ABSTRACT
The network, called 'sawei', seems to have been in existence as far back as the 12th century AD and to have been the driving force in Yapese politics. The focus has been on Yapese politics to draw together the uses for two disparate types of Yapese money and to interpret trading, the sawei network and aragonite mining on Palau from the standpoint of local affairs on Yap. Yapese money played an important role in Yapese politics. The legend recounting the formation of Yapese society as it was before World War I referred to the Nimegil region as being added to Yap Island after a flood brought on by the death of Madavul. If Yapese politics were not the main 'engine' in the western Carolines from the 12th century down to World War I, they certainly had an importance that future researchers should not overlook when writing about western Caroline regional history and inter-island relationships.
