ANTH2060 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Patrilineality, Blackbirding, Bride Price
ANTH2060 Lecture Four: Natural Classifications
Solomon Islands
• There are four phases of the Islands:
-Pre-colonial: Mana and the ancestors, exposure to outside societies, trading evident
with whalers passing through for their hunt, bech-de-mer (sea cucumbers) foragers, and
planters going out on expeditions for luxury items and resources to later sell.
-Pre-colonial II: Blackbirding (coercion of South Pacific Islander people, often through
trickery and kidnapping, to work as labourers) and labour for the cane fields
-Colonial: British Solomon Islands, Melanesian Mission, Copra, South Seas
Evangelical Church, WWII, Marching Rule
-Independence and post-independence (1930s): logging (most of their revenue comes
from logging royalties) and the manipulation of custom
Lau of Malata
• 600 years ago, the people began to build houses on the lagoon
• Ceremonies used to be held naked, and women were encouraged to find husbands from
other islands, but many marry on their island now. Women were not allowed to return
to their home islands until the birth of her second child if she so wished
• Environmental push and pull factors
-avoid raids
-fishing
-mosquitos on shores
• Economy- what are they trading?
-red lipped Romu shells, dolphin teeth are currency, bank notes, cloth, sea slugs with
the Japanese
The Princess II boat helps transport good and people from the capital Honiara
• Social institutions goals
-re-establish cultural importance within the community
-bridewealth, men and women are often apart. Most cultural groups no longer abide by
this, but the island of Foeda does. Women are forbidden to go into men area, while men
are free to move about. Men are superior to women, always needing to be ahead, or
even taller, than women. Women are inferior but powerful, while men are superior but
vulnerable. most likely a patrilineal society. Men buy women from her parents
(bridewealth)
-tribe, marital status, matrilineal/patrilineal
• Threats to their way of life
-raids? Natural disasters
-men of custom are almost all dead, less people practice the customs. Last two
remaining priests committed ritual suicide in the face of Christianity (most of
population is Christian). None of the common folk are brave enough to enter their
sacred home in fear of angry spirits
-Christianity/sukulu: teaches that their societal beliefs must be abandoned and replaced
with Christian values
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Solomon islands: there are four phases of the islands: Pre-colonial: mana and the ancestors, exposure to outside societies, trading evident with whalers passing through for their hunt, bech-de-mer (sea cucumbers) foragers, and planters going out on expeditions for luxury items and resources to later sell. Pre-colonial ii: blackbirding (coercion of south pacific islander people, often through trickery and kidnapping, to work as labourers) and labour for the cane fields. Colonial: british solomon islands, melanesian mission, copra, south seas. Independence and post-independence (1930s): logging (most of their revenue comes from logging royalties) and the manipulation of custom. Lau of malata: 600 years ago, the people began to build houses on the lagoon, ceremonies used to be held naked, and women were encouraged to find husbands from other islands, but many marry on their island now. Women were not allowed to return to their home islands until the birth of her second child if she so wished: environmental push and pull factors.
