Hello,
A brief search turned up an article by Rind stating clearly what I only intuited (I have not delved in tribal homosexuality at any length): The Melanesian model occurred in various societies throughout Melanesia, Australia, and Amazonia (Adam, 1985; Herdt, 1987). The essential features of the Melanesian form are that sexual relations occur between prepubescent boys from about 7 to 13 and adolescent boys or young men, and these relations are socially sanctioned generally because they are considered essential to "growing" the boys, providing them with the semen they lack (Herdt, 1987). Semen is transmitted orally, anally, or through body smearing, depending on the society, and is believed to mature the boys physically and is often believed to transmit hunting or warrior prowess to them as well (Herdt, 1987, 1991b). Keesing (1982) and Herdt (1987) noted that practices remarkably similar to those observed in Melanesia occurred among certain Native American tribes in Amazonia. Williams (1992) recounted similar age-structured relations among the ancient Mayans, in which institutionalized marriages occurred between prepubescent boys and adolescent males. See "Biased Use of Cross-Cultural and Historical Perspectives on Male Homosexuality in Human Sexuality Textbooks" in the Journal of Sex Research, Nov, 1998 by Bruce Rind. I understand that these practices have "sublimated" in response to exposure to Western culture, mostly in the last quarter century or so. Haiduc (talk) 02:58, 12 May 2008 (UTC)