BLOOD GROUPS OF THE MOTU AND KOITA PEOPLES

Abstract

peoples calling themselves Motu and Koita inhabit the Papuan coast for a distance of about seventy miles in the vicinity of Port Moresby (see Map i). For the moment I shall use the terms Motu and Koita simply to denote those people who speak of themselves as such ; we shall later have occasion to ask what classificatory principles support the distinction. Motu inhabit villages on the beach. Their lands never extend very far into the interior. They are notably a maritime people, traders and fishermen, though they also make gardens. Some Koita inhabit villages situated a mile or two inland. Others inhabit villages on the foreshore. A substantial number live as minority groups in seaside villages inhabited mainly by Motu. The Koita are hunters and gardeners by tradition, but those who now live by the sea have learnt how to fish and sail. Where Koita live in the same village as Motu, the Motu language prevails and only old men speak Koita. Where they live in isolation from Motu-speaking people, Koita still speak their own language, though usually they are also fluent in Motu. Koita is a Papuan (or non-Melanesian) language ; Motu is a language of the Melanesian type.* Koita claim to be the original inhabitants of those areas which they now share with the Motu. A legend of the Port Moresby Koita recalls a day when Motu canoes appeared outside the harbour. Seeing the smoke from a Koita village, so the legend says, the Motu put in to shore. They had fish with them. The Koita, hungry for fish, suggested that the visitors settle permanently at Port Moresby and regularly trade their fish for Koita yams and bananas. The Motu have no tradition that they ever came from elsewhere.2 They say that they have always enjoyed dominion over the coastline they now occupy, though