Entry record from Voorhoeve (nd c): Asmat Flamingo Bay
árok
• ceremonial exchange of food at specific occasions(eng).
Note: Cases: e.g. N. loses his bow, M finds it and keeps it for quite some time; then he presents it to N’s parents plus a gift of sago. They give him fish in exchange.
Note: Or: between the family of Epmayfek who died 2 years ago, and the Seyman and his relatives (Seyman had been E’s papis partner). The ase ofew brought in the fish, the ofew the sago. Epmayfek died a “natural”death, caused by a bad spirit. If a male member of a family dies outside his own house/village then his relatives are prohibited to enter his house/yew although they are allowed to sit on the verandah. One shaved one’s head and then let the hair grow wild. Only after 2, 3 years when the arok has been held one can enter the deceased’s house/yew and braid one’s hair [‘one’ probably refers to the papis partner]