Gunts Yard, Simbai Valley, Papua New Guinea
September 6, 1963
Bossboi Gul spent several hours with his youngest daughter, Koram, while her mother was gardening. He gave Koram a special treat of sugarcane, biting off the tough outer bark and handing her little juicy inside bits that she could chew to suck out the sweet juice. The Maring people laughed at our custom of drinking water - cold from streams or heated with tea. To them, sugarcane, mbo, was what one drank. Thirst could also be quenched with a juicy cucumber straight from a garden.
When it was time to head back to their home in Tenegump. Gul exchanged a few words with the young men who were gathered in the haus kuk, where they prepared food for themselves and for us, the visiting anthropologists.
Then Gul helped Koram over the fence surrounding the yard, protecting the inner space from visits by the free-ranging domesticated pigs . Fences protected all yards and gardens, so there were many fences to be navigated every day and children learned young to climb over them. Gul gave Koram a hand - lifting her in the traditional way the Maring lift their babies, i.e. by grasping one upper arm.
<>>><>>><>
Fascinating look at drinking water vs the sucking dry of sugar cane. Also, love how once Bossboi lifts Koram over the fence, off she goes! Sweet picture!
ReplyDelete