DKH01-010_kamang - Kamaŋ ‘Crocodile’

This string figure represents a crocodile. There are few crocodiles (Crocodylus novaeguineae) in the upper Konmei Creek past Kanjimei village, but they inhabit lake Muŋam, which is upriver from where Kanjimei village is located, and they sometimes make their way out into the creek. The crocodile is a highly prized kill for its fatty meat, and the Awiakay will sometimes sell the skin of a young crocodile in Angoram or in Wewak. It is believed that a thunderstorm will arise when someone kills a crocodile in the river, as crocodiles are water spirits The Awiakay are a society that is closer to the Highlands, and do not have an elaborate crocodile cult like their downriver Karawari neighbours. However the crocodile features prominently in Awiakay mythology. Images: 02: Darja Munbaŋgoapik showing the final design ‘crocodile’ 03: Kamaŋ ‘Crocodile’ (Crocodylus novaeguineae) . Language as given: Awiakay

此绳编图案为鳄鱼造型。在途经坎吉梅村的孔梅溪上游区域，新几内亚鳄（Crocodylus novaeguineae）数量稀少；它们栖息于坎吉梅村上游的穆纳姆湖，偶尔会游入溪中。鳄鱼肉脂肪丰厚，是极具价值的猎获物，阿维亚凯（Awiakay）族人有时会将幼年鳄鱼的皮销往安戈拉姆或韦瓦克两地。当地人认为，若有人在河中捕杀鳄鱼，便会引发雷暴，因为鳄鱼被视为水之灵。阿维亚凯族群更贴近高地文化，并未像其下游的卡拉瓦里邻族那样拥有繁复的鳄鱼崇拜仪式，但鳄鱼在阿维亚凯的神话体系中占据显著地位。图示：02：达尔贾·蒙巴恩戈阿皮克（Darja Munbaŋgoapik）展示最终定型的“鳄鱼”图案；03：卡曼（Kamaŋ）：新几内亚鳄（Crocodylus novaeguineae）。所用语言：阿维亚凯语（Awiakay）