Caroline Mytinger traveled in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific before World War II. She wrote a book, Headhunting in the Solomon Islands, about her travels. In that book she wrote that it was the custom on Ontong Java Island to hold celebrations, during which all unmarried women and girls of marriageable age paraded stark naked through the village, to advertise that they were available for marriage. She wrote that the parades were very popular events, and she saw many photographs of them.
I have tried to look up further information about these parades. There is a lot of information about Ontong Java on the internet, but I have found no references to the nude parades, and have found no photos of them. I wonder if Caroline Mytinger's story is true or not. If it is true, do they still have these parades on Ontong Java? I hope somebody on this forum has more information about Ontong Java to share!
