THE ASMAT REGION
Skull-toting man eating tribesmen. for many years the Asmat had been frightening of their headhunting activities. The Asmat are wood age culture, living amongst the estuaries of the world largest and least accessible alluvial swamp. The rivers, which snake trough their mangrove forest daily rise with the tides to submerge the entire area for up to a hundred miles inland. In much of this muddy region, there is not stone to be found. Although the Asmat had long used stone tools. These were acquired from the foothills and highland trough trade networks. Pottery, until quite recently, was unknown. All food was grilled on a small open fire. The most important subsistence is sago flour, an almost clear starch extracted from the pith of the sago palm. The island of Irian Jaya has the largest stands of sago palm in the world. The sago palm is also the source of a very important ceremonial food, the larvae of the Capricorn beetle. This grabs are considered a great delicacy. 30 - 40 days the festival is scheduled, hundred of sago trees are felled and punched full of hall. So that the beetles will lay their eggs in them. Just before the celebration the mature larvae are collected and eaten quantities out of special carved wood bowls.
The word Asmat means wood or tree people. Legend tells how their creator. Fumeripits, carve their ancestor from trees, which he then dance. The Asmat also carve trees into which they drum the spirit of relatives killed in the battle with neighboring villages. These spirits can only be released trough a vengeance killing. The carving of this spectacular 7 meters bis poles is part of and elaborate ritual which ultimately requires the killing, beheading and eating of at least one retaliatory victim from the off ending village or clan. The Asmat were also to achieve world fame in l961 when Michael Rockefeller, son of the late America vice-president. Disappeared off their coast. Uniquely, the Asmat men steer their canoe by standing instead of sitting like most people do. Another interesting side of the Asmat is the way of dance. A dance may be joined by hundred of person. Today supported by the government, the Asmat tribe, an auction of carvings and culture shown. After being closed for foreign tourist for years, Asmat has been opened again to outsiders with less or no more worries. The worries are probably the accessibilities and the accommodations during the trip.
|
