Reflections on the Snake Messenger

1. Reflections on the Snake Messenger Perspectivism in Siberut, Mentawai Islands, Western Indonesia

4. The Sakaliou Clan • Patrilineal and patrilocal • Egalitarian • Exchange based on reciprocity: • Generalized • Balanced • Negative • Spirits are included

9. From Spirits to Humans • The snake as exception • More often: • Butterflies and insects • Birds and bird calls • Many other events • Happenings, not objects • Messages are general and usually ambiguous

10. From Humans to Spirits • Chicken entrails • Pig hearts • Plants (gaud) • Shamans • Taboos • Specific and unambiguous • Possibly ambiguous to spirits

11. Chicken Entrails

12. Pig Hearts

13. Plants (Gaud)

14. Shamans

15. Taboos

16. Divination or Gift Exchange? • The myth of Maligai • The myth of the left ear • Lia • Back to the snake

20. Sakaliou and Southeast Asia