KORERI MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS IN THE BIAK-NUMFOR CULTURE AREA To the memory of Frans Johannes Frederik van Hass (1894-1931 missionary in New Guinea) 1. Rodjau Obinaru from Wardo, the informant in 1952 with the original Kanken (Kedwai) Koreri shield (cf. pp. VI, 126-127, 260). 2. Konoor Warbesren Rumbewas in prison (1934) {cf. pp. 150ff.). 1965 f. 3. Pamai Jacadewa, visionary of Ormu in 1962 {cf. pp. 283, 284 and 295). KONINKLIJK INSTITUUT VOOR TAAL-, LAND- EN VOLKENKUNDE TRANSLATION SERIES 15 FREERK CH. KAMMA KORERI MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS IN THE BIAK-NUMFOR CULTURE AREA THE HAGUE - MARTINUS NIJHOFF - 1972 This book is published under a grant from the Netherlands Ministry of Education and Sciences The original title was: DE MESSIAANSE KO RÉRI-BEWEGINGEN IN HET BIAKS-NOEMFOORSE CULTUURGEBIED (First ed. J. N. Voorhoeve, The Hague [1954]) The English translation was made by Mrs. M. J. van de Vathorst-Smit The manuscript was edited by Mrs. W. E. Haver Droeze-Hulswit I.S.B.N. 90.247.1301.3 PREFACE This study developed out of the personal experience of daily life that I and my family had in the years 1932-1942 among the Biak- speaking people of the Radja Ampat area (Sorong), West New Guinea. Our family had become integrated into the community as far as possible, and we used the Biak language every day. Three of the movements described in this book took place in that area, so that I was able to study them under the favorable conditions of direct participation and observation. The first edition of the book in 1954 (in Dutch) was the writer's doctoral thesis (Ph. D.), written under the guidance of the late Professor J. P. B. de Josselin de Jong. I am very grateful to the Royal Institute of Linguistics and Anthro- pology, Leiden, for publishing the revised English edition in its Translation Series. The Biak material deserves more readers than the Dutch edition was able to reach. Except for this Preface, the Song of Manarmakdi and the conclusions and summary, the translation was made by Mrs. M. J. van de Vathorst- Smit. To make easy reading of the old-fashioned archive-language was not an easy task. I offer her my sincere thanks. Mrs. W. E. Haver Droeze- Hulswit undertook the tedious work of comparing the quotations with the bibliography, checking the often incomplete names and titles of the latter, and preparing the whole revised edition for the printer, complete with indexes. Any degree of accuracy that the book may possess is largely due to her painstaking efforts, for which I am deeply grateful. Mr. S. O. Robson M.A. was always willing to help disentangle knots, for example in some footnotes, the Song of Manarmakdi, and some additions which had to be made. I am also grateful for the help I received from Dr. J. C. Anceaux, who checked the spelling of geogra- phical names and the spelling rules for Indonesian and indigenous New Guinea languages. Dr. R. Roolvink assisted with the nomenclature of governmental officials. I would also like to express my gratitude to Professor Dr. F. J. Orme- ling, Director of the International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth VI PREFACE Sciences (I.T.C.) in Enschede, who was so kind as to provide me with new drawings for the maps. To the many Biak informants, especially the Rodjau Obinaru and the Mananir of the village of Wardo, whose knowledge has been extremely valuable in the formulation of this study of the Koreri Movements, my heartfelt thanks. The extent to which I am indebted for the material that my friends and colleagues put at my disposal will be discovered in the following pages. I mention here only the late Revs. I. S. Kijne, H. J. Agter, and F. J. S. Rumainum, as well as Messrs. M. W. Kaisjepo and Kumense Mandof and Rev. J. Bijkerk. This study is dedicated to the memory of my late colleague F. J. F. van Hasselt, as a token of my admiration. For 36 years he worked in New Guinea and taught us missionaries that a deep love of people is the only condition for a real knowledge of their way of life. After I obtained access to old German periodicals some additions turned out to be necessary, and the total number of Koreri Movements has therefore risen to 45. In a supplement (Chapter X) the reader will find some discussions of publications on the general topic which have appeared since 1954, and in the Appendix it will be seen that the list of similar movements in West New Guinea has risen from 13 in 1954 to 26. In Chapter IV the Song of the "Messiah" figure has been added. I am aware that many more movements have occurred and are still occurring, especially in times of political unrest and socio-economic uncertainty. For a variety of reasons pseudonyms have sometimes been used instead of the real names of clans and persons. Some comment on the bibliography, quotations and oral sources must now be made: 1. Some quotations have been abbreviated, in order to avoid the long- winded, old-fashioned style of the original, but the reader can rest assured that the original meaning remains. 2. The numbers following quotations indicate the number in the bibliography; when a year is mentioned periodicals are intended. The last number always indicates the page on which one can find the quotation or the explanation. 3. The spelling of Indonesian words and names follows the rules for Bahasa Indonesia. For words and names in indigenous languages the rule is that consonants have English value and vowels continental value. PREFACE VII 4. The italicization of words and passages has mostly been done by the present author. 5. In the General Index persons' names have generally been listed under the first name. For example, Kumense Mandof is to be found under K. 6. In various places in this book there is reference to texts which are in the possession of the author and will be published at a later date. 7. Two maps show the places and areas where movements occurred; in the Legend of one of the maps some comments are given. The small map shows similar movements which occurred in other parts of West New Guinea (Irian Barat). CONTENTS PREFACE V INTRODUCTION 1 I. THE SETTING 5 a. Geographical and historical background 5 b. Plans of houses and villages 10 c. Social organization 11 d. Religion 14 II. THE MYTH OF MANARMAKERI 17 Names 17 Prehistory 20 Genealogy of Manarmakeri . 22 On the heights of Yamnaibori 23 Prologue 23 THE MYTH 25 a. Introduction 25 b. The story 26 III. THE RETURN OF MANSEREN MANGGUNDI AND THE CONCLUSION OF THE MYTH 37 a. The return 37 b. The conclusion of the myth 40 IV. THE MEANING OF THE DIFFERENCES IN THE VARIANTS OF THE MYTH 50 The poetical text of the myth ........... 58 The Song (Beyuser) of Manarmakdi 59 (a. Introduction) 59 (b. The song (monologue of the Old Man)) 59 X CONTENTS (c. Intermezzo) 60 (d. Continuing the narrative) 61 V. THE CONNECTION WITH BIAK MYTHOLOGY .... 64 1. The disguised figures, rejected or accepted 68 2. The contact with the ancestors and the land of souls . 73 3. The meaning of the coconut palm 77 4. The voyage from west to east, and the role of the generation groups 81 5. The moon, the sun, and the Morning Star 82 6. The animals in the myths . 85 7. Acts of creation by the principal personages in the myths 86 8. The function of the clan sanctuary as the center of mythical power and the moveability of this center . 87 VI. THE ADVENT NIGHTS 97 VII. HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENTS 1855-1967 . ... 102 Introduction 102 The Movements 105 Japen and Kurudu . ... ..... 142 The Radja Ampat area 145 Koreri movements after World War II . 153 VIII. THE MOVEMENTS OF 1938-1943 IN BIAK, NUMFOR AND JAPEN 157 1. The beginning of the Movement in Supiori 157 2. 1942, the New Leader, Stephanus Simopyaref . 168 3. Considerations 173 4. Further Developments . 175 5. The Development in Numfor 179 6. Different Trends within — and in connection with — the Movement 183 I. Koreri followers . 183 II. The external Koreri followers . .185 III. The anti-Koreri groups. ,... 186 CONTENTS XI 7. Reorganization after the Imprisonment of Stephanus Ronsumbre 187 8. Stephen Wanda in Numfor . .... 190 9. Birmori (Korinus) Sasiaber or Bosren 192 10. Chronological Outline of the Events after November 1942 195 11. Koreri Symbolism in Numfor (c. 1943-44) 202 12. The Great Movement in Japen. ..... ,.. 204 13. The Final Phase of the Great Movement 209 IX. THE HISTORICAL FACTORS AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE CONTACT-SITUATIONS ON THE MOVEMENTS 214 1. Mutual rivalry 214 2. The raids . 214 3. The Subjection to Tidore 215 4. Contacts with Europeans 216 5. The Mission 217 6. The Government 218 7. Attitude towards strangers 221 8. The Problem of Acculturation in the Geelvink Bay . 225 X. CLOSING REMARKS ON THE MOVEMENTS AS A PROBLEM 231 1. The Position of the Problem (in general) 231 2. Supplement 239 3. Missionary views of the Movements 262 4. The Manseren Movements of Biak 271 XI. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 274 Summary 274 Conclusion 278 APPENDIX: Similar Movements in other parts of West New Guinea (West Irian) 283 XII CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .... 299 BIBLIOGRAPHY 301 GENERAL INDEX 320 PHOTOGRAPHS Frontispiece 1. Rodjau Obinaru with shield 2. Konoor Warbesren Rumbewas 3. Pamai Jacadewa MAPS . At the back of the book I. Indicating Koreri Movements II. Indicating Similar Movements INTRODUCTION The use of the term 'messianic' in the title of this book implies a conclusion which has yet to be proved correct.