MISIMA, name of an island

Relations

Item Relations

Item: MEL, natakambol Same string figure procedure: This Item
Item: WARMUPTA, bread fruit stem Same string figure procedure: This Item

Graphical representation of this item’s relations

Citation

Eric Vandendriessche, “MISIMA, name of an island,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/12.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : MISIMA, name of an island

  • Creator : Eric Vandendriessche

  • Contributor(s) : Morubikina, village of Oluvilei, Trobriand Islands
    Bowelogusa, village of Oluvilei, Trobriand islands
    Niga, village of Wabutuma, Trobriand islands

  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    "Misima" is the name of an island of Milne Bay Province.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Opening A
    2. Pass 1 distal to 2 loops. Proximally, insert 1 into 5 loops, pick up 5n, and return to position.
    3. Proximally, insert 2 into proximal 1 loops, pick up proximal 1f, and return to position. Release 1.
    4. Distally, insert 1 into proximal (lower) index loops. Pick up 5n and return. Release 5.
    5. 5 and 4 hook down distal 2f. 5 and 4 seize 1f, 5 pick up 1f and return. Release 1.
    6. Distally, insert 1 into proximal index loops, pick up both distal and proximal 2.
    7. Navaho 1
    8. Release distal 2 loops.
    9. Pass 1 distal to 2 loops. Proximally, insert 1 into 5 loops. Pick up 5n and return to position.
    10. Caroline extension
    11. Distally, insert 1 into distal 2 loops. Pick up distal 2f and return. Release distal 2 loops. Proximally, insert 2 into 1 loops. Release 1.
    12. Repeat steps 3-9

    Construction method (symbolic writing)

    Intermediate figure:

    $\underline{O}.A:\overrightarrow{m}1(2\infty):\underline{i}1(5\infty): p1(5n)\#:\underline{i}2(l1\infty): p2(l1f)\#:r1:\overline{i}1(l2\infty): p1(5n)\#:r5:\underline{h}45(u2f):s~\underline{5}\overline{4}(1f):p5(1f)\#:r1:\overline{i}1(l2\infty): p1(l2f, u2f):N1:r2\overrightarrow{m}1(2\infty):\underline{i}1(5\infty): p1(5n)\#:\underline{E}.C$

    Final figure:

    $\overline{i}1(u2\infty): p1(2f)\#:r2:\underline{i}2(1\infty):r1: \underline{i}2(l1\infty): p2(l1f)\#:r1: \overline{i}1(l2\infty): p1(5n)\#:r5:\underline{h}45(u2f):p5(1f)\#:r1:\overline{i}1(l2\infty): p1(l2f, u2f)): N1:r2: \overrightarrow{m}1(2\infty):\underline{i}1(5\infty): p1(5n)\#:\underline{E}.C$
  • Item references

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, eaf, mp4

  • Language : English, Kilivila

  • Location : Village of Oluvilei, Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, South Pacific

  • Description : Trobriand string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

Output Formats