Lorengau Local Custom Tips by Bwana_Brown

Here is a typical scene at almost every place in PNG that was located along it's coasts or mighty rivers! Dugout canoes, often equipped with an awning like these ones in Lorengau harbour. These people were very adept at living off the land for both their housing and food needs. The main commercial activities on the island centred around copra (coconut palm) production and seeking pearls and marine shells from the waters of the numerous islands.

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Traditional Manus dancing is unique amongst all the cultures of Papua New Guinea with its use of Garamuts (slit-drums) of different sizes and tones, and the energy of the dancing. It has become one of the most popular of the traditional dances across the country where the bodies writhe and jump sensuously to the various fast rhythmic beats of the different sizes of garamut.

This photo is of one of a number of Manus Island women who were dancing in a long, loose line, each waving a spear in one hand and this 'brush' in the other. They also wore wide grass skirts reaching almost to their knees.

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In the days before the internet and cell-phones, most communciations with family in either Canada or England was by Air Mail. A long-distance phone call would be made for really special occassions. Even local telephone calls in PNG were charged by the minute, as is the custom in England. As for the letters, I would regularly send photos and updates home to my parents and always made sure to put lots of colourful PNG stamps on the envelope!

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