The Setting

Summary

A high degree of uncertainty, even with regard to the most elementary requirements of life, appears to be characteristic of Biak society. This is primarily the result of the infertile soil conditions and the geographical position of the Biak Islands, which hinders communications internally and with the Geelvink Bay area which is important for the supply of food. The isolated position and the poor communications, often only along seaways endangered by gales from the west or from the south-east, facilitated the development of a strong regionalism. The subcultural centers, the dialect-groups, villages and clans predominated. Frequent emigrations, contacts with the outer world on their distant raids in earlier times and later during their voyages to Tidore and as travelling blacksmiths, introduced foreign goods into the ceremonial exchange. An increasing amount of prestige became attached to the acquisition of these valuables, which were of such vital importance to the community. Marriages and the formation of groups were determined by offensive and defensive motives, and in later years by economic factors. Social classes could not maintain themselves due to the absence of class endogamy and the adoption of slaves on the one hand, and to the emphasis laid on personally gained prestige (achieved status versus ascribed status) on the other.

A strong feeling of dependence caused by the adverse natural environment was compensated for by the knowledge of magic spells, ancestorworship and a total ritual connected with their Supreme Being (The Sky (Firmament) or the Sun). There is a great difference for the Biak people between the “real” and the “ideal” world.

The founders of clans and recent ancestors take the place of the mythical demons and demi gods because there is a tendency to attribute the recovery of the secret of life and death to the ancestors. They even allow them to replace the Supreme Being (Manseren Nanggi) in the myths as a sign of their reduced dependence resulting from their knowledge of the secret, which is a condition of real power.

Only in the ritual connected with the offering to the Sky (Fan Nanggi) does the Biak tribe acquire a unity which transcends the subcultural borders. The unity of the Biak people is therefore determined by religion and not by politics and bears the character of a ritual community. The Utopian ideal, however, aims at the restoration of the original community and the suppression of rivalry.