IDNO

T.151650.RPT

Description

On Catalogue Card: "239. S.P. New Guinea. Gumine. 35mm.Ekta." [Poignant's manuscript]
"24, 25, 26. Ditto [Dai stands behind Martin, instructing him], but a bit light." [Poignant's typed text]

Dai, a man from Gumine, teaching Kaleku (also known as Martin), his grandson, how to shoot a bow and arrow. [KK 16/08/2022]

Place

Oceania Melanesia; Papua New Guinea; Highlands Region; Chimbu Province; Gumine District; Gumine [Simbu Province]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Dai; Kaleku (also known as Martin)

Photographer

Poignant, Axel

Collector / Expedition

Date

1969

Collection Name

Poignant Collection

Source

Poignant, Roslyn

Format

Colour Transparency

Primary Documentation

Other Information

T.148696.RPT - T.152693.RPT were located in the drawer file of transparency sheets, numbered C1021/.

T.151629.RPT - T.151651.RPT were located in a transparency sheet, numbered C1021/124.

Publication: Similar image published in Poignant, Axel and Roslyn. 1972. Kaleku. London: Angus and Robertson, p.24.

Bibliographical reference: Poignant, Axel and Roslyn. 1972. Kaleku. London: Angus and Robertson, p.24. This extract comes from a children's book, written about a boy named Kaleku and his family in Gumine. "Next morning Kaleku found his grandfather in front of the men's house, dressing as though for battle. He wore a fine old trade axe in his belt and carried his shield. Nowadays he used it only as a board to sleep on. He'd tied a rough loop of cane to the shield so that he could show his grandson how it was kept under control by passing one foot through the lower part of the loop.
'I'll never manage that,' said Kaleku, 'it's too heavy.'
'When you grow bigger it will be easy,' Grandfather replied. 'Now, let's see how straight you can fire an arrow.'
'He held Kaleku's arm firmly, guiding the boy's aim. But Kaleku's arrow always fell short.
'You must practise every day; soon you will be able to shoot an arrow right through your enemy.'
'Let me give you some practice,' said Dai's friend Pari.
He took Dai's shield and spear.
'I'll jump around and pretend to hit Pari with my axe,' said Dai, 'and when he tries to spear me, you shoot at him.'
Gradually Kaleku grew more skilful and Pari, who was a nimble man, was surprised when one of Kaleku's arrows hit the shield.
Kaleku felt very tired that night and, as he fell asleep, he thought, 'There's always so much to do when there's no school.'" [KK 16/08/2022]