Page 62 - Micronesia

his money continues to be used in certain traditional mar- the people, many of whom continue the time-honored custom of
chewing betel nut, a green palm nut sprinkled with powdered lime
T riage, funeral and first-child ceremonies though, as it was in and wrapped in a leaf from a pepper tree. When chewed, this con-
coction turns the saliva red, and over time the smiles of the elderly
the past, it is the responsibility of the recipient to verify its au- become bright red.
thenticity. As a result of more than a century of foreign influence,
and more recently in an effort to meet the needs of a developing I n addition many of the older customs and art forms that had
nation, may aspects of the traditional culture have changed. The been slowly dying are seeing a rebirth. New bai, built in the
outboard motor has replaced the outrigger canoe, much of the traditional style, have recently been constructed in several vil-
ancient fishing knowledge is on the verge of being lost and men lages, and traditional sailing canoes are again being built by the
now gather in restaurants instead of the bai to discuss the poli- elders in Koror. The ancient carvings that appeared on the bai have
tics of their world. As nearly half of the work force is employed by evolved into storyboards, carved pieces of wood depicting color-
the government, the dollar now reigns over a once-subsistence ful Palauan legends, which have become the most well-known art
economy. Today, few young women are willing to work in the taro form in the country today. In the northern villages of Kayangel and
patches - the gardens are now tended by mostly female elders of Ngerchelong, the chiefs have reinstated an age-old conservation
the village. And though hereditary chiefs continue to influence law known as bul, which prohibits fishing on certain reefs during
political decisions, their traditional authority is often in conflict critical spawning periods. And Palauan dance experts throughout
with the elected officials of the current Western-style democratic the islands still tech their children the traditional song and dances,
government. and on special occasions one can see young people adorned with
flowers and shell jewelry perform in the traditional dress of their
Y et even though the people of Palau are very cosmopolitan, cultural ancestors.
well-educated and Western in appearance, many traditions
remain. Most, however, involve a complex system of social obliga-
tions not seen by the casual observer. One aspect of the culture
that is quite apparent is the friendly and gregarious nature of