Malinowski
Malinowski is the narrator in the book. He travelled to Papua New Guinea to study the life of the natives. He is awed by how their culture albeit it being considered savage, is very similar to that of the European world.
The Kula
These are the people that Malinowski studied. They have a rich culture that includes trade of ornaments, political organization and social organization. Their culture awes the ethnographer especially the fact that in this society, canoe building is a social activity which all members of the society can take part in.
The Trobriands
These are the first group of people whom the narrator encounters when he docks at Papua New Guinea. Their form of government is such that the finer looking people rule those that aren’t in accordance to societal standards.
The chief of the Trobriands
He holds the highest form of authority in the Trobriand Land. The chief is the custodian of his people’s culture and he punishes the wrongdoers with black magic.
Dr. Seligam
An ethnographer who had previously studied the Kula. Malinowski credits him for naming the races of that inhabit the west coast of Papua New Guinea.
