Orokaiva Magic by F. E. Williams

Orokaiva Magic by F. E. Williams, published in 1928. A classic anthropological study of the magical and religious practices of the Orokaiva people of Papua New Guinea, based on Williams’s fieldwork and careful observation. The work examines the structure and meaning of indigenous ritual life through sections including The Taro Cult: A Study of a Primitive Religious Movement, The Garden Culture of the Orokaiva, Garden Magic, Magic and Common Sense, The Procedure of Magic, The Magical Symbol, and Good and Bad Magic. Blending ethnographic detail with thoughtful interpretation, Williams explores the relationship between ritual practice, agriculture, social organization, and belief, presenting a nuanced portrait of Orokaiva cosmology and daily life. A significant early twentieth-century contribution to the anthropology of religion and Melanesian studies. Hardcover, in excellent condition, with the original dust jacket exhibiting only the light shelfwear to corners.