Blog 2: Leach and Mabuchi

I highly doubt and really question the tone of the Leach 1950 article “Primitive Calendars.” Yes in the Torbrian islands the calendar year is measured differently but this is no reason to judge it so negatively. The writer, Leach, believes that to measure time in this way is primitive and inaccurate. What Leach fails to notice is how this calendar can adjust for agricultural and weather cycles. Naturally, yes the measurement systems will differ from group to group, which is fine not everyone needs to be on the same calendar. Exact timing certainly was never a necessary element of the Kula ring. The fact that they can extend months as needed is genius. They also have a much more accurate lunar system than we do here. Farmers today are always paying attention to nature to know how to farm; the exact calendar does not matter.

What I also question is that the methodology is never explained the comments on different calendars are stated, but there is nothing to put this information in context. Without knowledge of the methodology used it an examination of how Leach came to his conclusions that the individuals on the Botel Tobago Island did not understand what they were talking about when it came to their calendar makes me question the conclusion.

The Mabuchi article also lacks in an explanation of the methodology. I do question whether one anthropologist can give accurate information on so many cultures and as I read through it I noticed that the cultures named are all low-land groups and what I assume to be the Japanese administrative roups that were discussed in the last class? This makes me question the classifications or groups that are given. These were classifications of individuals for political purposes and these classifications were ultimately rather artificial. The classifications also refer to high-land groups, which from what I have read in the past, early colonizers did not have much contact or easy access to the highland groups due to the head-hunting.

I do agree with getting into the mindset and reading articles such as these, but they must be read with a grain of salt.