The Economic Pursuits of the Trobriand Islanders

Abstract

AT a meeting of the Royal Anthropological Institute held on Tuesday, June 1, Mr. S. H. Ray, vice-president, in the chair, Dr. B. Malinowski read a paper on “The Economic Pursuits of the Trobriand Islanders.” In his opening remarks Dr. Malinowski criticised the methods usually followed by observers in dealing with the economics of primitive peoples. Whereas it was usually held that such peoples were preoccupied solely with obtaining an adequate individual food supply, he had found that, at any rate among the peoples which had come under his observation, there was a highly complex economic organisation. In support of his view he described the economic system of the natives of Kiriwina or the Trobriand Islands, lying to the north of easternmost New Guinea. These natives are very efficient and industrious tillers of the soil. Agricultural production is highly organised, being based upon two social forces: the power of the chief and the influence of magic. The chief is overlord of the garden-land, and initiates in each season the allotment of garden-plots to individuals and settles any disputes about garden-land; he finances any communal work to which the natives resort when clearing the bush, planting the yams, and bringing to the gardens the big, heavy poles used in connection with magical rites. On the other hand, the traditional garden magician controls the detailed proceedings of the work and performs magical rites at each stage.