The Historical Factors and the Influence of the Contact-Situations on the Movements

Abstract

In a survey of the historical factors which could have influenced the movements it is evident that in the first place the crisis arose from objective data: the geographic environment, sickness and death, but along with them the socio-economic factors of food and ceremonial exchange. At first contact with foreigners did not affect the movements. Even though submission to Tidore meant serious interference, the supposition is justified that the insecure situation brought about by the abovementioned causes, aggravated by acute rivalry and the lack of internal security among the Biak people, contributed more to the origin of crises than the influence of far-away Tidore. Then the acculturation process gradually starts. A positive appreciation of the achievements of western technology is accompanied by an opposition to tutelage. Even though neither the Protestant Mission (est. 1855) nor the Government (est. 1898) gave rise to an acute crisis in the Biak community by resorting to drastic measures, artificial efforts to introduce foreign elements (even if desired) naturally aroused resistance. To live truly means in the first place to be able to be one’s self.