The Dani 1962 :: essays research papers

Balien vale, New GuineaThe Dani sept lives in the Balien V entirelyey of New Guinea. The Valley is very green and to the full of tropical life. The tribe is spread among a network of small villages. Each village consists of cristal to thirty individuals of the same or finishingly related family. Villagers live in huts made of local grasses and sticks. The wo hands farm while the men the weave and shelter the tribe from enemy raids.The Dani atomic number 18 in constant warfare with a neighboring tribe. They believe that if someone dies from enemy hands then they bind to be avenged. Wars are mostly fought to avenge demolitions, to settle quarrels between the tribes, and sightly because some enjoyed fighting. Wars are fought with bow and arrows and spears with barbs, the barbs attach themselves in the enemys flesh, making it very painful to remove. Warfare is very structured and full of rules to which both sides comply. Battles do not begin until both sides have all their men present. No wars or raids take place at night.Ghosts discipline the people by fear. The ghosts come from discontent or neglected spirit of the dead. Ghosts dominate the night. They strike fear into all. During the night they hide along the paths and attend to eat whoever passes. The ghosts also eat the peoples food, the bananas in the plant and the crops in the gardens. Since the ghosts are so feared the people take preventative stairs to make sure that their tribes spirits are everlastingly content. When a tribe member is killed, the tribe must avenge that death or they go through spiritual decline. The dead are bathed with betrayer fat or else their spirit would feel neglected. A Wyantonafe, Pig appreciate Ceremony, renews their spiritual self and strengthens the communitys spirits.In the mourning the men go to their towers to watch for enemy advancements, during this time the men also weave. Women do not weave, most of the older women wouldnt be able to because fingers are cut off after a death of a close family member. If the men see no sign of the enemy they set a fire telling the women that its safe to go to their farms. The men besides do the farms hardest work. The women do work around the huts and in the farm.The children learn the their roles in the tribe by imitating those older than them.