The complex system of inter-island commerce that existed among the trobriand islanders of the southwest pacific ocean. The kula ring was a closed trading system in which only established senior male trading partners from each island could participate. The trade was carried out with large outrigger sailing canoes. On the surface, it appeared to be primarily an exchange of gift items and ceremonial feasting organised to reinforce bonds between senior trading partners. The trade network was essentially circular. If a trader was travelling in a clockwise direction around the circuit, he would give long necklaces of red shells (soulava) as gifts to his trading partner. If he was travelling in a counterclockwise direction, he would give armbands of white shells (mwali). These necklaces and armbands were the kula items. While the senior trading partners were formally greeting each other and reinforcing their friendship by giving kula gifts, the younger men were usually unloading more practical trade items on the beach to be bartered. These were mostly surplus luxury items from their home islands. While the kula items were exchanged via a system of generalised reciprocity, the regular trade goods were mostly traded in a manner that resulted in balanced reciprocity.