Rumors of cannibalism and cruelty that flourish on the wild islands are greatly exaggerated. Tourists who dare to personally get acquainted with the culture and customs of the Papuans, argue that the natives are welcoming, although at first they look very harsh and gloomy. For information, Miklouho-Maclay also wrote in his diary. The Russian traveler has lived with wild tribes for more than a year. Almost immediately, he noted the simplicity of the locals. It turns out that since then (since 1870) the Papuans have not lost their kindness, of course, if you do not encroach on their land, pigs and women.
Where and how do real Papuans live today? What has changed in their lifestyle? This can be found in the article.
What has changed since the Stone Age?
Over the past centuries, not only the psychological portrait of the Papuans, but also their lifestyle has hardly changed. Ethnographers who have thoroughly studied the world of savages have a unanimous opinion that many tribes to this day have preserved in their everyday life signs of the Stone Age. Many Papuans, far from civilization, live as their ancestors. Of course, some signs of the modern world have penetrated the islands. For example, instead of palm leaves and feathers, they now use fabrics, but to a greater extent, their lifestyle remains in the same condition as centuries ago.
However, it should be noted that due to the appearance of white people where the Papuans live, part of the indigenous population, having left their tribal communities, began to engage in completely different activities. It started from the moment the mining industry and the development of tourism in the country (thanks to Europeans). Some local residents began to develop deposits, transport people, serve stores, etc. Today, a layer of farmers and entrepreneurs is being observed in Guinea. And it is already known that many rituals and traditions either disappeared without a trace, or became part of tourist attractions.
Where do the Papuans live?
Papuans are the most ancient population about. New Guinea and several other islands of Indonesia and Melanesia. They are the main population of the state of Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya (province of Indonesia). In their anthropological type, they are close to the Melanesians (branch of the Australoid race), but they differ in language. Not all Papuan languages are related. The Creole language of Tok-Pisin (the basis of English) is considered nationwide in PNG.
The largest Papuan tribe in East New Guinea was previously known in connection with cannibalism that flourished there. Today it is generally accepted that where the Papuans live, there is no longer such a terrifying tradition. However, some facts still indicate that from time to time representatives of this tribe hold similar magical rituals.
General about traditions
Representatives of different nationalities have many of their rites and traditions that are so deeply rooted in everyday life that no one has paid much attention to them for a long time. However, if a person who is brought up on completely different values falls into any of the societies, then for him new traditions may seem wild.
This also applies to some features of the lifestyle of the Papuans. Where the Papuans live, there are traditions that simply terrify ordinary civilized people. Everything that is considered normal and ordinary for savages, it is impossible to imagine even in a nightmare.
A few shocking Papuan traditions
- Papuans mummify their leaders, showing in this way respect for the dead. They store them in huts. Some distorted creepy mummies are 200-300 years old.
- Women who have lost their relatives used to chop off their fingers. And today you can still see in some villages bespaleny old women.
- Papuascans breastfeed not only their children, but also young animals.
- Almost all the hard work is done by women. It even happens that women in the last months of their pregnancy can chop wood, while their husbands are resting in huts.
- The Papuan tribe of cows has a very strange place of residence. They build their houses on trees (height from 15 to 50 meters). A favorite treat of cows is insect larvae.
- Some Papuans from New Guinea living in mountainous areas wear koteks. These are cases made from varieties of local calabash pumpkin. They are worn on men's virtues instead of underpants.
- The ransom for the bride in the Papuan tribes is measured in pigs, so these pets are very well taken care of. Even their women are fed with their breast milk.
Amazing culture is extremely colorful and distinctive. Perhaps for this reason, Europeans are so fond of exotic countries and unusual tourist destinations.