essay

Magnitudes and values in kula exchange

kula : new perspectives on massim exchange • Cambridge, U.K. • Published In 1983 • Pages: 89-117

By: Firth, Raymond.

Abstract

Based on his evaluation of Malinowski's earlier data on the Kula exchange in the Trobriands, Firth presents here an historical reconstruction in which he analyzes the relative value of the objects being transferred. Firth notes that it was very unlikely that the matching equivalence of armshells and necklaces circulating in exchange was ever exactly equal, but that factors of flexibility must have been introduced to expedite the transfer of goods between trading partners. Firth concludes that the Kula items '…at least in the higher grades, were more definitely subject to individual claims of control, and less fixed in value in relation to one another, than Malinowski envisaged' (p. 101).

HRAF PubDate

1995

Region

Oceania

Sub Region

Melanesia

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle

Field Date

no date

Coverage Date

not specified

Coverage Place

Papua New Guinea

Notes

[by] Raymond Firth

Bibliography will be found in 36: Leach, Information Sources Listed in Other Works (113)

LCCN

82004142

LCSH

Trobriand Islanders