ABSTRACT

The composition of the basic residential unit has changed considerably from traditional times. For example, in Kauris there are five multiple-household hamlets and two single households living in isolation, about half the households being resident on their own clan land. A large number of people resident on village land today are not members of the land-holding clans. Between the landowner and other members of his clan and village there is sometimes disagreement about the admission of the settlers in the first place and this can lead to continuing friction. Expatriate and New Guinean mission workers, teachers, prison officials and plantation personnel live on alienated land close to Madang villagers. Considering that earlier marriages have resulted in bringing fellow villagers within the prohibited degrees, and that the number of single men and women available at any one time is limited, this high proportion seems to indicate a significant preference for intra-village marriage.