The human mind arranges phenomena by a constant process of cognition, identification and polarization. Calling a certain object black presupposes both an identification of this object with other objects called black and a contradistinction of this object to other objects called white. Things do not have absolute self-sustaining properties. The latter are always a matter of relative position.

In Polopa conception, the enemies of enemies (and allies of allies) are always allies, by definition. When visiting communities unknown to my companions (in making a survey of the Polopa area), their first concern was to establish whether or not they had allies or enemies in common, and if not they prevailed on me to move on. They did not recognize the possibility of neutrality. Some results of the survey are shown in the accompanying map… of the communities of Polopa and their immediate neighbors. For convenience the communities are color-coded, marking the position of each by an R (red) or G (green): any two of the same color are allies and of different colors enemies. Notice that two colors only are sufficient to complete the pattern. It has a patchwork quality, but of red and green only. […]