The following images from the Trobriand Islands
were taken during the period 1914 to 1918 and represent a rare and unique
opportunity to view the lifestyle of the people of these remote and
fascinating islands at this time.
Soak in the enchanting sounds of the
sun-drenched Oceania/Pacific Islands coming to you in 64kbps FM Stereo!
Location Map of the Trobriand Islands.
Cultural and Historical Trobriand postcards
available on request
Women with carrying pads resting at the wayside
with their loads off, the pads remaining
in position.
The central figure wears a mourning relic over
her shoulder.
A
decorated bachelor's house.
The interior of a typical Trobriand house has
two bunks across
the back wall. Besides a Chinese trunk
and a piece of calico,
there are water bottles, folded mats and a
basket on the lower bunk.
Historical and Cultural images available on request
only
Local women making skirts. Pandanus leaves are
being made tough and supple by heating them
before a fire.
A crowd
collected on the beach to admire a large catch.
Accumulation of food for a feast. Yams are
heaped up on the ground
and fill the pwata'i (prism-shaped wooden receptacle): coconuts, sugar cane and
bunches of areca nuts are displayed on
top - the whole producing on the natives a strong
impression of beauty, power and
importance.
Village scene, Trobriand Islands.
Historical and Cultural images available on request
only
A family on the road. The woman is carrying
large yams in a basket, and
the child in a characteristic position on her
hip; the man has an adze on his shoulder.
Boys in
the yams garden.
Distribution of skirts in mortuary ritual.
Historical and Cultural image is available
upon request only
The body of a young and beautiful woman carried
off by sudden death and
sincerely mourned by the widower who is seen
supporting the corpse for the photograph.
Her face is painted; shell necklaces, belt and
armlets adorn her; she wears a coloured elaborate
skirt. Her legs had been tied but not her arms,
nor have nostrils, etc., yet being stuffed with fibre.
Jane's Oceania Home Page 
