Fw: Samsam

[Richard Scaglion]

> 'Samsam' is used widely in E Sepik. Used specifically to describe the
> dancing about of a spearman in a fight employed to avoid being hit by
> his opponents .

Em i stret, tasol it can also refer to offensive movements in 
spear-throwing, as well as to ritualized mock spear-throwing. During an 
actual battle, the spear thrower often feigned a throw to get his opponent 
to dodge so that he could actually throw when the defender was off balance. 
The feigned spear-throwing movements are also called samsam. For ritual 
occasions, men with spears often "charge" various groups and locations, and 
the mock battle movements, both offensive and defensive, are both referred 
to as "samsam".

Rick