Page 155 - Kolaj Sharodiya Review Edition

The kula ring exchange ceremony

Tom thought that there are many days left for the vacation to end. So what would they do if they return home now?
So, he decided to go for another adventure with Tommy. Tom started sailing the boat. However, unfortunately after
sailing the boat for only 15 minutes the boat started malfunctioning. He checked for fuel but that was not the issue.
They were left with no other option than to row the boat manually. It was a very tiresome job. So, they decided to stop
in a nearby island. They found an island and sailed to it. He said to himself that there must be someone out there who
could help fix the boat. However, to his surprise, he found that there were apparently no humans living in the island.
They decided to walk and explore further. After walking for some time, they heard the noise of beating drums. Now he
was sure about the fact that some humans were living here. Then slowly the people who were beating the drums
approached Tom and Tommy. They were all stockily-built. Tom got frightened initially. Then, those tribals asked them
about their identity and intensions. Tom explained that he is from the city. His name is Tom and he has a pet cat whose
name is Tommy. Then the tribals asked why and how did they come here? Tom replied that they are on an adventure
to explore different tribal societies and they were about to move to their third adventure when their boat started
malfunctioning and so, they stepped in this Island. Tom heard of some islanders who do not like city people. He was
very anxious. However, to his utter surprise, these tribal people welcomed them into their island and also offered food
and shelter for the day.

Just like the other islands, here too he got some friendly boys of his age. Those boys played with them and showed them their island. When Tom asked them the name of their
tribe, they replied that the name of their tribe is the “Trobriand islanders” and this is the Western Pacific region. Tom said Wow! Trobriand islanders!! Such a beautiful name, Isn’t it
Tommy? Tommy in response shook his head, which meant Tommy liked the name, too. The Trobriand islanders took care of Tom and Tommy. Tom and Tommy loved the island
and also had lots of delicious food. The next day, when they were getting out of their hut for requesting the tribals to help fix the boat for them when they saw that all the tribals
were going somewhere. He wondered that where are they going? So, out of this curiosity, Tom decided to follow them. He and Tommy started following them and after a while,
the tribal people reached a place. Tom and Tommy watched them from a distance. They saw that these tribals were giving a red necklace and also taking a white necklace
from each other. Tom gathered courage and approached them to have a closer look. Spotting Tom and Tommy, the tribal people asked them to have a seat. Tom was
relieved. He wasn’t liking the hide and seek. Tom asked one of the tribal people that what type of ritual was it. He replied that the name of this festival is the “Kula ring
exchange ceremony”. In this festival the donor gave away a red armed sea shell necklace to the recipients and the recipients would accept that and in return, the recipient
needed to give a white armed sea shell necklace to the donor. These objects had no commercial value. Rather this is a symbol of mutual respect and prestige for donors and
recipients. Tom now asked where do you get these red-armed seashell necklaces and the white armed seashell necklaces Then he replied that we go for a voyage deep
inside the sea before this festival and collect the red armed sea shells and the white armed sea shells from there and the make the necklaces using these sea shells. Also,
sometimes very rarely when we don’t find any of these sea shells deep inside the sea then we go to the markets for buying them but we never bargain regarding the price of
these necklaces as it is a matter of social prestige for us.