Table of Contents

Preface
List of Maps and Figures
Glossary of Terms

1. Yanomami, Xilixana, and the Anthropological Approach
Commonalities and Contrasts
The Clash of Cultures
The Yanomami: Why Study Them?
Cross-Cultural Research: The Academic Component
The Author's Own Journey
Recent Xilixana History: The Basics

Part I. The Xilixana Way of Life
2. Field Entry, Language-Learning and Cultural Surprises
The Challenge of Language
Contrasts in Culture: Startling Differences
Data-Gathering: Pursuits of Peril and Pleasure
The Researcher in the Field

3. Village Life and Social Culture: Basic Patterns
Village Composition and Decision-Making
Death, Burial, and Cremation
The Yãimo
Village Fissions, Population, and Distribution

4. Everyday Life: Food and Child Care, Hunting and Fishing
Daily Village Life
Hunting and Fishing
The Products of the Land
Agriculture
The Tools of Life

5. Family and Social Organization
Relationship Terminology and Acceptable Sexual Partners
Marriage
Feuds
Conception and Birthing
Bride Service and Bride Payment
Marriage Fragility and Termination
Gender Roles and the Status of Women

6. Socialization and Life Stages
Stage I: Total Dependence
Stage II: Early Childhood
Stage III: Later Childhood
Stage IV: Premarriage; and Puberty and Marriage
Stage V: Male First Family of Procreation; Female Childbearing and Childrearing
Stage VI: Male Second Family of Procreation; Female Post-Childrearing
Stage VII: Appendage
Summary of Stages in the Life Cycle

7. Myths, Spirits and Magic
Myths
Spirits
Alawalik Substances
Taboos
Part II. Past and Present: The Xilixana Then and Now
8. The Precontact Period: A Time of Isolation
Learning Xilixana History
The Early History
The Xilixana and Other Encounters
Quest for Tools

9. Postcontact History: Enter the Missionaries
Missionary Contact with the Xilixana
Land Expedition to the Aica
The Further History of the Mission Organization
Missionary Relations

10. The Missionary Presence: Translation, Literacy and Social Effects
Daily Life and Mission Tasks
Maintaining the Mission Station
Literacy Teaching
The Impact of Christian Teaching
The Missionary Presence: Mixed Results

11. "Warfare," Raids, and Revenge
The Roots of "Warfare"
Intervillage Killings
The Motivations for Violence and Warfare
Clashes with Miners
The Cultural Norms of Violence

Part III. Social Change
12. Adaptation in a Precapitalist Society: Agents of Change
The Brazilian Influence
Other Yanomami
Missionaries
Missionaries and the Dynamics of Change

13. Health as an Agent of Change
Xilixana Modes of Treating Illness
Missionaries and Health Care
Health Treatment Facilities and Organizations
The Treatment of Diseases
The Struggle for Yanomami Health Control: Remaining Questions

14. Broader Considerations in the Study of Social Change
The Dynamics of Yanomami Social Change
Change Agents, and Direct Effects
Exchange and Reciprocity

15. Reflections on Social Change among the Yanomami
Culture and Social Change
Social Change: Problems, Bias, and Ethics
A response to Change among the Yanomami
The Clash of Values Revisited
Conclusion
Appendix: Language-Learning
References
Index