71 situation. The reason is that wearing the hat enforces respect for the opposite sex and helps keep them out of
trouble. When the final decision is made and the young man is ready to abandon his Upe hat for a bride, a
ceremonial cleansing is carried out. This involves both cutting the hair and washing the body. When the hair is finally cut, only a few witness the act. It is usually carried out by older men of the village
with special Upe responsibilities. The hair is tied up and pulled tight up over the head. It is then cut fairly close to the scalp. The Upe hat is then replaced on the head. The official act is done by an older man, an Upe leader,
who first rubs spit and betel nut juice on the initiate’s head just inside the bottom edge of the hat. The ceremonial hat is used for this final occasion. Recently, I was invited to witness the removal of a friend’s
Upe.
If the young man is to be married shortly after the hat is removed, the washing ceremony is particularly important. The water used for the wash is scented by flowers at the time of the ceremony. A limbum leaf
sheath is filled with fragrant flowers. The water is poured in the top end, passes through the collection of flowers, and then spills out onto the body of the person being cleansed. This is called the sisupa ogo.
After the couple’s marriage rites are completed, the young man leaves the avata house and all of his bachelor friends for good. He enters the newlywed’s house with his wife and starts an entirely different
lifestyle. As he enters the new house, the bachelor friends again wash him to cleanse him of any residual effects from the avata house. For some, it is a time of heaviness because of the realization of new
responsibilities and the fact that the carefree life of the bachelor community can no longer be enjoyed. A special feast celebrating the marriage no doubt helps, however.
A word picture is used to signify the completion of the Upe initiation and the closing of this chapter of the young man’s life. The word is purisa or “area of trampled grass.” The picture is of the dance area after the
participants have all gone home. The party is over.
5.8 Future of the Upe Initiation Custom
In 1980, a good friend had a dream in which he saw a large circle of parents. Inside the circle, an Upe hat was bobbing here and there by itself. Then, a great light shone down into the circle and the ground began to
shake in an exaggerated way. The women around the circle all tried to grab the hat as it bobbed by them. None was able to until finally one grasped it securely in both hands. She then gave the hat to a young man and told
him to give it to his father, who was the people’s government representative at this time.
Our friend interpreted the dream to mean that the Upe has returned to the women, who were the original owners. They, in turn, have relinquished possession of the hat and of its use to the government. The fact that
the young man is yet uninitiated is significant in the interpretation, as well. It meant that the hat is not to be used in initiation rites any more, but to be given to the government for safekeeping.
It is said that the people are happy that the Upe has made its reappearance after being “squashed” during the period of colonial rule. It has come back and for a time its importance was reestablished. This is shown by
the choice of the Upe as a symbol for the entire Province, appearing on the provincial flag and airplanes. However, it is thought that the respect for this custom will not last much longer. Even now, the boys do not
give the respect due and many of the former taboos are not followed.
This is one of the reasons that our friend feels the Upe should be placed in the hands of the government, while it is still a respected custom. He envisions the Upe as sort of a “crown” for the Premier of the North
Solomon Islands Province. “Like the queen’s crown,” he said. Another reason for discontinuing the Upe at the village level is because of the potential harm attributed to
the “spirit of the Upe.” This harm or sickness called varuru upia is reason enough for him to consider suggesting the cessation of the rites. The varuru upia results in very painful movement of the joints like
rheumatism?. He said that others say the Upe custom is good, while not being fully aware of the risk of evil powers involved. Some church leaders back this opinion.
This man would like to see the leaders of the areas where the Upe is popular get together to discuss the matter. Up to 1982, no such meeting had been held.
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6 Clan System—Land Ownership
6.1 Origin and Purpose of the Clans
