This is the first comprehensive study of Samoan medicine. Cluny and La‘avasa Macpherson have carried out intensive investigation into the practice and beliefs of contemporary indigenous healers, or fofo, in Western Samoa to produce a fascinating and thoughtful study. They explain convincingly why traditional Samoan medicine and its skilled practitioners continue to flourish alongside Western medical practice both in Samoa and in Samoan immigrant communities.The first part of the book gives a history of Samoan indigenous medicine, showing its capacity to adapt to change and to absorb foreign elements. In the second part the authors describe contemporary Samoan practice. They explore the role of the healer in Samoan society and discuss recruitment, training, and specialization. This is followed by a summary of Samoan beliefs about health, illness, and the nature of the human organism; and a detailed account of diagnostic methods and major treatments used. This is an important book for all those interested in alternative medicines and in contemporary Pacific culture and will be of considerable practical use within the medical community.

Samoan Medical Belief and Practice (Anthropology)

Politics & Social Sciences

MacPherson, Cluny

Macpherson, Laavasa

Social Sciences

University of Hawaii Press

A guide to shorter and less difficult walks on the Greek Cyclades island of Naxos. As well as general information about walking on the island, 30 routes are described in detail with photographs and GPS data: *9 walks to and along the beaches; *18 walks in the countryside, visiting historical relics, ancient churches and high mountain villages; *3 mountain walks giving the chance to ascend both of the highest peaks in the Cyclades plus a visit to a small chapel perched high on a mountain ridge. Routes are up to 4½ hours long and graded as Easy, Moderate or Difficult. Most pass by or end at a convenient taverna for lunch and all but one make use of the local bus services (details provided) to get you to and from the walks.There is a companion volume to this guide. "NAXOS harder walks and scrambles" gives details of 25 longer - up to 8¼ hours - and more difficult walks on the island for those looking for a real challenge.The author has walked and climbed on Naxos for the past 20 years and usually spends about 2 months of the year on the island. He is still finding new bits to explore!

NAXOS WALKS

Sports & Outdoors

Hiking & Camping

Independently published

A guide to longer and more difficult walks on the Greek Cyclades island of Naxos. 25 walks are described in detail with photographs and GPS data. Routes are up to 8¼ hours long and/or graded as Very Difficult and Severe. There are also routes where there is a significant amount of scrambling at Grade 1 and Grade 2 level. Most routes use the local bus services (details provided) for transport but there are 3 routes where an expensive taxi to the start is necessary. There is a companion volume to this guide. "Naxos Walks" gives details of 30 shorter and less difficult outings for those who want to walk on the island but are not looking for seriously challenging routes - or need a rest day from the difficult stuff!The author has walked and climbed on Naxos for the past 20 years and usually spends about 2 months of the year on the island. He is still finding new bits to explore!

NAXOS HARDER WALKS & SCRAMBLES

Samoan Medical Belief and Practice

Macpherson, La'Avasa

Reference

Auckland Univ Pr

Examining a variety of intriguing issues, this sociological study analyzes the impact global culture has had on the flora and fauna, people, economies, languages, and cultures of the Pacific for many centuries. The survey draws on findings from a 40-year research partnership, illustrating the effects of globalization from the perspective of a typical Samoan village and documenting the country’s shift from baskets to buckets, from religious authority to a questioning democracy, and from in-kind work to a cash economy. Delving into questions such as When do Pacific emigrants stop sending money to their home village? Do villagers stop giving away fish when they get a refrigerator? and How do cell phones change villages? this argument contends that contemporary changes are presenting a more profound challenge to Samoan social institutions and society than at any other time in the past. Comprehensive and accessible, this guide is essential for those interested in the way global forces are shaping change in small Pacific nations.

The Warm Winds of Change: Globalisation in Contemporary Samoa

Auckland University Press

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Books by MacPherson, Cluny