Trading contacts in the Bismarck Archipelago during the whaling era, 1799–1884

Abstract Judicious use of whaling logs provides rich insight into the history of the Bismarck Archipelago. During the whaling era 1799–1884 there were three whaling grounds and four common anchorages in the region, which had a profound impact on the nature of contact and trade with islanders. Trading contact was predominantly at sea. The logs provide details of exact items traded, whalers for subsistence, islanders for iron. Only surpluses were exchanged. Contact was overwhelmingly friendly. Because whalers’ needs were few they rarely ventured further than the beach. They brought some disease, and new ideas, but had no deliberate intention of altering Islanders’ way of life. A pattern of mutual advantage and economic symbiosis emerged. The logs say much of the contact but little of the impact. The islanders remained economically independent. A complex pattern of diffusion occurred working inland from coastal contact sites, affecting prices, values and inflation. The spread of iron came from epicentres of ...