摘要：The name of the island of Silba has probably been derived from the Latin word silva (forest) or from the Greek silbon (sand). The inhabitants, presently 233 of them, call it Siba. A large proportion of the population has emigrated, or sails the seas (a tradition there since the 16th century). Silbljani do not consider themselves »peasants«. They supplement maritime activities by sheep-raising, hunting and, most importantly, by tourist industry, while viticulture and cheese-making industry have become neglected. The Community Council of Silba invited the ethnological section of the organization »Young Researchers« to do field-work on the island in February 1980. Those who accepted the offer were mostly first and second year ethnology students, and it was their first, field-work experience. They looked primarily into calendar customs and life-cycle customs, as well as folk music and instruments.
