Chapter XI

). All these movements were not accidental, but connected with the uvalaku expedition. To show the complexity, as well as the precise timing of the various movements and events, so perfectly synchronised over a vast area, in connection with the uvalaku, I have tabulated them in the Chart, facing this page, in which almost all the dates are quite exact, being based on my own observations. This Chart also gives a clear, synoptic picture of an uvalaku, and it will be useful to refer to it, in reading this Chapter.

In olden days, not less than now, there must have been an ebullition in the inter-tribal relations, and a great stirring from one place to another, whenever an uvalaku Kula was afoot. Thus, news would be carried rapidly over great distances, the movements of the vast numbers of natives would be co-ordinated, and dates fixed. As has been said already, a culminating event of an expedition, in this case the arrival of the Dobuan fleet in Sinaketa, would be always so timed as to happen on, or just before, a full moon, and this would serve as a general orientation for the preliminary movements, such as in this case, the visits of the single canoes.

THE PREVIOUS UVALAKU

Date

September, 1917 The expedition, led by Kouta'uya from Sinaketa to Dobu.

PREPARATORY STAGE

Oct., 1917-Feb., 1918 Building of new canoes and repairing of old ones, in the district of N.W. Dobu. Feb.-March, 1918 Sago making, collecting of trade and food. Middle of March Launching, fitting and loading of the canoes; preliminary magic.

THE SAILING

About 25th March The Dobuan canoes start on their overseas trip. About same time [In Boyowa: the Vakutans return from Kitava with a good haul of mwali]. Same time [In the Amphletts: preparations to sail; collecting food; repairing canoes.] About 28th March [In Boyowa: To'uluwa returns from Kitava bringing mwali.] Same time [In the Amphletts: news reach of the approaching fleet from Dobu; of the doings in Boyowa.] 29th March [In the Amphletts: part of the canoes sail ahead to Vakuta.] 31st March The Dobuan fleet arrives in the Amphletts. 1st April They proceed on their journey to Boyowa. 2nd April [In the Amphletts: rest of local canoes sail to Boyowa.] Same day [In Boyowa: the Sinaketans go to Kiriwina.] 3rd April [In Boyowa: they return with the armshells.]

THE ARRIVAL OF THE DOBUANS IN BOYOWA

3rd April The Dobuan fleet appears in Vakuta. 3rd-5th April They receive Kula gifts, exchange presents and trade in Vakuta. 6th April Arrival of the Dobuan fleet in Sinaketa, magic at the beach of Kaykuyawa, ceremonial reception. 6th-10th April The Dobuans (as well as the Amphlettans) remain in Sinaketa, receiving Kula presents, giving pari gifts and trading. 10th April They all leave Sinaketa, receiving talo'i (farewell) gifts. The Dobuans sail south (and the Amphlettans to Kayleula and the smaller Western Trobriand Islands). 10th-14th April The Dobuans are engaged in fishing in the S. Lagoon.

RETURN JOURNEY

14th April They reappear in Vakuta, and receive their talo'i (farewell) gifts. 15th April They leave Vakuta. About 20th or 21st Tanarere (competitive display and comparison) on the beach of Sarubwoyna, and return to Dobu.

Indeed, from that moment, the events on and about the Amphlett Islands moved rapidly. The day after the visit from the Kuyawan canoes, the canoes of the main village of Gumasila sailed off to the Trobriands, starting therefore a few days ahead of the Dobuan uvalaku fleet. I rowed over in a dinghy to the big village, and watched the loading and departing of the canoes. There was a bustle in the village, and even a few old women could be seen helping the men in their tasks. The large canoes were being pushed into the water from their supports, on which they were beached. They had been already prepared for the journey there, their platforms covered with plaited palm leaves, frames put in their bottoms to support the cargo, boards placed crossways within the canoe to serve as seats for the crew, the mast, rigging and sail laid handy. The loading, however, begins only after the canoe is in water. The large, trough-shaped chunks of sago were put at the bottom, while men and women carefully brought out the big clay pots, stowing them away with many precautions in special places in the middle (see Plate XLVII). Then, one after the other, the canoes went off, paddling round the southern end of the island towards the West. At about ten o'clock in the morning, the last canoe disappeared round the promontory, and the village remained practically empty. There was no saying of farewells, not a trace of any emotion on the part of those leaving or those remaining. But it must be remembered that, owing to my presence, no women except one or two old hags, were visible on the shore. All my best informants gone, I intended to move to Nabwageta next morning. At sunset, I made a long excursion in my dinghy round the western shores of Gumasila, and it was on that occasion that I discovered all those who had left that morning on the Kula sitting on Giyasila beach, in accordance with the Kula custom of a preliminary halt, such as the one on Muwa described in