Local origin stories describe the discovery of mokos buried in the ground, and it is still common to hear of moko being uncovered in this way. In The  People of Alor, American anthropologist Cora Du Bois describes people burying mokos in hidden locations to avoid surrendering them to creditors or lending them to relatives.
Local legends tell of mokos being unearthed from the ground, and it is still common to hear about mokos being found in this manner. In The  People of Alor, American anthropologist Cora Du Bois describes people burying mokos in concealed locations to prevent creditors or relatives from taking them.