The Art of Bartering

The gunwingu people are famous for entertaining neighbors in rituals of ceremonial barter called the zamalag. Here, individuals from each side approach each other to trade. If an individual wants an object, he extols it by saying how fine it is. When agreement has been reached, each snatches the object out of the other's hand. The whole business concludes with a great feast at which the women reappear. But this too can lead to problems, since amidst the music and good cheer, there is ample opportunity for seductions. This sometimes led to jealous quarrels. Occasionally people would get killed.