-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en»> http-equiv=content-type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859–1"> Here it is argued that understanding another culture can only be approached through models derived from representations conveyed by members of that culture. The anthropologist may then elaborate these images through the choice of analytical parallels, even extending to other disciplines and personal experience. Each chapter here views Maa institutions through a different lens, exploring models relevant to a comprehensive analysis of social life.