* I wish to thank my friends Isei Emasi, Yosela Ginger and Siguyau for their 
assistance in locating and collecting the prows and the old men of Kumwagea, Lalela, 
Kudeuli and Iwa villages for giving me the information they have. 
Burial-Canoes and Canoe-Burials in the Trobriand 
and Marshall Bennett Islands (Melanesia) * 
G. J. M. Gerrits 
During the years 1967-1971 the author was working as a Medical Officer 
in the Trobriand, Marshall Bennett and Woodlark Islands. 
These island-groups are located about 150 miles North-East off the 
Eastern tip of the New Guinea mainland. They are part of the so-called Massim 
Area. 
The finds, described in this article, come from Kitava (Trobriand Group) 
and Iwa (Marshall Bennett Group) Islands. 
The shores of both islands show sandy beaches as well as steep cliffs, 
rising till 140 meters above sea-level (pi. a). 
In the cliffs numerous crevices, narrow platforms and caves can be 
found, some of which formerly have been used to keep human bones, sometimes 
in clay pots, clam shells or in and behind wooden containers. 
The last ones were brought to my attention in 1969 by the islands 
people’s tales about old “small canoes” which were to be found in the cliffs- 
Fig. 1. Nodoga (Kitava Island), canoe-prow.