Oral-Formulaic Theory: Annotated Bibliography

Paul Mai. "The Time of Darkness' of Yuu Kuia." In Oral Tradition in Melanesia. Ed. by Donald Denoon. Port Moresby, New Guinea: University of Papua, New Guinea and Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies. pp. 125-40.

Describes the oral evidence surrounding the Yuu Kuia period of relative darkness resulting from volcanic eruptions, among the highland peoples of New Guinea, suggesting that evidence from the oral tradition, while differing somewhat from tribe to tribe, is no less accurate than accounts from geological surveys of the area, which differ significantly depending upon the research methodology employed. See Blong 1981.
Area: ML