Context (CMS Context)
1967.52-73 - General note on shell valuables and ornaments: In pre-European times shells percolated into the Highlands by various native routes from coastal areas. Thus pearlshells (1967.64-72) entered the Highlands from the Papuan Gulf, but also via the Sepik river or Ramu; bailer shells (1967.56-7) from the Gulf via Ialibu; nassa shells (1967.58-61) also from this route (they are reported in the Lake Kutubu area, Williams 1940) and from the north and east via Sepik and Wahgi rivers, which was also the direction of cowries (1967.62-63). Green snail shells came from the east, along the Wahgi valley (1967.52-55). From the advent of Europeans in 1933, shells increased in numbers: Europeans used them to pay wages and as currency and later sold pearlshells outright in their stores. By the 1960s however Australian currency (money) had become the medium for all European-Hagener transactions. Pearlshells for sale varied in price from A$2-7, bailers and whole green-snail shells from A$3-5, and conus shells (no example) A$2-4. Cowries were obtained by labour, 5 or 10 being paid for a day's work in pre-war days, and till the 1950s labourers might be paid at the rate of one or two pearlshells a month. Nassa shells were obtained through sale, at a rate of approximately 10 shells for as many pounds (weight) of sweet potatoes. The Hageners absorbed this influx of shells in their transactions, and nowadays lament that they can no longer obtain new pearl shells easily, since the Europeans no longer deal in shells. Nevertheless, different varieties of shells have undergone varying degrees of inflation and there have been changes in their relative popularity over the last 30 years. Thus cowrie ropes and nassa mats (1967.61,63) were in the past used extensively in moka ceremonial exchange where nowadays (1964-5) only pearlshells are given (1967.70-72). Because of these fluctuations, no attempt has been made here to give a systematic account of the 'values' of the various shell items. Unless specified any notes on this topic refer to the present period.
Event Date 1/6/1998
Author: Remke Velden

Description (CMS Description)
One of five cowrie ropes, valuables. Thick fibre ropes sewn with cowrie shells which are graded by size, the largest towards the centre and the smallest at the ends. In the past a unit of circulation was a 'half-rope', divided by the large shells in the middle. The ropes were used in bridewealth, half of each rope being given for no return and half for a return made by the bride's kin. (They were not severed physically). In the 1930s a long rope was worth a pig, but since then these shells have gone out of fashion, although they were still being used in moka in the Buk area during the 1950s. In the past the shells were also used decoratively: cf. Vicedom I: plate 10 no.3, plate 11 no.2 and plate 3 no.1 show women (and men) swathed in cowrie ropes, which were worn across the shoulders or hanging down from the neck. C: 11' long c. 220 shells.
Event Date 1/6/1998
Author: Remke Velden

Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited: On display in the Papua New Guinea mount Hagen, Maudslay Hall, from 1990. Display label notes' 3. Cowrie Rope: Used in bridewealth and moka and as ceremonial decoration by women from the 1930s to the 1950s. Melpa. Buk. Mount Hagen. Papua New Guinea. c & d. A and M. Strathern. 1967.63.b'
Event Date 5/2/2013
Author: Remke Velden