622 



some articles in the east and exchanging them in the west 

 with a great advantage, and vice versa. '55) 



As the trading was done seasonally, it will be best to give 

 an account of the several expeditions conducted annually and, 

 as a rule, with reference to the native seasons and division of 

 the year described in chap, iii., sec. 2. As mentioned there, 

 the season of A vara ogoda was spent at home, and so was 

 Tsilowo, which was the fishing time. It is in the Aurari 

 season (July-August) that they began the regular series of 

 trading journeys and the expeditions preparatory for trading. 

 From the convergence of the statements of all my native 

 informants it appears certain that this series was usually 

 carried out in the same order, and that in olden times it did 

 not essentially differ from the present state of things, though 

 the trade is now carried out more briskly than before, and, 

 owing to the security from, raids, a much larger number of 

 natives venture to leave the village than would have been then 

 possible. 



As said, the first expedition leaves Mailu in the Aurari 

 season, going westward to Aroma, in order to bring home a 

 supply of betelnut, which is plentiful at that time. I could not 

 ascertain what was the article they exchanged for the betelnut, 

 but I believe it was chiefly pottery. On this expedition they 

 fish for the Conus miUepujicfatus shell all along: the barrier 

 reef from Mailu to Aroma, and they acquire unworked shells 

 from the Aroma people. In fact, the collecting of these shells 

 is undoubtedly the most important aim of this expedition, as 

 it makes possible the subsequent manufacture of arm-shells, 

 which again are the main article of trade with the Ar67?ia. 



In the Lioro season (late September and October) they go 

 to Lea to make sago, of which they produce much larger 

 quantities than their own wants require. The surplus is 

 traded to the Aroma people on a second expedition, buying 

 this time small pigs and dogs. Aroma is the chief centre, but 

 on the way there they trade with the other villages (Domara, 

 Villerupu, etc.). 



After this second expedition to Aroma they sail in the 

 Lioro ogoda season (November-December) eastwards to 

 Bon.ahona Island, the village round Mullins Harbour, and 

 further along the coast as far as Siid'n. There they acquire, 

 in the first place, arm-shells in return for the small pigs and 

 dogs which they had obtained in Aroma. These arm-shells 

 are made in the Southern Massim district and in the Archi- 

 pelago, the best ones being manufactured in the Trobriand 



(55) Comp. the description of similar communities in the 

 Maissim area, C. G. Seligman, op. cif., pp. 526 to 528, and p. 536, 

 et seq. 



