Q: What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued/reviled/saddened/angered/surprised you?
So many aspects of the Sawi culture were new and different to me. It is hard to understand exactly why people do what they do. Where did this customs first begin and why?

Another major aspect of the Sawi mindset that really disturbed was the fact that their main objective/way of thinking is betrayal. It disturbed me to think that people you think are your friends and even relatives might betray you and consequently get eaten. After reading the first 5 chapters of the book I was really shocked and disturbed about their culture and mind set. Page 31 really impacted my viewpoint of the Sawi tribe and their idealistic view of betrayal, "It was an old Sawi expression, terse, deadly, which expressed in three words one of the deepest undercurrents of Sawi culture - the idealization of treachery."

Moreover the significance of legends and traditions played a major role in the Sawi culture. From things like not drinking straight from the river to avoid evil spirits (Pg. 26) to the deeper relationships between the in-laws (Pg. 57) to refining/using Sawi traditions to betray men and become a "legend maker" (Pg 56). All of the customs of the Sawi seem so eccentric and abnormal that it is hard to believe that people could live in such a state of seclusion and not be aware of the world around them or the fact that what they having been doing for hundreds of years is wrong.
While looking for pictures online for this blog post, I came across an interesting poem about a tribe in the region where this story takes place. I thought it would be interesting to post it as well because it directly relates to the daily lives of the people in a tribe and as the story progresses, I think that this poem will reflect similar emotions that tribe men and women felt during this change in time.

4 comments:
I was also shocked by the Sawi. Just as you've mentioned in your post, I guess it is the Sawi's conscienceness of evil in the rituals they performed which cannot be comprehended by people like us. I wonder how the Sawi established their 'fattening with friendship' ritual...and I really like the way how you expressed your ideas through the cultural comparisons. Nice job in finding the poem =) this is a great post.
Cool poem. Where did you find it? The culture is definitely shocking, but I think we forget that we have some very shocking things that happen in our culture. Of course, we aren't as an entire people group obsessed with something as horrid as murdering, but I think it could be argued that our obsession with consumerism is in some ways just as destructive in a different way.
thanks for the post. Good textual evidence to support your points.
hey Rebecca!
I liked reading your blog because it made me think more about the questions you asked such as "Where did this customs first begin and why?"
Yes, the betrayal part really shocked me as well. Aah, I like how you said, "giving of one's "body" to another to form "trust". I never came across a culture which did this. yes, It is definitely interesting how they form 'trust'.Overall I thought this was a good post!
thanks for commenting on my post btw~! I didn't know u had 'been' there.. hehe.. well see ya in French tomorroW!
You know in Africa - one should NEVER give part of yourself - hair, nails etc. to someone you don't trust because these "body parts" can be used for black magic and curses. So giving a piece of yourself is really forging the ultimate concept of "trust"; in that you have to trust the person enough not to worry about the consequences. Mrs.Mc.
Post a Comment