An annotated bibliography of Gulf Province folklore

Below is an annotated bibliography of Gulf Province folklore. See the main bibliography page for more details. Please send comments and corrections to me.

A “*” following a reference indicates that I have not seen.

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• Barnett, Steven A. (1974a). The Nogupa People. Oral History 1(1): 1-47. This article discusses the mythology of the Mekeo (?) People. *
• Barnett, Stephen (1974b). Traditions of a Mekeo village. Oral History 1(3): 25-39. This article presents nine myths of the Mekeo People. *
• Bergendorff, Steen (1992). The politics of Mekeo myth: a language of hegemony.Unpublished paper at Nijmegen Symposium. This paper discusses the mythology of the Mekeo People. *
• Bergendorff, Steen (1996). Faingu City: A Modern Mekeo Clan in Papua New Guinea. Lund Monographs in Social Anthropology No. 2. Lund, Sweden: Lund University Press, 279 pp., illustrated. This book discusses the mythology of the Mekeo People. * In print!
• Brown, Herbert A. (1975). Meavea Kivovia. Port Moresby: Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, 52 pp., illustrated. Volume 1 of “Clan Myths of the Elema, Gulf of Papua.” This book presents a myth of the Orokolo People. Out of print.
• Brown, Herbert A. (1977). Oa-Laea. Port Moresby: Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, 68 pp., illustrated. Volume 2 of “Clan Myths of the Elema, Gulf of Papua.” This book presents a myth of the Orokolo People. Out of print.
• Brown, Herbert A. (1988). Three Elema Myths: Recorded in Toaripi, Translated and Annotated. Series: Pacific linguistics B-98. Canberra, Australia: Department of Linguistics, Australian National University, 235 pp., illustrated. This book presents three myths of the Orokolo (Elema) People: “Oa-Laea", “Marai and Eare", and “Meavea Kivovia", in Orokol and English. Out of print: Search Amazon.com for this book.
• Clifton, John M. (1991). Review of: Three Elema myths, recorded in Toaripi, translated and annotated by Herbert A. Brown, Language and Linguistics in Melanesia: Journal of the Linguistic Society of Papua New Guinea and the Society on Pidgins and Creoles in Melanesia 22(1-2):157-8. This is a review of Brown (1988).
• Egloff, B. J. & Kaiku, R. (1978). An Archaeological and Ethnographic Survey of the Purari River (WABO) Dam Site and Reservoir. Waigani and Konedobu: Office of Environment and Conservation, Central Government Offices and Department of Minerals and Energy. * Out of print: Search Amazon.com for this book.
• Eite, Poppa (1978). “A Legend about Ten Brothers.” Oral History 6(8): 75-77. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Hailaeavila, Aria (1978a). “The First Moon.” Oral History 6(8): 109-110. This article presents a myth from the Keuru and Orokolo Peoples.
• Hailaeavila, Aria (1978b). “A Short History About Vailala Descent.” Oral History 6(8): 112-119. This article presents an origin legend of the Keuru and Orokolo Peoples.
• Haro [Haru], Laivi (1978). “A Legend about the Flying Fox.” Oral History 6(8): 102. This article presents a myth from the Uaripi, Raepa Tati, or Toaripi People.
• Hasoria, James (1981). “The Wallaby and the Cuscus.” Oral History 9(4): 104-105. This article presents a myth from an unspecified location.
• Hauka, Hui (1978). “A Legend from Orokolo - Vailala.” Oral History 6(8): 71-74. This article presents a myth from the Orokolo People.
• Huiapo, Soi (1978). “The Origin of he Morning Star.” Oral History 6(8): 89-94. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Kairi, Thomas (1978a). “Imoi of the Purari Delta.” Oral History 6(4): 72-74.
• Kakare, Ivan Iru (1977). “Towards a Traditional Settlement History of the Moveave, Toaripi and Moripi People.” Oral History 4(7): 13-31. This article presents origin legends of the Toaripi People (pp. 15, 17, 27-30). Moreave-Toaripi (Moveave) and Morigi-Iokea (Moripi) are dialects of the Toaripi Language.
• Kakare, [Ivan] Iru (1978). “Ita Karaeta: The Slim Pig.” Oral History 6(7): 102-104. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People. It was told by Kaipu Avosa.
• Kakare, Ivan Iru (1980). “A Myth of the Lavai and Luipi Clans of the Elema People of the Eastern Gulf of Papua.” Oral History 8(6): 81-87. This article presents origin legends of the Orokolo (Elema) People.
• Kavo, Avu (1978). “Aruaru and Lauapi.” Oral History 6(8): 104-106. This article presents a myth from the Orokolo People.
• Kekeo, Aihi (1978). “A Legend about Mairi and Eare.” Oral History 6(8): 87-89. This article presents a myth from the Orokolo People.
• Karava, Pauveta (1978a). “A Legend about Mori Hova and He Hova or a Boy and a Girl.” Oral History 6(8): 77-81. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Karava, Pouveta [Pauveta] (1978b). “The Brave Old Woman and Her Grandson.” Oral History 6(8): 95. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Karava, Pouveta [Pauveta] (1978c). “Saukuru the Giant.” Oral History 6(8): 95-101. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Korai, Miaea (1978). “A Story from Popo Village.” Oral History 6(8): 4-6. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Koaru, Hila (1974). “Fishing at Koaru.” Oral History 2(10): 101-102. This article presents the legend of Lehe from the Toaripi People.
• Koaru, Ausuru (1978). “Two Brothers Named Frog and Lizard.” Oral History 6(8): 101-102. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Koete, Oviasu (1978). “A Legend about Harai, the Morning Star, and Keai, South-Eastern Star. Why Harai is Brighter than Keai Star.” Oral History 6(8): 82-84. This article presents a myth from Pukari Village. I do not know where this is located.
• Koivi, Evo’o (1978). “Why the Pigs Dig the Ground.” Oral History 6(4): 104. This article presents a myth from the Purari People.
• Kakure, Iru (1974). Toivita: A Myth of the Melaripi Clan of the Elema People of the Eastern Gulf of Papua. As told by Sure Lari & Avosa Ikui in the Toaripi Language. In Toaripi and English. Port Moresby: Centre for Creative Arts, University of Papua New Guinea, 18 pp., illustrated. This book presents a myth of the Orokolo (Elema) People. * Out of print.
• Lavaki, Laho (1981). “The Eel.” Oral History 9(4): 109-110. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Mailau, Prosey (1977). “Vaimuru Sub-District, Gulf Province.” Oral History 5(5): 60-62. A more specific location is not given for this myth.
• Mari’a, E. [Ekai, Geoffrey] & Kolia, John (1977). “Vaimuru Dialect, Purari Language, Gulf Province.” Oral History 5(2): 2-36, illustrated. This article presents an origin legend of the Purari People (pp. 5-8). An English to Purari glossary is given on pp. 18-33.
• Miva, Fareho (1978). “Legends of the Gulf Province: The Story of Meovea Kivovia.” Oral History 6(8): 64-71. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Muri, Po’o (1978). “Legends about the Moon.” Oral History 6(4): 106-107. This article presents a myth from an unspecified location.
• Murray, F. E. (1924). The Natives of the Purari Delta. Territory of Papua Anthropology Report No. 5. Port Moresby: Government Printer. Pages 246-270 presents 8 stories from the Purari People. Reprinted by AMS Press. Out of print: Search Amazon.com for this book.
• Opa, Farapo (1971). Toaripi Legends and Songs Translated. Oakleigh, Victoria: Oakleigh Public Libraries, 7 pp. This has legends of the Toaripi People. * Out of print: Search Amazon.com for this book.
• Poiki, Kau’u (1978). “Why Dogs Live with Men.” Oral History 6(8): 103. This article presents a myth from the Purari People.
• Pokana, Ruth (1978). “How the Coconut Tree Grew: The Two Brothers.” Oral History 6(8): 81. This article presents a myth from an unspecified location.
• Rove, Kaia (1983). “How the Moon Came to Be.” Oral History 11(3): 47-50. This article presents a myth from the Purari People.
• Siari, Sarufa (1978). “A Story from Sepoe [Sepoi] Village.” Oral History 6(8): 107-108. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Sala, Mairi (1978). “How a Boy Changed into an Eel.” Oral History 6(8): 75. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Sarenko, Clement (1978). “A Legend about Tovoru and Houhe.” Oral History 6(8): 74-75. This article presents a myth from the Toaripi People.
• Swadling et al. (1977)
• Thomas, Laho Avosa (1975). “Kaipi Elavoape of Miaru.” Oral History 3(9): 46-55. This article presents an origin legend of the Toaripi People (pp. 49-55).
• Ulijaszek, S. T. & Poraituk, S. P. (1981). The Sago Subsistence of the People of the Purari River Delta. Wagiani, Papua New Guinea: Office of Environment and Conservation and Department of Minerals and Energy. This book discusses the mythology of the Purari People. * Out of print.
• Waheo, Jacob (1989). Moju: Tusi a Ioing. Moju: Bongon Kau Adreem [Songs and Legends of Ouvea]. Series: Langues Canaques 14. Noumea: C.T.R.D.P. of New Caledonia, 168 pp., illustrated. This book discusses the mythology of the Purari People. * Out of print.
• Williams, F. E. (1940). The Drama of Orokolo: The Social and Ceremonial Life of the Elema. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 464 pp., illustrated. This book discusses the mythology of the Orokolo People. * Out of print.
• Williams, Francis Edgar (1977b). “Trading Voyages from the Gulf of Papua.” In: Schwimmer (1977). This chapter (pp. 48-72) presents 5 myths of the Orokolo People (pp. 63-72). It was originally published in Oceania 3: 139-166 (1932-1933).
• Williams, Francis Edgar (1977c). “Bull-Roarers in the Papuan Gulf.” In: Schwimmer (1977). This chapter (pp. 73-122) sketches 7 myths connected with the bull-roarer (pp. 83-86). It was originally published in Territory of Papua, Anthropology Report 17 (1936).

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