*  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.