Tiwi of North Australia

Henry Holt and CompanyNew York • Published In 1960 • Pages: xii, 118

By: Hart, C. W. M. (Charles William Merton), Pilling, Arnold R..

Abstract
This account of the Tiwi is based on field work undertaken independently by each of the authors at different times. The study deals primarily with status manipulation and political behavior among the Tiwi but includes in connection with this a wide range of material on social life, marriage patterns, burial ceremonies, feuds, antagonisms, etc. The nature of Tiwi household organization, its economic functions and organization, and the functional relationship of this organization to the status system is also discussed. There is also some attempt to relate the peculiar nature of Tiwi social structure to geographical factors of isolation and to the favorable environment and abundant food supply found in their area of habitation. Religious practices and beliefs receive some treatment as well. Finally the authors consider some of the changes that have occurred among Tiwi as a result of mission influence and European contact and show how the nature of the changes has been adapted to basic Tiwi cultural patterns. The document is weak however on material culture and socialization processes, except for puberty initiation and there is little concrete material on kinship relations, sib and band organization.
Subjects
Community structure
Household
Polygamy
Collecting
Hunting and trapping
Marriage
Puberty and initiation
Status and treatment of the aged
Burial practices and funerals
General character of religion
Status, role, and prestige
Missions
Acculturation and culture contact
Sociocultural trends
culture
Tiwi
HRAF PubDate
2009
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Australia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
Analyst
Betty Potash ; 1960
Field Date
1928-1954
Coverage Date
1900-1959
Coverage Place
Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory, Australia
Notes
by C. W. M. Hart and Arnold R. Pilling
Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-118)
LCCN
60007332
LCSH
Tiwi (Australian people)