How Materials Matter by Were Graeme;

Author:Were, Graeme;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Berghahn Books
Published: 2019-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Russell (1948) describes a large trough bowl in Marovo (New Georgia) that resembles the one in the British Museum storage facilities. Known locally as koqomo, this is a long rectangular wooden trough up to six metres in length. Inside these vessels, puddings – a staple item of native diet in Marovo – were prepared.

Edge-Partington (1903: 161) provides some important ethnographic context of the use of the food trough. He mentions how Woodford describes such a food trough for preparing and pounding food. He goes on to describe how Woodford saw twenty-two men seated – including the notorious Roviana chief Ingova – at each side of the trough and an old man at either end. The food – taro, yams and nuts – were placed in the trough. ‘On one occasion,’ he says,

I saw the inauguration of a large trough for preparing and pounding food; the ceremony taking place in the chief canoe house of the town (Sisieta). I was assigned a seat next to Ingova (one of the two chiefs of Sisieta), while above my head were eight heads lately taken in a head-hunting expedition. The trough was about 30 feet long and carved to represent a crocodile; twenty-two men were seated on each side of the trough, and an old man at either end. They had all their ornaments on and wore their shields over their shoulders, while their spears and tomahawks were close behind them. The food, consisting of taro, yams, and nuts, was placed in the trough, and the men sat ready. An old man in full fighting rig was then seen advancing towards the house. Walking up to the entrance he suddenly started back and raised his spear, exclaiming, Basioto (a crocodile) and standing on the defensive. Ingova then advanced from the interior of the house, and placing one hand on the crocodile’s head, began a speech which lasted about ten minutes. At a given signal the men began pounding the food, all of them keeping excellent time. When they got tired or hot they were relieved by others, and the pounding was continued for over half an hour. I was then asked to go, and not wishing to offend them I did so.

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