Book

Stone men of Malekula

Chatto & WindusLondon • Published In 1942 • Pages:

By: Layard, J. (John).

Abstract
This is a portion of the results of field work done by Layard, a professional ethnologist, a number of years prior to publication. It should be noted that this source covers mainly the island of Vao, one of the Small Islands off Malekula's coast. Other Malekulan cultures mentioned, such as the Big Nambas, appear to represent considerable cultural divergence when compared to the Small Islands. In addition to his own work, Layard has also translated and included all relevant parts of the work of the missionary Godefroy. The book covers a relatively narrow part of Malekulan culture in a great deal of detail. Inasmuch as he was primarily interested in the distribution of 'Megalithic culture,' there is a long portion of the work devoted to the Maki, the religious ceremonial complex which involves megaliths. In addition, a considerable discussion is given the section system. Both of these institutions are studied in terms of broader distribution, and possible ways in which they developed. While there is some more general data, information on such things as land tenure, and child rearing is scant.
Subjects
Comparative evidence
Domesticated animals
Dance
Polygamy
Bilineal kin groups
Magic
Organized ceremonial
Numerology
Ceremonial during infancy and childhood
culture
Malekula
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Melanesia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
James R. Leary ; 1961
Field Date
1914-1915
Coverage Date
early twentieth century
Coverage Place
Malekula and Vao and the small islands off the northeast coast of Malekula, Vanuatu
Notes
by John Layard
Incomplete contents: v. 1. Vao
Includes songs with unaccompanied melodies.
'List of authors quoted': v. 1, p. 754-758
Includes bibliographical references and index
LCCN
a 43001229
LCSH
Malekula (Vanuatu)