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and his younger and less energetic brother, Mdru. The dugong 

 net and the dugong charm are inseparable and, from the 

 manner in which the natives looked at things, I felt convinced 

 that the charm was by far the more important element of the 

 two. Another net could have been easily made, but what 

 would be the good of it — if the charm was to be kept secret ? 

 And so Pikana has the monopoly of the net — a monopoly 

 which is much more a question of honour than of economic 

 advantage. In order to be competent for his magic, Pikana 

 has to observe the dugong and turtle taboo permanently, and he 

 is thus debarred from the very privilege which his monopoly 

 bestows on his family, his friends, and, undoubtedly, on many 

 other villagers, since a dugong catch would afford a feast for 

 many. I am strongly under the impression, however, that 

 Pikana places immense value on his privilege or monopoly, 

 and that he would not easily part with either of his properties 

 — the net or the charm. And this was also the opinion of the 

 other natives. 



This reluctance would, however, apply only to the other 

 Mailu men. When my boy, Igua, a Motu of Elevcda, came 

 to the village, Pikana did not hesitate to enter into negotia- 

 tions with him with reference to the charm, knowing well that 

 the Motu have plenty of dugong nets, and charms as well. 

 Pikana' s charm, which is said to have been imported some- 

 where from the west (Domcira or Aroma) a few generations 

 ago, is the only one, as I was assured by several informants, 

 in which the magical substance consists of stones intead of 

 herbs or leaves. Pikana has got three stones, which are put in 

 contact with the net, and then a spell is uttered. One of 

 these stones, and an incantation as well, was to be sold to my 

 cook-boy for ten shillings, for which sum of money he applied 

 to me one day, explaining the whole matter. I expressed my 

 doubts whether a Mailu charm would act in Elevcda, to which 

 Igua replied by pointing to the frequent cases in which charms 

 are brought to the Port Moresby villages from the west, where 

 they act perfectly well. Again I tried to point out the incon- 

 venience of not eating either dugong or turtle, and of being 

 exposed to the terrible danger of a ''big belly" should one's 

 appetite prove stronger than one's good sense. This seemed 

 to make a greater impression upon Igua; still, I think he would 

 have purchased the charm had I not suggested that Pikana 

 would be very likely to fake a spell and g^ive him a false stone, 

 and thus avoid the danger of having his magic spoilt, while 

 at the same time he got money. This conviction prevailed, 

 the Igua desisted from his negotiations. 



The danger of spoiling: the magic by letting anyone else 

 know the formulas and the nature of the charm is clearly 



