The Melanesians of Goodenough Island, off the eastern coast of New
Guinea, have developed the principle of gift-giving to an
extraordinary degree. Instead of resorting to arms in their
quarrels or demanding compensation for offences, they present
enemies and offenders with pigs and yams in order to shame them.
This custom of coercive gift-giving operates at various
organizational levels and through two main institutional forms:
competitive food exchange and festivals. Dr Young analyses in depth
the social and political structure of a single village, dealing in
detail with its system of social control and those vexed topics of
Melanesian ethnography - leadership and sorcery. Of particular
interest is the author's description of the configuration of values
which makes food-giving-to-shame meaningful to the Goodenough
Islander for whom 'happiness is a rotting yam', and the worst evil
'hunger-producing sorcery'. The careful use of case material gives
vivid insights into the lifestyle, world view and humanity of these
proud and fractious people.
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