183
Weals on man’s face – Aita markings
The nasal septum was pierced when the young person was being prepared for his initiation. It seems that this custom is not being followed by the younger Rotokas today.
Ears are also pierced. Women especially favor this custom. At this time, once the hole is made, a wad of tinfoil may be used to enlarge the hole over a period of time. Cuts on the periphery of the ear itself are also
considered decorative.
14.3 Cosmetics
Various types of powders are mixed with coconut grease or pig fat and smeared on the body andor hair. The origin of these earth paints will be described in section 14.6. Depending upon the source of the earth paint,
the color applied to the body may be black, red, or white. Black earth powder is a favorite color to enhance the blackness of the hair and body. Stories are told of
glistening jet black bodies dancing in singsings on special occasions. Charcoal is crushed and mixed with oil to attain the same effect.
Red earth powder is sometimes used on the face around the eyes and on the temples. It is not applied with the care that is common in other parts of Papua New Guinea, i.e., among the Daga or the Motu people. Red
earth mixed with oils may be used in the hair, although black earth is preferred. White earth powder is used for both torso and facial markings. The “V”-shaped mark on the chest of the
Upe initiate is made with this color of powder. The marks are quite dramatic as they contrast against the black skin of these people.
14.4 Adornment and Jewelry
Besides the earth materials, feathers of various kinds of birds and colorful leaves and flowers of plants are frequently seen as body decorations. These usually find a suitable and attractive place in the person’s hair or
behind an ear. A shell earring aareva made from the orifice of the seashell was used, as well.
184
Upe designs on hats made in the 1930’s
The most spectacular of all the colorful objects used to decorate the body is, of course, the Upe hat. These are worn only by the boys, and the girls have little to show as a counterpart. The construction of the hat has
been described in section 5.3. A few more designs [shown above] of hats collected in the 1930s by Rev. A.H. Voyce, however, will help us to appreciate the craftsmanship. Although these hats are not normally available
for purchase, one can buy carved boards upon which the Upe designs have been painted. These are available at handcraft shops in Arawa and Kieta.
Young girls in the Rotokas, Aita, and Keriaka areas sometimes wear a special belt made from various leaves and vines from the jungle to make them grow strong and fertile. These are called gavegave in Rotokas.
Shells formed and polished are used as arm bands agorau pako and bracelets. Today a popular bracelet is the rubber seal from 55-gallon fuel drums. Shells are also ground and polished into nose pieces. These are
not used today, except on very special occasions. The shell from which the nose pieces avui are formed is the giant clam vaevae or Tridacna gigas. The length of the nose pieces was from nine to twelve centimeters. A
Togarao man is shown below with his avui in place.
Man of Togarao Village with nose piece
185 Woven arm bands are made from dyed grasses. The width is usually between two to four centimeters. The
designs are woven into an all-black band with grasses dyed green, red, or yellow. A typical band pakou is shown below:
In the past, armbands were especially meaningful in warfare. They could be endowed with special protective powers by the fight leader.
Typical design on Rotokas armband
Beads have been used to decorate the body for many years. They apparently were items for trade used by early explorers and government personnel. An old village site below Ruruvu provided a source for aquamarine
colored beads which had been traded to the Rotokas by officers of the German administration. Today, an infinite variety of colors, shapes, and sizes of beads can be purchased usually by the spoonful in tradestores
on the coast and locally. Gifts of multi-stranded beaded necklaces are given by older women to their granddaughters or nieces.
14.5 Designs of Weapons and Carvings Stone axes
