The Sun in the Life of the Natives
in the New Guinea Highlands
By H. Aufenanger
Contents:
Introduction
13. Kurna
The Different Tribes
14. Yuri
1. Vandeke
15. Kunanagu
2. Dengglagu
16. Bandi
3. Komkane
17. Kimi, Mogei, Nengga
4. Kulxkane
18. Golin
5. Kigin
19. Dom
6. Kamanugu
20. Numai
7. Vaugla
21. Ndika
8. Kombugu
22. Wamizuhu
9. Tsiambugla
23. Kondulxku
10. Dagl
24. Pala and Damba
11. Naruku
25. The Tribes around Banz
12. Nauru
26. Gende
Introduction
For the people in the Highlands the sun is of paramount importance,
much more than the moon and the stars. - It took me a long time, even years,
to collect the present information about the sun. As the natives are rapidly
losing and forgetting the traditions and teachings received from their ancestors,
owing to the rapid change in their material culture, I am glad I was able to
save at least a precious part of their usages and beliefs in connection with the
sun. — All the various reports laid down here were given to me by trustworthy
members of the different tribes. I do not, by any means, claim to have solved,
or even to have mentioned, all the different problems involved. I hope that
much more material regarding this topic will be found and published, now that
an attempt has been made in this paper to tackle this interesting subject. Many
things which are reported of one tribe will also be found among other Highland
tribes. I could have given nearly all the various statements in the vernacular,
but that would have made this article too lengthy. So I shall limit the native
K. J. Nar
(ujfh-
Anthropos 57. 19G2
1