Chapter 7 Summary and Analysis

The Mishimishimabowei-teri tribe is also known as "Sibarariwa's village." Other Yanomamo groups refer to them as "Bosikomima's village"—"plugged asshole's village." In a comparison of the Mishimishimabowei-teri and Kaobawa's people, Chagnon notes that they have generally migrated along parallel paths, though their hostilities toward each other have repelled the groups to keep them a militarily safe distance apart. Chagnon then compares Kaobawa with the Mishimishimabowei-teri leader, Moawa. He says Moawa was much more of a dictator but that his role as the headman of a larger tribe—with the inherent problems of running a larger organized group—required that he be more domineering. Moawa has the distinction of having killed twenty-two people, most of them single-handed. Everyone hates Moawa because of his aggressiveness and brutality. Chagnon conducts research in this tribe but eventually leaves due to Moawa's intimidation...