1st Edition

Argonauts of the Western Pacific An Account of Native Enterprise and Adventure in the Archipelagoes of Melanesian New Guinea

By Bronislaw Malinowski Copyright 1979

    First published in 1922, this classic text examines the extensive and complex trading system maintained by the Trobriand Islanders. While the main theme is economics and social organization, the power of magic, mythology and folklore are also examined.

    INTRODUCTION: THE SUBJECT, METHOD AND SCOPE OF THIS ENQUIRY, Summary of argument. The native’s vision of his world, I— THE COUNTRY AND INHABITANTS OF THE KULA DISTRICT, II— THE NATIVES OF THE TROBRIAND ISLANDS, III— THE ESSENTIALS OF THE KULA, IV— CANOES AND SAILING V— THE CEREMONIAL BUILDING OF A WAGA, VI— LAUNCHING OF A CANOE AND CEREMONIAL VISITING —TRIBAL ECONOMICS IN THE TROBRIANDS, VII— THE DEPARTURE OF AN OVERSEAS EXPEDITION, VIII— THE FIRST HALT OF THE FLEET ON MUWA , IX— SAILING ON THE SEA-ARM OF PILOLU, X— THE STORY OF SHIPWRECK, XI— IN THE AMPHLETTSSOCIOLOGY OF THE KULA, XII— IN TEWARA AND SANAROAMYTHOLOGY OF THE KULA, XIII— ON THE BEACH OF SARUBWOYNA, XIV— THE KULA IN DOBUTECHNICALITIES OF THE EXCHANGE, XV— THE JOURNEY HOMETHE FISHING AND WORKING OF THE KALOMA SHELL, XVI— THE RETURN VISIT OF THE DOBUANS TO SINAKETA, XVII— MAGIC AND THE KULA, XIX— THE INLAND KULA, XVIII— THE POWER OF WORDS IN MAGICSOME LINGUISTIC DATA, XX— EXPEDITIONS BETWEEN KIRIWINA AND KITAVA, XXI— THE REMAINING BRANCHES AND OFFSHOOTS OF THE KULA, XXII— THE MEANING OF THE KULA

    Biography

    Bronislaw Malinowski (Author)

    `Not only ethnographers and economists will delight in this book. The author's infinitely careful scientific method makes the material he has collected so completely trustworthy ... we commend it to all.' - The Spectator