article

Cultural changes in Kiriwina

Oceania16 • Published In 1945 • Pages: 15-60

By: Austen, Leo.

Abstract
Leo Austen, a former Resident Magistrate of the territory of Papua, New Guinea, presents in this article a summary of Trobriand ethnography as he observed it on Kiriwina Island during the early 1930s (1931-1936). The material is written from the standpoint of on-going cultural change, and is frequently interspersed with Austen's speculations as to what should be done to help the native population in the future. The topics discussed in this document are: vital statistics (land use, population size, disease), chieftainship, wealth, Kula, death and religious beliefs, magic, gardening, law and order, games and dancing, and contact with Europeans (e.g., traders, missionaries, government officials, etc.).
Subjects
Population
Acculturation and culture contact
Sociocultural trends
Marine industries
Vegetable production
Gift giving
Accumulation of wealth
Ingroup antagonisms
Community heads
Chief executive
Judicial authority
Magic
Magicians and diviners
culture
Trobriands
HRAF PubDate
1995
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Melanesia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Government Official
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle
Field Date
1931-1936 [p. 16]
Coverage Date
1931-1936
Coverage Place
Kiriwina Island, Papua New Guinea
Notes
[by] Leo Austen
LCSH
Trobriand Islanders