Nakamutmut or Tago Mask

This mask originated with one of the groups of people living in the region between the Huon Peninsula on mainland New Guinea and the western part of New Britain, including the Siassi Islands in the Vitiaz Straits. It belongs to a group of masks, used only once every 10 years or so, that were said to represent a type of spirit or life force. Several masks were used at a time, with the wearers' bodies concealed within cloaks of leaves. These masked men moved through the village, throwing stones and scaring the women and children. They demonstrated their authority by imposing taboos on certain everyday activities, such as picking coconuts. In essence they acted as a type of policeman—someone who can impose a form of control on people in a society that is generally less fettered than those found in the West.