Structural co‐variants of land shortage among patrilineal peoples

Abstract

Abstract One point of difference among New Guinea Highland peoples hinges on whether, and how far, warfare was linked with territorial gains. Among the Kuma of the Wahgi Valley, land conquest was apparently not an issue before European contact. This paper shows how they are now moving to re‐form their old phratries, and finding the disposal of clan land useful in political competition between pacified clans. Comparisons are drawn between Kuma and Central Enga, with special attention to availability of land, agnatic descent, recruitment, and marriage.