[Introduction: The Subject, Method and Scope of This Enquiry]

I—Sailing, and trading in the South Seas; the Kula. II—Method in Ethnography. III—Starting field work. Some perplexing difficulties. Three conditions of success. IV—Life in a tent among the natives. Mechanism of “getting in touch” with them. V—Active methods of research. Order and consistency in savage cultures. Methodological consequences of this truth. VI—Formulating the principles of tribal constitution and of the anatomy of culture. Method of inference from statistic accumulation of concrete data. Uses of synoptic charts. VII—Presentation of the intimate touches of native life; of types of behaviour. Method of systematic fixing of impressions; of detailed, consecutive records. Importance of personal participation in native life. VIII—Recording of stereotyped manners of thinking and feeling. Corpus inscriptionum Kiriwiniensium. IX—Summary of argument. The native’s vision of his world 1

I [The Country and Inhabitants of the Kula District]

I—Racial divisions in Eastern New Guinea. Seligman’s classification. The Kula natives. II—Sub-divisions of the Kula district. III—Scenery at the Eastern end of New Guinea. Villages of the S. Massim; their customs and social institutions. IV—The d’Entrecasteaux Archipelago. The tribes of Dobu. The mythological associations of their country. Some of their customs and institutions. Sorcery. A vision on Sarubwoyna beach. V—Sailing North. The Amphlett Group. Savage monopolists 27

II [The Natives of the Trobriand Islands]

I—Arrival in the coral Islands. First impression of the native. Some significant appearances and their deeper meaning. II—Position of women; their life and conduct before and after marriage. III—Further exploration in the villages. A cross country walk. Gardens and gardening. IV—The native’s working power; their motives and incentives to work. Magic and work. A digression on Primitive Economics. V—Chieftainship: power through wealth; a plutocratic community. List of the various provinces and political divisions in the Trobriands. VI—Totemism, the solidarity of clans and the bonds of kinship. VII—Spirits of the dead. The overweening importance of magic. Black magic. The prowling sorcerers and the flying witches. The malevolent visitors from the South, and epidemics. VIII—The Eastern neighbours of the Trobrianders. The remaining districts of the Kula 49

III [The Essentials of the Kula]

I—A concise definition of the Kula. II—Its economic character. III—The articles exchanged; the conception of vaygu’a. IV—The main rules and aspects of the Kula: the sociological aspect (partnership); direction of movement; nature of Kula ownership; the differential and integral effect of these rules. V—The act of exchange; its regulations; the light it throws on the acquisitive and “communistic” tendencies of the natives; its concrete outlines; the sollicitory gifts. VI—The associated activities and the secondary aspects of the Kula: construction of canoes; subsidiary trade—their true relation to the Kula; the ceremonial, mythology and magic associated with the Kula; the mortuary taboos and distributions, in their relation to the Kula 81

IV [Canoes and Sailing]

I—The value and importance of a canoe to a native. Its appearance, the impressions and emotions it arouses in those who use or own it. The atmosphere of romance which surrounds it for the native. II—Analysis of its construction, in relation to its function. The three types of canoes in the Trobriand Islands. III—V—Sociology of a large canoe (masawa). III—(A)—Social organisation of labour in constructing a canoe; the division of functions; the magical regulation of work. IV—(B)—Sociology of canoe ownership; the toli-relationship; the toliwaga, “master” or “owner” of a canoe; the four privileges and functions of a toliwaga. V—(C)—The social division of functions in manning and sailing a canoe. Statistical data about the Trobriand shipping 105