Tales of two cities: the rhetoric of rank in Ngeremlengui, Belau

Parmentier, Richard J.

article

Tales of two cities: the rhetoric of rank in Ngeremlengui, Belau

Journal of anthropological research • 42 (2) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 161-182

By: Parmentier, Richard J..

Abstract
This article discusses the political implications of two competing traditional narratives about the foundation of two local communities in the Belauan n district of Ngeremlengui. The paper argues that the contrasting meaning of these narratives should be taken as an important point of entry for understanding the nature of rank in this hierarchical society. Stories told by chiefly titleholders from the high-ranking capital village emphasize the divinely instituted quadripartite political order, while interpretations offered by people from a lower-ranking stress the contingency of events such as migration, relocation, and warfare. This rhetorical contrast between static and dynamic theories of historical process correlates with the distinction between the 'cornerpost' model and the 'path' model found in myths of pan-Belauan polity.

Traditional history

Mythology

Status, role, and prestige

Community structure

Inter-community relations

Ingroup antagonisms

Internal migration

Real property

Topography and geology

External relations

Cultural identity and pride

Territorial hierarchy