22 May 2011
3. Tabuki, and assumingly others, are very concerned that they may look like an “I-matang ( a foreigner). If his wife doesn’t listen to him, he accuses her asking if she thinks she is an I matang. He is constantly afraid that people may think he is showing off, trying to look rich, or look like an I Matang.
5.Another interesting thing, observed in the islands is the concept of fines for bad behavior. If you misbehave, the village council immediately decides on a fine you must pay.. Rarely is this money. More often it is something that the council needs – such as a pig for an upcoming botaki, or some bags of sugar or rice. You can not argue it or there is great shame upon you and your family coupled with further consequences.
One day, four very large men came to tell Newi, the wife of Tabuki, that Tabuki was fined one pig. They were not told the reason. We watched as his wife and grandson shrieked and cried as the pig was taken away squealing and loaded in the back of a small rusty pickup truck. Tabuki was so embarrassed that he got drunk that night and avoided us for the final 2 days of our stay here, unable or unwanting to face us to say goodbye. Pigs are about the biggest fine that one can get, so whatever he did, it was very bad. Most likely he showed up to an afternoon maniaba meeting with alcohol on his breath. There is no tolerance for alcohol in a maneaba, even carried on ones breath. Fines are assigned and carried out the same day as the behavior happens. This is the judicial system. There is no appeal, no court date a year in the future. We are so sad to see that our exchange with him has ended on a very negative note.