... 54EasterIsland.sweetpotatoesbeingthemostimportant.Taro,yams,sugar-cane,bananas,gourds,turmeric,andarrowrootwerealsogrownwhileberriesandseabirdeggsweregathered.Fishpro-videdsomeprotein,althoughfishingwasneveramajorsub-sistenceactivity.EasterIslanderscontinuetofarmsmallplotstoday,althoughmaizeisnowthemajorcropandChileancui-sinehasreplacedthenativediet.Sincetheintroduction of sheepranching,sheepandcattleontheislandhavebeentheprimarysources of meat.Mostmaterialgoodsarenowob-tainedfromthestoreontheislandandfromtheChileangov-ernment.Inadditiontofarmingandfishing,EasterIslandersnowworkforthegovernment,inafewsmallbusinesses,andinthetouristindustry.IndustrialArts.EasterIslanderswerehighlyskilledstone-cuttersandstone-carvers,masons,woodcutters,andcanoemakers.Today,somecarvewoodimagesforthetouristtrade.Thestone-carvingtraditionhadalreadybeenabandonedatthetime of contact,thoughthelargestonestatuessurvivedanddrewtheattention of visitorstotheisland.EasterIsland-ersalsomadevariousutensils,implements,andtoolsfromstoneandwood,baskets,nets,mats,cordage,tapa(aclothmadefrombark),andbodyornaments.Trade.Because of theirisolation,EasterIslandersevi-dendydidnottradewithothergroupsinPolynesia.TherehasbeenconjecturethatsomecultureelementsdevelopedthroughcontactwithSouthAmerica,mostnotablythefacialimagesonthestonemonuments.Theseideasremainunproven.Division of Labor.Menwereresponsibleforplantingthegardens,fishing,andbuildingthestonestructures.Womenharvestedcropsandhandledmostdomesticchores.Therewasalsoaweil-definedoccupationalhierarchy,withexpertreciters of genealogiesandfolklore,stone-carvers,wood-carvers,andfishermenpaidfortheirserviceswithproduce.Stone-carverswereaprivilegedgroupwiththeroleandstatuspassedfromfathertoson.LandTenure.Intraditionaltimes,landwasownedbylineageswithdwellingandfarmplotsallotedtofamilies.Since1888Chilehasmaintainedownership of all of EasterIslandandhasrestrictedtheEasterIslanderstolandinandaroundHangoroa.Newlywedsaregivenafewacres of landfortheirusebytheChileangovernment.KinshipKinGroupsandDescent.Thepopulation of EasterIs-landwasdividedintotensubtribesorclans(mata),each of whichevidentlyoccupiedadistinctterritoryinprecontacttimes.Byhistorictimes,subtribemembersweremorewidelydispersedasaresult of exogamousmarriage,adoption,andcaptureduringwar.Thetenclansformedtwolargerdivisions,withonecontrollingthewesternhalfandtheothertheeast-ernhalf of theisland.KinshipTerminology.Traditionalkintermusagefol-lowedtheHawaiiansystem,whichhasbeenmodifiedovertimetoreflectchangesinfamilyorganization.MarriageandFamilyMarriage.Intraditionaltimes,mostmarriagesweremo-nogamous,thoughsomewealthymenhadmorethanonewife.Marriagesweregenerallyarranged,withinfantbetrothalnotuncommon.Today,marriageisbyfreechoice,althoughthefathers of boththegroomandbrideareinvolvedinap-provingandmakingarrangementsforthemarriage.Mar-riagesaremarkedbythreeceremonies-acivilceremony,churchceremony,andalargefeasthostedbythegroom'sfather-reflectingthesurvival of atraditionalpractice.Uponmarriage,thecouplegenerallylivewithonefamilyortheotheruntilmaterialscanbeobtainedtobuildtheirownhome.Inthepast,manymarriagesendedindivorce,whichcouldbeinitiatedbyeitherpartyforvirtuallyanyreason.TheRomanCatholicchurchhasmadedivorcemoredifficultandlessfrequent.DomesticUnit.Inthepast,thebasicfamilyandresiden-tialunitwasthelaterallyextendedfamilycomposed of broth-ers,theirwives,andtheirchildren.Today,thenudearfamilyisthenorm,althoughotherrelativessuchasgrandparentsandbrothersmightalsobepresent.Inthepastandtoday,thefatherwastheauthorityfigure,althoughtodaythewife'sfa-therhasmorepowerthanthehusband'sfatherandason-in-lawwilloftenseekhisfather-in-law'sapprovalforeducationalandcareerdecisions.UnderChileaninfluence,therole of godparent(compadre)hasdeveloped,andgodparentsoftenplayaroleinchildrearing.Inheritance.Inthepastandtoday,bothmenandwomencouldinheritandbothmenandwomencouldleaveproperty.Socialization.Pubertyintraditionaltimeswasmarkedforboysandgirlsbysecludingthemonanislandforsomemonthsandthenholdinglargeseparatefeastsattheend of theseclusionperiod.Theseritesdisappearedlongago,andpubertyisnolongermarkedbyritual.TheChileangovern-mentprovidesaschoolforelementaryeducationandsomeEasterIslandersattendhighschoolinChile.SocialandPoliticalOrganizationSocialOrganization.Inadditiontosocialdistinctionsbasedonkinship,EasterIslandtraditionallyhadfourdistinctsocialclasses:noblemen(anki);priests(ivi-atua);warriors(matatoa);andservantsandfarmers(kio).Therulerwasthemainhighchief(ariki-mau)whotracedhisstatustodescentfromHotu-matua,thefounder of theisland.Inreality,arikiwereinvestedwithconsiderablemanaandweresubjecttonu-meroustaboos,althoughtheyhadlittleactualpower.Littleisknownabouttheactivities of priests,astherolehaddisap-pearedbythetimemissionariesarrived.Kiowerewarcaptiveswhoworkedforothersorpaidtributeintheform of percent-age of theircrops.PoliticalOrganizato.Asnotedabove,thenominalrul-erscamefromthearikiclass,withsuccessiontotheposition of highchiefgoingtotheoldestsonatthetime of hismar-riage.However,sincethismarriagewasoftendelayedmanyyearsbeyondthat of mostEasterIslanders,chiefsoftenheldtheirpositionforsomeyears.Atthetime of sustainedcon-tact,warriorsweretheactualpoliticalleaders,reflectingalonghistory of fightingamongthesubtribesandthealmostcontinuousfightingthatfollowedthekidnapping of menin18 62. Today,theEasterIslandersaregovernedbyChile,withaChileangovernor,civilservice,andpoliceforceprovidingservices.EasterIslanderrepresentationisthroughthemayor of Hangoroa.56Eipodenareasandcoversthemountainsaboveabout 2, 400me-tersuptothetreelineat3,500meters.Annualrainfallin197 5-1 976was590centimeters,withrainmostlyfallingdailyintheafternoonsandevenings.Temperaturesrangefromabout1 1-1 3°to 21 -2 5 °C.Littleseasonalchangeistobeobserved,butthetime of flowering of aparticulartree(Eodiasp.)istakenbytheEipoasamarker of certainfeastsandotheractivities.In1976twosevereearthquakesde-stroyedlargeareas of gardenlandandsomevillages;itislikelythatsimilarcatastropheshaveoccurredinthepast.Demography.TheEiponumbereddoseto800peoplein1980;indicationsarethatthepopulationisgrowing.linguisticAffiliation.Eipo, of whichtherearethreedia-lects,isamember of theMekFamily of Non-Austronesianlanguages,clearlyseparatefromtheOklanguagestotheeast,theYaliandDanilanguagestothewest,andlanguagesspo-kentothenorthandsouth.Localpeopletraditionallyunder-stand-and,toalesserextent,speak-oneortwodialectsorlanguagesotherthantheirown.Childrenusuallylearntheirspeechfromtheirmothers(who,duetorules of exogamy,oftencomefromdifferentvalleys)andoftendonotadoptthedialectspokenbythemajorityinaparticularvillage.BahasaIndonesia,unknownbeforethe1970s,isslowlygaininggroundasalinguafranca.HistoryandCulturalRelationsNoarchaeologicaldataareavailablefortheMekregion,andethnohistoricsurveysaremissingaswell.Itisprobable,how-ever,thatparts of theMekareahavebeeninhabitedformanythousands of years.Linguisticandhistoricalresearchontheintroductionanddiffusion of tobaccoshowsthattheMek(andtheirOkneighborstotheeast)mayhavebeencentralinthisprocess,andcomparativestudiesonreligiousbeliefsprovethatimportantconcepts(e .g. ,that of amythicalances-tralcreator)havetraveledfromeasttowest.Whileitisun-knownasyetatwhattimethesweetpotato(lpomoeabatatas)wasintroduced,onecanconcludefromthesignificance of taro(Colocasiaesculenta)inallceremonialreligiouscontextsthatthislatterfoodplantwas of vitalimportanceinpre-Ipomoeantimes.ThefirstknowncontactbyoutsiderswithMekpeopleswasmadebyateam of Dutchsurveyorsearlyinthiscentury;theymetagroup of peoplenearMountGoliathinthesouth of theareaandreportedthefirstrecordedwords of aMeklanguage.Someothergroupswerecontactedin1959inthecourse of aFrenchexpeditionacrossWestNewGuinea.Itsleader,PierreGaisseau,laterreturnedwithafilmteamandIndonesianmilitarypersonnelin1969,parachutingintothesouthernEipoValleywheretheyconductedasmallbutsoundsurveyontheareaandthepeople.Members of aninterdisciplinaryGermanresearchteamconductedresearchintheEipoValleyandsomeadjacentareasbetween1974and1980.SettlementsThevillages of theEipoandtheirneighborsintheMekareahave30 -2 5 0inhabitantsandareusuallybuiltonspotsthatfacilitatedefense.Oneormorecircularmen'shouses(whichoftenhavesacredfunctions)occupyconspicuousplaces,ei-therinthecenterorattheend of thevillage.Themuchsmallerandlesswell-builtfamilyhouses,also of circularshapebutsometimeswithrectangularroofs,arethelocationsforfamily-centeredactivities.Womenstayinseclusionhouses,usuallysituatedattheperiphery of thevillage,duringmenstruation,childbirth,andpuerperium,andsometimesduringseriousillnessesandforsanctuary.Allmen'shousesandmostfamilyhouseshaveelevatedfloorsandacentralfireplace.Protectionagainstthecold of thenightisnotveryadequate.Duetomissioninfluence,whichchieflyemploysDanievangelistsandteachers,Danihousestylesarebecom-ingfashionable.EconomySubsistenceandCommercialActivities.TheEipoandtheMekingeneralareskillfulhorticulturalistsandmaketheirgardensinvariousplaces:sometimesonsteepself-drainingmountainslopes,butalsoinflat,wetareaswhereditchingandbuildingmoundsareparticularlyimportantforthemainstaplecrop,sweetpotatoes.Mulchingiswidespread.Fallowperiodsarefifteenyearsormore;sufficientregeneration of thesoilisjudgedbythesize of atree(Trematomentosa)thatsoonstartstogrowinoldgardens.Numerousvarieties of taro,some of whichreachconsiderablesizeandweight,arealsocultivated.Theyarereservedforceremonies,especiallyfeastsforguests.Othercultigensincludeleafygreens(whichcon.tributemost of thevegetableprotein,especiallyformen),ba-nanas,sugarcane,ediblepitpit,nativeasparagus(Setariapalmifolia),variouspandanusspecies,andotherwildfoods.Beans,cheyote(Secchiumedule),cucumbers,maize,cassava,andpeanutshavebeenintroducedandsuccessfullyculti-vated.Thefewdomesticatedpigsdonotcontributemuchtothediet,onlyaboutonegramperdayperson;theyarecare-fullyraisedandusuallyusedonlyinceremonialcontexts.Smallmarsupialsaresnaredorhunted,oftenwiththehelp of dogs,buthuntingisdonemoretosatisfyemotionalneedsthantoprovidemeat.Womenandgirlsobtainvaluableani-malproteinintheform of frogs,tadpoles,lizards,snakes,spi-ders,andotherinsectsaswellastheeggsandlarvae of theseanimals.Traditionandreligioustaboosreservethesefoodsaswellasmost of thebirdspeciesforinfants,girls,andwomen.Inthepastdecade,theEipohavebecomedependentonmis-sionstationsassources of modemtools,clothing,tinnedfood,andothergoods,whicharepurchasedwithmoneyre-ceivedfromsellingservicesorproductstothemission.IndustrialArts.Thematerialcultureispoor,evencom-paredtootherhighlandsgroups,andwhenresearchwasbegunin1974,theEipoandmany of theirneighborswerestillusingstone,bone,andwoodentools.Theirworldlybe-longingsincludestringbags,bows,arrows,stoneadzes,stoneknivesandscrapers,woodendiggingsticks,boars'tusksandmarsupialteethusedascarvingtools,bonedaggersandawls,lianasforstartingfiresbyfriction,bambooorcalabashcon-tainersforwater,penisgourdsforthemen,andgrassskirtsforgirlsandwomen.TheMekcookinhotashes,bamboocon-tainersovertheopenfire,orinearthovensforlargergroups of people,especiallyguests.Trade.TheEipoandotherMekgroupsmayseemself-sufficientnow,buttraditionallytheyreliedonvariousgoodsfromtheoutside.Unpolishedstoneadzebladeswerepro-ducedbyspecialistsintheHeimeValleyandexchangedmainlyforstringbagsandgardenproducts.Otheritemsthat58Eipovillagecommunitiesaspersonswhotakeinitiative,pursueplans,andrespectrulesandtraditions,thoughtheyalsousethemtotheiradvantage.Inthisprotomeritocracy,leadershipisdependentontheactualpower of theleader.Personswhoshowsigns of losingtheircapacitieslosetheirpositions,too.Inheritance of big-manstatusfromfathertosonisnotinsti-tutionalized,butitsometimesoccursdefacto.SocialControl.Big-menexerciseacertainamount of so-cialcontrol,butmoreimportantistheprocess of enforcingsocialnormsthroughpublicopinion.Thisprocess,intum,iseffectedthroughgossip,discussion of disputedissues,andtheuse of extrahumanpowersinblackmagicallegedlyper-formedbyfemaleormalewitches.Theinfliction of illnessthusfunctionsaspunishmentforsocialwrongdoing.Conflict.DespitethefactthattheEipoareusuallyfriendlyandcontrolled,thepotentialforaggressiveactsisquitehighanddoesnotneedmuchtriggering.Untilrecently,inbothin-traalliancefightsandinteralliancewarfare,approximately 3-4 personsper1,000inhabitantsdied of violenceperyear.Verbalquarrelsandphysicalattackswithsticks,stoneadzes,andarrowswastheusualsequence of escalationleadingtofightsinthevillage.Neighborsinadjacentvalleyssometimeswerehereditaryenemieswhofoughtwarsthatwerelessritua-lized(andthereforelesscontrolled)thantheintraalliancefights;inthepasttheseconflictsoccasionallyledtocannibal-ism.Formalpeaceceremoniesendedthesewarsforperiods of monthsoryears.Warfareagainstideologicallydefinedanddehumanized"others"increasedone'sownsense of identityandstrengthenedbondswithinthegroup.ReligionandExpressiveCultureReligiousBelief.Thevisible world isconsideredtobein-habitedbynumerous,usuallymonstrous,beings:souls of thedeceased,zoomorphicspirits of theforestsandrivers,andpowerfulshapers of natureandbringers of culturewho,sincemythicaltimes,haveinfluencedthelife of people.Yaleenye(anamethatmeans'theonecomingfromtheeast")isthemostprominentsuchculturehero.Mythicalpowers,symbolizedbyholyrelics,weretraditionallyhousedandhonoredinsacredmen'shouses.Variousceremoniesthatpervadedeverydaylifewereperformedtoensurethewell-being of humans,domesticanimals,andfoodplants.FundamentalistChristianityhasreplaced-sometimesradically-traditionalpracticesand,toalesserextent,beliefs.Syncreticideasandceremoniesarequitecommonandcargo-cultconceptsexist.ReligiousPractitioners.Seersaretheonlyoneswhocancommunicatedirectlywiththeextrahumansphereanditsagents.Theymayalsoactassorcerers,inflictingharm,dis-ease,anddeathonothers.Malecultleaders,whoweresome-timesalsobig-men,wereresponsibleinthepastforreligiousceremonies.Thesmallgroup of specialistsinreligiousmattersincludedhealers.Ceremonies.Untilrecently,thefirstandmostimportantinitiation of boysbetweenabout4and15years of agewasamajoreventthatinvolvedparticipantsfromothervalleys.Itwasheldatintervals of about10years,dependingonhowmanyboyswereavailableforthiscostlyceremony.Coiniti-ateskeptalifelongbond.Secondandthirdstagesinvolved,respectively,thebestowal of thecanewaistbandandpenisgourd,andthepresentation of themum,abackdecorationthathungdownfromthehead.Largeandcostlyceremonialdancefeastsforvisitorsstrengthenedtieswithtradeandmarriagepartnersfromothervalleys.Warfareandallianceformationinvolvedceremonies,andthekilling of anyenemywascelebratedtriumphantly.Morerarely,greatceremonies,bringingtogetherinhabitantsfromdistant,sometimesinim-icalvalleys,wereheldtoensurethefertility of thesoil.Arts.TheEipomakeveryfewcarvedorpaintedobjects.SomeMekgroupshavesacredboardsandlargesacredshieldsthatwerenotusedinwar.Drumsareknownonlyinsomear-eas,buttheJew'sharpisfoundeverywhere.Thetexts of pro-fanesongsandsacredchantsconvincinglyusepowerfulmet-aphorsandarehighlysophisticatedexamples of artisticexpression.Medicine.Comparedtootherareas of NewGuinea,sur-prisinglyfewplantmedicinesareused.Leaves of thestingingnettleareappliedascounterirritants.Othertraditional(psy-chosomatic)treatments,carriedoutbyhealerswhowereusu-allymales,involvedsacredpig'sfatandchantstoinvokethehelp of extrahumanpowers.Healersusuallywerenotpaidfortheirservices.Inrecentyearsmodemmedicineshavebeenadministeredatsomemissionstations.DeathandAfterlife.Thedeath of ... 54EasterIsland.sweetpotatoesbeingthemostimportant.Taro,yams,sugar-cane,bananas,gourds,turmeric,andarrowrootwerealsogrownwhileberriesandseabirdeggsweregathered.Fishpro-videdsomeprotein,althoughfishingwasneveramajorsub-sistenceactivity.EasterIslanderscontinuetofarmsmallplotstoday,althoughmaizeisnowthemajorcropandChileancui-sinehasreplacedthenativediet.Sincetheintroduction of sheepranching,sheepandcattleontheislandhavebeentheprimarysources of meat.Mostmaterialgoodsarenowob-tainedfromthestoreontheislandandfromtheChileangov-ernment.Inadditiontofarmingandfishing,EasterIslandersnowworkforthegovernment,inafewsmallbusinesses,andinthetouristindustry.IndustrialArts.EasterIslanderswerehighlyskilledstone-cuttersandstone-carvers,masons,woodcutters,andcanoemakers.Today,somecarvewoodimagesforthetouristtrade.Thestone-carvingtraditionhadalreadybeenabandonedatthetime of contact,thoughthelargestonestatuessurvivedanddrewtheattention of visitorstotheisland.EasterIsland-ersalsomadevariousutensils,implements,andtoolsfromstoneandwood,baskets,nets,mats,cordage,tapa(aclothmadefrombark),andbodyornaments.Trade.Because of theirisolation,EasterIslandersevi-dendydidnottradewithothergroupsinPolynesia.TherehasbeenconjecturethatsomecultureelementsdevelopedthroughcontactwithSouthAmerica,mostnotablythefacialimagesonthestonemonuments.Theseideasremainunproven.Division of Labor.Menwereresponsibleforplantingthegardens,fishing,andbuildingthestonestructures.Womenharvestedcropsandhandledmostdomesticchores.Therewasalsoaweil-definedoccupationalhierarchy,withexpertreciters of genealogiesandfolklore,stone-carvers,wood-carvers,andfishermenpaidfortheirserviceswithproduce.Stone-carverswereaprivilegedgroupwiththeroleandstatuspassedfromfathertoson.LandTenure.Intraditionaltimes,landwasownedbylineageswithdwellingandfarmplotsallotedtofamilies.Since1888Chilehasmaintainedownership of all of EasterIslandandhasrestrictedtheEasterIslanderstolandinandaroundHangoroa.Newlywedsaregivenafewacres of landfortheirusebytheChileangovernment.KinshipKinGroupsandDescent.Thepopulation of EasterIs-landwasdividedintotensubtribesorclans(mata),each of whichevidentlyoccupiedadistinctterritoryinprecontacttimes.Byhistorictimes,subtribemembersweremorewidelydispersedasaresult of exogamousmarriage,adoption,andcaptureduringwar.Thetenclansformedtwolargerdivisions,withonecontrollingthewesternhalfandtheothertheeast-ernhalf of theisland.KinshipTerminology.Traditionalkintermusagefol-lowedtheHawaiiansystem,whichhasbeenmodifiedovertimetoreflectchangesinfamilyorganization.MarriageandFamilyMarriage.Intraditionaltimes,mostmarriagesweremo-nogamous,thoughsomewealthymenhadmorethanonewife.Marriagesweregenerallyarranged,withinfantbetrothalnotuncommon.Today,marriageisbyfreechoice,althoughthefathers of boththegroomandbrideareinvolvedinap-provingandmakingarrangementsforthemarriage.Mar-riagesaremarkedbythreeceremonies-acivilceremony,churchceremony,andalargefeasthostedbythegroom'sfather-reflectingthesurvival of atraditionalpractice.Uponmarriage,thecouplegenerallylivewithonefamilyortheotheruntilmaterialscanbeobtainedtobuildtheirownhome.Inthepast,manymarriagesendedindivorce,whichcouldbeinitiatedbyeitherpartyforvirtuallyanyreason.TheRomanCatholicchurchhasmadedivorcemoredifficultandlessfrequent.DomesticUnit.Inthepast,thebasicfamilyandresiden-tialunitwasthelaterallyextendedfamilycomposed of broth-ers,theirwives,andtheirchildren.Today,thenudearfamilyisthenorm,althoughotherrelativessuchasgrandparentsandbrothersmightalsobepresent.Inthepastandtoday,thefatherwastheauthorityfigure,althoughtodaythewife'sfa-therhasmorepowerthanthehusband'sfatherandason-in-lawwilloftenseekhisfather-in-law'sapprovalforeducationalandcareerdecisions.UnderChileaninfluence,therole of godparent(compadre)hasdeveloped,andgodparentsoftenplayaroleinchildrearing.Inheritance.Inthepastandtoday,bothmenandwomencouldinheritandbothmenandwomencouldleaveproperty.Socialization.Pubertyintraditionaltimeswasmarkedforboysandgirlsbysecludingthemonanislandforsomemonthsandthenholdinglargeseparatefeastsattheend of theseclusionperiod.Theseritesdisappearedlongago,andpubertyisnolongermarkedbyritual.TheChileangovern-mentprovidesaschoolforelementaryeducationandsomeEasterIslandersattendhighschoolinChile.SocialandPoliticalOrganizationSocialOrganization.Inadditiontosocialdistinctionsbasedonkinship,EasterIslandtraditionallyhadfourdistinctsocialclasses:noblemen(anki);priests(ivi-atua);warriors(matatoa);andservantsandfarmers(kio).Therulerwasthemainhighchief(ariki-mau)whotracedhisstatustodescentfromHotu-matua,thefounder of theisland.Inreality,arikiwereinvestedwithconsiderablemanaandweresubjecttonu-meroustaboos,althoughtheyhadlittleactualpower.Littleisknownabouttheactivities of priests,astherolehaddisap-pearedbythetimemissionariesarrived.Kiowerewarcaptiveswhoworkedforothersorpaidtributeintheform of percent-age of theircrops.PoliticalOrganizato.Asnotedabove,thenominalrul-erscamefromthearikiclass,withsuccessiontotheposition of highchiefgoingtotheoldestsonatthetime of hismar-riage.However,sincethismarriagewasoftendelayedmanyyearsbeyondthat of mostEasterIslanders,chiefsoftenheldtheirpositionforsomeyears.Atthetime of sustainedcon-tact,warriorsweretheactualpoliticalleaders,reflectingalonghistory of fightingamongthesubtribesandthealmostcontinuousfightingthatfollowedthekidnapping of menin18 62. Today,theEasterIslandersaregovernedbyChile,withaChileangovernor,civilservice,andpoliceforceprovidingservices.EasterIslanderrepresentationisthroughthemayor of Hangoroa.56Eipodenareasandcoversthemountainsaboveabout 2, 400me-tersuptothetreelineat3,500meters.Annualrainfallin197 5-1 976was590centimeters,withrainmostlyfallingdailyintheafternoonsandevenings.Temperaturesrangefromabout1 1-1 3°to 21 -2 5 °C.Littleseasonalchangeistobeobserved,butthetime of flowering of aparticulartree(Eodiasp.)istakenbytheEipoasamarker of certainfeastsandotheractivities.In1976twosevereearthquakesde-stroyedlargeareas of gardenlandandsomevillages;itislikelythatsimilarcatastropheshaveoccurredinthepast.Demography.TheEiponumbereddoseto800peoplein1980;indicationsarethatthepopulationisgrowing.linguisticAffiliation.Eipo, of whichtherearethreedia-lects,isamember of theMekFamily of Non-Austronesianlanguages,clearlyseparatefromtheOklanguagestotheeast,theYaliandDanilanguagestothewest,andlanguagesspo-kentothenorthandsouth.Localpeopletraditionallyunder-stand-and,toalesserextent,speak-oneortwodialectsorlanguagesotherthantheirown.Childrenusuallylearntheirspeechfromtheirmothers(who,duetorules of exogamy,oftencomefromdifferentvalleys)andoftendonotadoptthedialectspokenbythemajorityinaparticularvillage.BahasaIndonesia,unknownbeforethe1970s,isslowlygaininggroundasalinguafranca.HistoryandCulturalRelationsNoarchaeologicaldataareavailablefortheMekregion,andethnohistoricsurveysaremissingaswell.Itisprobable,how-ever,thatparts of theMekareahavebeeninhabitedformanythousands of years.Linguisticandhistoricalresearchontheintroductionanddiffusion of tobaccoshowsthattheMek(andtheirOkneighborstotheeast)mayhavebeencentralinthisprocess,andcomparativestudiesonreligiousbeliefsprovethatimportantconcepts(e .g. ,that of amythicalances-tralcreator)havetraveledfromeasttowest.Whileitisun-knownasyetatwhattimethesweetpotato(lpomoeabatatas)wasintroduced,onecanconcludefromthesignificance of taro(Colocasiaesculenta)inallceremonialreligiouscontextsthatthislatterfoodplantwas of vitalimportanceinpre-Ipomoeantimes.ThefirstknowncontactbyoutsiderswithMekpeopleswasmadebyateam of Dutchsurveyorsearlyinthiscentury;theymetagroup of peoplenearMountGoliathinthesouth of theareaandreportedthefirstrecordedwords of aMeklanguage.Someothergroupswerecontactedin1959inthecourse of aFrenchexpeditionacrossWestNewGuinea.Itsleader,PierreGaisseau,laterreturnedwithafilmteamandIndonesianmilitarypersonnelin1969,parachutingintothesouthernEipoValleywheretheyconductedasmallbutsoundsurveyontheareaandthepeople.Members of aninterdisciplinaryGermanresearchteamconductedresearchintheEipoValleyandsomeadjacentareasbetween1974and1980.SettlementsThevillages of theEipoandtheirneighborsintheMekareahave30 -2 5 0inhabitantsandareusuallybuiltonspotsthatfacilitatedefense.Oneormorecircularmen'shouses(whichoftenhavesacredfunctions)occupyconspicuousplaces,ei-therinthecenterorattheend of thevillage.Themuchsmallerandlesswell-builtfamilyhouses,also of circularshapebutsometimeswithrectangularroofs,arethelocationsforfamily-centeredactivities.Womenstayinseclusionhouses,usuallysituatedattheperiphery of thevillage,duringmenstruation,childbirth,andpuerperium,andsometimesduringseriousillnessesandforsanctuary.Allmen'shousesandmostfamilyhouseshaveelevatedfloorsandacentralfireplace.Protectionagainstthecold of thenightisnotveryadequate.Duetomissioninfluence,whichchieflyemploysDanievangelistsandteachers,Danihousestylesarebecom-ingfashionable.EconomySubsistenceandCommercialActivities.TheEipoandtheMekingeneralareskillfulhorticulturalistsandmaketheirgardensinvariousplaces:sometimesonsteepself-drainingmountainslopes,butalsoinflat,wetareaswhereditchingandbuildingmoundsareparticularlyimportantforthemainstaplecrop,sweetpotatoes.Mulchingiswidespread.Fallowperiodsarefifteenyearsormore;sufficientregeneration of thesoilisjudgedbythesize of atree(Trematomentosa)thatsoonstartstogrowinoldgardens.Numerousvarieties of taro,some of whichreachconsiderablesizeandweight,arealsocultivated.Theyarereservedforceremonies,especiallyfeastsforguests.Othercultigensincludeleafygreens(whichcon.tributemost of thevegetableprotein,especiallyformen),ba-nanas,sugarcane,ediblepitpit,nativeasparagus(Setariapalmifolia),variouspandanusspecies,andotherwildfoods.Beans,cheyote(Secchiumedule),cucumbers,maize,cassava,andpeanutshavebeenintroducedandsuccessfullyculti-vated.Thefewdomesticatedpigsdonotcontributemuchtothediet,onlyaboutonegramperdayperson;theyarecare-fullyraisedandusuallyusedonlyinceremonialcontexts.Smallmarsupialsaresnaredorhunted,oftenwiththehelp of dogs,buthuntingisdonemoretosatisfyemotionalneedsthantoprovidemeat.Womenandgirlsobtainvaluableani-malproteinintheform of frogs,tadpoles,lizards,snakes,spi-ders,andotherinsectsaswellastheeggsandlarvae of theseanimals.Traditionandreligioustaboosreservethesefoodsaswellasmost of thebirdspeciesforinfants,girls,andwomen.Inthepastdecade,theEipohavebecomedependentonmis-sionstationsassources of modemtools,clothing,tinnedfood,andothergoods,whicharepurchasedwithmoneyre-ceivedfromsellingservicesorproductstothemission.IndustrialArts.Thematerialcultureispoor,evencom-paredtootherhighlandsgroups,andwhenresearchwasbegunin1974,theEipoandmany of theirneighborswerestillusingstone,bone,andwoodentools.Theirworldlybe-longingsincludestringbags,bows,arrows,stoneadzes,stoneknivesandscrapers,woodendiggingsticks,boars'tusksandmarsupialteethusedascarvingtools,bonedaggersandawls,lianasforstartingfiresbyfriction,bambooorcalabashcon-tainersforwater,penisgourdsforthemen,andgrassskirtsforgirlsandwomen.TheMekcookinhotashes,bamboocon-tainersovertheopenfire,orinearthovensforlargergroups of people,especiallyguests.Trade.TheEipoandotherMekgroupsmayseemself-sufficientnow,buttraditionallytheyreliedonvariousgoodsfromtheoutside.Unpolishedstoneadzebladeswerepro-ducedbyspecialistsintheHeimeValleyandexchangedmainlyforstringbagsandgardenproducts.Otheritemsthat58Eipovillagecommunitiesaspersonswhotakeinitiative,pursueplans,andrespectrulesandtraditions,thoughtheyalsousethemtotheiradvantage.Inthisprotomeritocracy,leadershipisdependentontheactualpower of theleader.Personswhoshowsigns of losingtheircapacitieslosetheirpositions,too.Inheritance of big-manstatusfromfathertosonisnotinsti-tutionalized,butitsometimesoccursdefacto.SocialControl.Big-menexerciseacertainamount of so-cialcontrol,butmoreimportantistheprocess of enforcingsocialnormsthroughpublicopinion.Thisprocess,intum,iseffectedthroughgossip,discussion of disputedissues,andtheuse of extrahumanpowersinblackmagicallegedlyper-formedbyfemaleormalewitches.Theinfliction of illnessthusfunctionsaspunishmentforsocialwrongdoing.Conflict.DespitethefactthattheEipoareusuallyfriendlyandcontrolled,thepotentialforaggressiveactsisquitehighanddoesnotneedmuchtriggering.Untilrecently,inbothin-traalliancefightsandinteralliancewarfare,approximately 3-4 personsper1,000inhabitantsdied of violenceperyear.Verbalquarrelsandphysicalattackswithsticks,stoneadzes,andarrowswastheusualsequence of escalationleadingtofightsinthevillage.Neighborsinadjacentvalleyssometimeswerehereditaryenemieswhofoughtwarsthatwerelessritua-lized(andthereforelesscontrolled)thantheintraalliancefights;inthepasttheseconflictsoccasionallyledtocannibal-ism.Formalpeaceceremoniesendedthesewarsforperiods of monthsoryears.Warfareagainstideologicallydefinedanddehumanized"others"increasedone'sownsense of identityandstrengthenedbondswithinthegroup.ReligionandExpressiveCultureReligiousBelief.Thevisible world isconsideredtobein-habitedbynumerous,usuallymonstrous,beings:souls of thedeceased,zoomorphicspirits of theforestsandrivers,andpowerfulshapers of natureandbringers of culturewho,sincemythicaltimes,haveinfluencedthelife of people.Yaleenye(anamethatmeans'theonecomingfromtheeast")isthemostprominentsuchculturehero.Mythicalpowers,symbolizedbyholyrelics,weretraditionallyhousedandhonoredinsacredmen'shouses.Variousceremoniesthatpervadedeverydaylifewereperformedtoensurethewell-being of humans,domesticanimals,andfoodplants.FundamentalistChristianityhasreplaced-sometimesradically-traditionalpracticesand,toalesserextent,beliefs.Syncreticideasandceremoniesarequitecommonandcargo-cultconceptsexist.ReligiousPractitioners.Seersaretheonlyoneswhocancommunicatedirectlywiththeextrahumansphereanditsagents.Theymayalsoactassorcerers,inflictingharm,dis-ease,anddeathonothers.Malecultleaders,whoweresome-timesalsobig-men,wereresponsibleinthepastforreligiousceremonies.Thesmallgroup of specialistsinreligiousmattersincludedhealers.Ceremonies.Untilrecently,thefirstandmostimportantinitiation of boysbetweenabout4and15years of agewasamajoreventthatinvolvedparticipantsfromothervalleys.Itwasheldatintervals of about10years,dependingonhowmanyboyswereavailableforthiscostlyceremony.Coiniti-ateskeptalifelongbond.Secondandthirdstagesinvolved,respectively,thebestowal of thecanewaistbandandpenisgourd,andthepresentation of themum,abackdecorationthathungdownfromthehead.Largeandcostlyceremonialdancefeastsforvisitorsstrengthenedtieswithtradeandmarriagepartnersfromothervalleys.Warfareandallianceformationinvolvedceremonies,andthekilling of anyenemywascelebratedtriumphantly.Morerarely,greatceremonies,bringingtogetherinhabitantsfromdistant,sometimesinim-icalvalleys,wereheldtoensurethefertility of thesoil.Arts.TheEipomakeveryfewcarvedorpaintedobjects.SomeMekgroupshavesacredboardsandlargesacredshieldsthatwerenotusedinwar.Drumsareknownonlyinsomear-eas,buttheJew'sharpisfoundeverywhere.Thetexts of pro-fanesongsandsacredchantsconvincinglyusepowerfulmet-aphorsandarehighlysophisticatedexamples of artisticexpression.Medicine.Comparedtootherareas of NewGuinea,sur-prisinglyfewplantmedicinesareused.Leaves of thestingingnettleareappliedascounterirritants.Othertraditional(psy-chosomatic)treatments,carriedoutbyhealerswhowereusu-allymales,involvedsacredpig'sfatandchantstoinvokethehelp of extrahumanpowers.Healersusuallywerenotpaidfortheirservices.Inrecentyearsmodemmedicineshavebeenadministeredatsomemissionstations.DeathandAfterlife.Thedeath of ... 54EasterIsland.sweetpotatoesbeingthemostimportant.Taro,yams,sugar-cane,bananas,gourds,turmeric,andarrowrootwerealsogrownwhileberriesandseabirdeggsweregathered.Fishpro-videdsomeprotein,althoughfishingwasneveramajorsub-sistenceactivity.EasterIslanderscontinuetofarmsmallplotstoday,althoughmaizeisnowthemajorcropandChileancui-sinehasreplacedthenativediet.Sincetheintroduction of sheepranching,sheepandcattleontheislandhavebeentheprimarysources of meat.Mostmaterialgoodsarenowob-tainedfromthestoreontheislandandfromtheChileangov-ernment.Inadditiontofarmingandfishing,EasterIslandersnowworkforthegovernment,inafewsmallbusinesses,andinthetouristindustry.IndustrialArts.EasterIslanderswerehighlyskilledstone-cuttersandstone-carvers,masons,woodcutters,andcanoemakers.Today,somecarvewoodimagesforthetouristtrade.Thestone-carvingtraditionhadalreadybeenabandonedatthetime of contact,thoughthelargestonestatuessurvivedanddrewtheattention of visitorstotheisland.EasterIsland-ersalsomadevariousutensils,implements,andtoolsfromstoneandwood,baskets,nets,mats,cordage,tapa(aclothmadefrombark),andbodyornaments.Trade.Because of theirisolation,EasterIslandersevi-dendydidnottradewithothergroupsinPolynesia.TherehasbeenconjecturethatsomecultureelementsdevelopedthroughcontactwithSouthAmerica,mostnotablythefacialimagesonthestonemonuments.Theseideasremainunproven.Division of Labor.Menwereresponsibleforplantingthegardens,fishing,andbuildingthestonestructures.Womenharvestedcropsandhandledmostdomesticchores.Therewasalsoaweil-definedoccupationalhierarchy,withexpertreciters of genealogiesandfolklore,stone-carvers,wood-carvers,andfishermenpaidfortheirserviceswithproduce.Stone-carverswereaprivilegedgroupwiththeroleandstatuspassedfromfathertoson.LandTenure.Intraditionaltimes,landwasownedbylineageswithdwellingandfarmplotsallotedtofamilies.Since1888Chilehasmaintainedownership of all of EasterIslandandhasrestrictedtheEasterIslanderstolandinandaroundHangoroa.Newlywedsaregivenafewacres of landfortheirusebytheChileangovernment.KinshipKinGroupsandDescent.Thepopulation of EasterIs-landwasdividedintotensubtribesorclans(mata),each of whichevidentlyoccupiedadistinctterritoryinprecontacttimes.Byhistorictimes,subtribemembersweremorewidelydispersedasaresult of exogamousmarriage,adoption,andcaptureduringwar.Thetenclansformedtwolargerdivisions,withonecontrollingthewesternhalfandtheothertheeast-ernhalf of theisland.KinshipTerminology.Traditionalkintermusagefol-lowedtheHawaiiansystem,whichhasbeenmodifiedovertimetoreflectchangesinfamilyorganization.MarriageandFamilyMarriage.Intraditionaltimes,mostmarriagesweremo-nogamous,thoughsomewealthymenhadmorethanonewife.Marriagesweregenerallyarranged,withinfantbetrothalnotuncommon.Today,marriageisbyfreechoice,althoughthefathers of boththegroomandbrideareinvolvedinap-provingandmakingarrangementsforthemarriage.Mar-riagesaremarkedbythreeceremonies-acivilceremony,churchceremony,andalargefeasthostedbythegroom'sfather-reflectingthesurvival of atraditionalpractice.Uponmarriage,thecouplegenerallylivewithonefamilyortheotheruntilmaterialscanbeobtainedtobuildtheirownhome.Inthepast,manymarriagesendedindivorce,whichcouldbeinitiatedbyeitherpartyforvirtuallyanyreason.TheRomanCatholicchurchhasmadedivorcemoredifficultandlessfrequent.DomesticUnit.Inthepast,thebasicfamilyandresiden-tialunitwasthelaterallyextendedfamilycomposed of broth-ers,theirwives,andtheirchildren.Today,thenudearfamilyisthenorm,althoughotherrelativessuchasgrandparentsandbrothersmightalsobepresent.Inthepastandtoday,thefatherwastheauthorityfigure,althoughtodaythewife'sfa-therhasmorepowerthanthehusband'sfatherandason-in-lawwilloftenseekhisfather-in-law'sapprovalforeducationalandcareerdecisions.UnderChileaninfluence,therole of godparent(compadre)hasdeveloped,andgodparentsoftenplayaroleinchildrearing.Inheritance.Inthepastandtoday,bothmenandwomencouldinheritandbothmenandwomencouldleaveproperty.Socialization.Pubertyintraditionaltimeswasmarkedforboysandgirlsbysecludingthemonanislandforsomemonthsandthenholdinglargeseparatefeastsattheend of theseclusionperiod.Theseritesdisappearedlongago,andpubertyisnolongermarkedbyritual.TheChileangovern-mentprovidesaschoolforelementaryeducationandsomeEasterIslandersattendhighschoolinChile.SocialandPoliticalOrganizationSocialOrganization.Inadditiontosocialdistinctionsbasedonkinship,EasterIslandtraditionallyhadfourdistinctsocialclasses:noblemen(anki);priests(ivi-atua);warriors(matatoa);andservantsandfarmers(kio).Therulerwasthemainhighchief(ariki-mau)whotracedhisstatustodescentfromHotu-matua,thefounder of theisland.Inreality,arikiwereinvestedwithconsiderablemanaandweresubjecttonu-meroustaboos,althoughtheyhadlittleactualpower.Littleisknownabouttheactivities of priests,astherolehaddisap-pearedbythetimemissionariesarrived.Kiowerewarcaptiveswhoworkedforothersorpaidtributeintheform of percent-age of theircrops.PoliticalOrganizato.Asnotedabove,thenominalrul-erscamefromthearikiclass,withsuccessiontotheposition of highchiefgoingtotheoldestsonatthetime of hismar-riage.However,sincethismarriagewasoftendelayedmanyyearsbeyondthat of mostEasterIslanders,chiefsoftenheldtheirpositionforsomeyears.Atthetime of sustainedcon-tact,warriorsweretheactualpoliticalleaders,reflectingalonghistory of fightingamongthesubtribesandthealmostcontinuousfightingthatfollowedthekidnapping of menin18 62. Today,theEasterIslandersaregovernedbyChile,withaChileangovernor,civilservice,andpoliceforceprovidingservices.EasterIslanderrepresentationisthroughthemayor of Hangoroa.56Eipodenareasandcoversthemountainsaboveabout 2, 400me-tersuptothetreelineat3,500meters.Annualrainfallin197 5-1 976was590centimeters,withrainmostlyfallingdailyintheafternoonsandevenings.Temperaturesrangefromabout1 1-1 3°to 21 -2 5 °C.Littleseasonalchangeistobeobserved,butthetime of flowering of aparticulartree(Eodiasp.)istakenbytheEipoasamarker of certainfeastsandotheractivities.In1976twosevereearthquakesde-stroyedlargeareas of gardenlandandsomevillages;itislikelythatsimilarcatastropheshaveoccurredinthepast.Demography.TheEiponumbereddoseto800peoplein1980;indicationsarethatthepopulationisgrowing.linguisticAffiliation.Eipo, of whichtherearethreedia-lects,isamember of theMekFamily of Non-Austronesianlanguages,clearlyseparatefromtheOklanguagestotheeast,theYaliandDanilanguagestothewest,andlanguagesspo-kentothenorthandsouth.Localpeopletraditionallyunder-stand-and,toalesserextent,speak-oneortwodialectsorlanguagesotherthantheirown.Childrenusuallylearntheirspeechfromtheirmothers(who,duetorules of exogamy,oftencomefromdifferentvalleys)andoftendonotadoptthedialectspokenbythemajorityinaparticularvillage.BahasaIndonesia,unknownbeforethe1970s,isslowlygaininggroundasalinguafranca.HistoryandCulturalRelationsNoarchaeologicaldataareavailablefortheMekregion,andethnohistoricsurveysaremissingaswell.Itisprobable,how-ever,thatparts of theMekareahavebeeninhabitedformanythousands of years.Linguisticandhistoricalresearchontheintroductionanddiffusion of tobaccoshowsthattheMek(andtheirOkneighborstotheeast)mayhavebeencentralinthisprocess,andcomparativestudiesonreligiousbeliefsprovethatimportantconcepts(e .g. ,that of amythicalances-tralcreator)havetraveledfromeasttowest.Whileitisun-knownasyetatwhattimethesweetpotato(lpomoeabatatas)wasintroduced,onecanconcludefromthesignificance of taro(Colocasiaesculenta)inallceremonialreligiouscontextsthatthislatterfoodplantwas of vitalimportanceinpre-Ipomoeantimes.ThefirstknowncontactbyoutsiderswithMekpeopleswasmadebyateam of Dutchsurveyorsearlyinthiscentury;theymetagroup of peoplenearMountGoliathinthesouth of theareaandreportedthefirstrecordedwords of aMeklanguage.Someothergroupswerecontactedin1959inthecourse of aFrenchexpeditionacrossWestNewGuinea.Itsleader,PierreGaisseau,laterreturnedwithafilmteamandIndonesianmilitarypersonnelin1969,parachutingintothesouthernEipoValleywheretheyconductedasmallbutsoundsurveyontheareaandthepeople.Members of aninterdisciplinaryGermanresearchteamconductedresearchintheEipoValleyandsomeadjacentareasbetween1974and1980.SettlementsThevillages of theEipoandtheirneighborsintheMekareahave30 -2 5 0inhabitantsandareusuallybuiltonspotsthatfacilitatedefense.Oneormorecircularmen'shouses(whichoftenhavesacredfunctions)occupyconspicuousplaces,ei-therinthecenterorattheend of thevillage.Themuchsmallerandlesswell-builtfamilyhouses,also of circularshapebutsometimeswithrectangularroofs,arethelocationsforfamily-centeredactivities.Womenstayinseclusionhouses,usuallysituatedattheperiphery of thevillage,duringmenstruation,childbirth,andpuerperium,andsometimesduringseriousillnessesandforsanctuary.Allmen'shousesandmostfamilyhouseshaveelevatedfloorsandacentralfireplace.Protectionagainstthecold of thenightisnotveryadequate.Duetomissioninfluence,whichchieflyemploysDanievangelistsandteachers,Danihousestylesarebecom-ingfashionable.EconomySubsistenceandCommercialActivities.TheEipoandtheMekingeneralareskillfulhorticulturalistsandmaketheirgardensinvariousplaces:sometimesonsteepself-drainingmountainslopes,butalsoinflat,wetareaswhereditchingandbuildingmoundsareparticularlyimportantforthemainstaplecrop,sweetpotatoes.Mulchingiswidespread.Fallowperiodsarefifteenyearsormore;sufficientregeneration of thesoilisjudgedbythesize of atree(Trematomentosa)thatsoonstartstogrowinoldgardens.Numerousvarieties of taro,some of whichreachconsiderablesizeandweight,arealsocultivated.Theyarereservedforceremonies,especiallyfeastsforguests.Othercultigensincludeleafygreens(whichcon.tributemost of thevegetableprotein,especiallyformen),ba-nanas,sugarcane,ediblepitpit,nativeasparagus(Setariapalmifolia),variouspandanusspecies,andotherwildfoods.Beans,cheyote(Secchiumedule),cucumbers,maize,cassava,andpeanutshavebeenintroducedandsuccessfullyculti-vated.Thefewdomesticatedpigsdonotcontributemuchtothediet,onlyaboutonegramperdayperson;theyarecare-fullyraisedandusuallyusedonlyinceremonialcontexts.Smallmarsupialsaresnaredorhunted,oftenwiththehelp of dogs,buthuntingisdonemoretosatisfyemotionalneedsthantoprovidemeat.Womenandgirlsobtainvaluableani-malproteinintheform of frogs,tadpoles,lizards,snakes,spi-ders,andotherinsectsaswellastheeggsandlarvae of theseanimals.Traditionandreligioustaboosreservethesefoodsaswellasmost of thebirdspeciesforinfants,girls,andwomen.Inthepastdecade,theEipohavebecomedependentonmis-sionstationsassources of modemtools,clothing,tinnedfood,andothergoods,whicharepurchasedwithmoneyre-ceivedfromsellingservicesorproductstothemission.IndustrialArts.Thematerialcultureispoor,evencom-paredtootherhighlandsgroups,andwhenresearchwasbegunin1974,theEipoandmany of theirneighborswerestillusingstone,bone,andwoodentools.Theirworldlybe-longingsincludestringbags,bows,arrows,stoneadzes,stoneknivesandscrapers,woodendiggingsticks,boars'tusksandmarsupialteethusedascarvingtools,bonedaggersandawls,lianasforstartingfiresbyfriction,bambooorcalabashcon-tainersforwater,penisgourdsforthemen,andgrassskirtsforgirlsandwomen.TheMekcookinhotashes,bamboocon-tainersovertheopenfire,orinearthovensforlargergroups of people,especiallyguests.Trade.TheEipoandotherMekgroupsmayseemself-sufficientnow,buttraditionallytheyreliedonvariousgoodsfromtheoutside.Unpolishedstoneadzebladeswerepro-ducedbyspecialistsintheHeimeValleyandexchangedmainlyforstringbagsandgardenproducts.Otheritemsthat58Eipovillagecommunitiesaspersonswhotakeinitiative,pursueplans,andrespectrulesandtraditions,thoughtheyalsousethemtotheiradvantage.Inthisprotomeritocracy,leadershipisdependentontheactualpower of theleader.Personswhoshowsigns of losingtheircapacitieslosetheirpositions,too.Inheritance of big-manstatusfromfathertosonisnotinsti-tutionalized,butitsometimesoccursdefacto.SocialControl.Big-menexerciseacertainamount of so-cialcontrol,butmoreimportantistheprocess of enforcingsocialnormsthroughpublicopinion.Thisprocess,intum,iseffectedthroughgossip,discussion of disputedissues,andtheuse of extrahumanpowersinblackmagicallegedlyper-formedbyfemaleormalewitches.Theinfliction of illnessthusfunctionsaspunishmentforsocialwrongdoing.Conflict.DespitethefactthattheEipoareusuallyfriendlyandcontrolled,thepotentialforaggressiveactsisquitehighanddoesnotneedmuchtriggering.Untilrecently,inbothin-traalliancefightsandinteralliancewarfare,approximately 3-4 personsper1,000inhabitantsdied of violenceperyear.Verbalquarrelsandphysicalattackswithsticks,stoneadzes,andarrowswastheusualsequence of escalationleadingtofightsinthevillage.Neighborsinadjacentvalleyssometimeswerehereditaryenemieswhofoughtwarsthatwerelessritua-lized(andthereforelesscontrolled)thantheintraalliancefights;inthepasttheseconflictsoccasionallyledtocannibal-ism.Formalpeaceceremoniesendedthesewarsforperiods of monthsoryears.Warfareagainstideologicallydefinedanddehumanized"others"increasedone'sownsense of identityandstrengthenedbondswithinthegroup.ReligionandExpressiveCultureReligiousBelief.Thevisible world isconsideredtobein-habitedbynumerous,usuallymonstrous,beings:souls of thedeceased,zoomorphicspirits of theforestsandrivers,andpowerfulshapers of natureandbringers of culturewho,sincemythicaltimes,haveinfluencedthelife of people.Yaleenye(anamethatmeans'theonecomingfromtheeast")isthemostprominentsuchculturehero.Mythicalpowers,symbolizedbyholyrelics,weretraditionallyhousedandhonoredinsacredmen'shouses.Variousceremoniesthatpervadedeverydaylifewereperformedtoensurethewell-being of humans,domesticanimals,andfoodplants.FundamentalistChristianityhasreplaced-sometimesradically-traditionalpracticesand,toalesserextent,beliefs.Syncreticideasandceremoniesarequitecommonandcargo-cultconceptsexist.ReligiousPractitioners.Seersaretheonlyoneswhocancommunicatedirectlywiththeextrahumansphereanditsagents.Theymayalsoactassorcerers,inflictingharm,dis-ease,anddeathonothers.Malecultleaders,whoweresome-timesalsobig-men,wereresponsibleinthepastforreligiousceremonies.Thesmallgroup of specialistsinreligiousmattersincludedhealers.Ceremonies.Untilrecently,thefirstandmostimportantinitiation of boysbetweenabout4and15years of agewasamajoreventthatinvolvedparticipantsfromothervalleys.Itwasheldatintervals of about10years,dependingonhowmanyboyswereavailableforthiscostlyceremony.Coiniti-ateskeptalifelongbond.Secondandthirdstagesinvolved,respectively,thebestowal of thecanewaistbandandpenisgourd,andthepresentation of themum,abackdecorationthathungdownfromthehead.Largeandcostlyceremonialdancefeastsforvisitorsstrengthenedtieswithtradeandmarriagepartnersfromothervalleys.Warfareandallianceformationinvolvedceremonies,andthekilling of anyenemywascelebratedtriumphantly.Morerarely,greatceremonies,bringingtogetherinhabitantsfromdistant,sometimesinim-icalvalleys,wereheldtoensurethefertility of thesoil.Arts.TheEipomakeveryfewcarvedorpaintedobjects.SomeMekgroupshavesacredboardsandlargesacredshieldsthatwerenotusedinwar.Drumsareknownonlyinsomear-eas,buttheJew'sharpisfoundeverywhere.Thetexts of pro-fanesongsandsacredchantsconvincinglyusepowerfulmet-aphorsandarehighlysophisticatedexamples of artisticexpression.Medicine.Comparedtootherareas of NewGuinea,sur-prisinglyfewplantmedicinesareused.Leaves of thestingingnettleareappliedascounterirritants.Othertraditional(psy-chosomatic)treatments,carriedoutbyhealerswhowereusu-allymales,involvedsacredpig'sfatandchantstoinvokethehelp of extrahumanpowers.Healersusuallywerenotpaidfortheirservices.Inrecentyearsmodemmedicineshavebeenadministeredatsomemissionstations.DeathandAfterlife.Thedeathof...