Details

Latitude

-2.1135

Longitude

146.66

Start Date

1965-05-08

End Date

1965-05-08

Pucow Oto Sinda, stories. Also 65.5.9 Bobun of Jowan stories. The jumping around from place to place may relect on material from various places collected in Lorengau ? | "Oto Sinda of Pucho followed by Bobun of Jowan (Lindrow language group) . Problem with the tape. Part of it seems spliced in reverse side. I’m starting a few minutes after the beginning where the tape seems OK. A WAR STORY. Tape made while we lived in Lorengau at the Council center, next door to Paliau’s house. Oto Sinda was in a lengthy stay in Lorengau and made a number of tapes. Story of the slaughter of the people of Mondrolong, related to Peli Kawa. Payback of a house pamuk ambush. A long buildup for the ambush. This is at least the third story from various parts of Manus of a house pamuk ambush. War magic to confuse o turn the eyes of the enemy. TS note on cannibalism and taking of slaves. Sinda says they didn’t do it. Story by Bobun of Jowan. He is the crocodile totem. Fish poisoning. His right to the river and its fish. He was protected by the crocodiles of his own river (Like Peter of Nrossun) Another story of a man who was taboo to sleep with his own wives. Masalai lapahahai. Mpukey came to bung in Malai Bay (malembey) This is the story of a man, busuvadi. The other man (a poroman of busuvadi) came to Prenim busuvadi’s wife. Busuvadi knew something wrong was happening because he caught no fish. Story turns out to be origin of Sago. They eat and vomit. Each saksak is named. The first saksak in Lindrow. A line of children born. Seem to have birth order names. Origin of the Lindrow people. Jowan part of Lindrow. Includes the origin of all Lindrow settlements. Another story by Bobun of Jowan. A snake who made a river. Snake wanted to hide from sun. Had no water except rain water. The snake was masalai. Head of man, two snake tails. Quest for water. A river near Derembat (nritampat) He made various rivers. All the rivers named. Many of them. Names all the rivers between Derembat to Busu, Lapabusu whose men kill the snake. Blood make red fish. Tail makes long fish. Origin of rivers, fish."

Sources