Papuans are cannibals. Tree-dwelling cannibals: the Korowai tribe of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea. Goroka Show. Papuasia is festive. October 8th, 2013

I thought for a long time about where to start a story about a trip to such a strange place. Honestly speaking, my impressions of the trip to Papua - New Guinea turned out to be completely ambiguous... And it’s hardly worth dumping everything at once :)))

So here it is. I decided to start with the Papuan front door. Festive. This post will contain a lot of pictures with a variety of elegant Papuans.
This is probably what people imagine when they hear “Papua, Papuans.” I won't disappoint.

There are over 700 different tribes in Papua New Guinea. Literally every village is a separate tribe with its own language and its own outfits.
In order to somehow unite the country, reconcile the tribes, and at least introduce them, for more than 50 years, under the patronage of government organizations, ethnic festivals have been held in the country - a kind of intertribal congresses, at which numerous tribes countries show their cultural traditions, dress in their best clothes (painting their body and face), show ancient rituals, dance, sing and express their identity in every possible way.
One of the main, oldest, most colorful is the Goroka show. Takes place in mid-September.
More than a hundred tribes take part in the festival.

Only from the end of the twentieth century did tourists begin to come to these festivals. So traditionally, these festivals are holidays not so much for tourists as for the Papuans themselves. They come from all over the country, prepare in advance, dress up, joyfully dance and sing during the holiday. In general, for the most part, Papuans love to communicate with new people and hang out. And the festival is a good reason for this.

And although the festival itself began on Saturday, already the day before you could see people dressing up here and there in the town

On a festival day, the dressed-up people just make your eyes dazzle.

The festival is not a demonstration of traditional national costumes. This is a holiday of songs, dances, unity... Therefore, very modernized personalities meet

The whole action takes place according to a simple scenario:
groups take turns passing through the corridor of spectators ( local residents not taking part in the show), dancing and singing war songs. Then they find themselves in a fenced area - huge field, where only show participants and tourists are allowed (I probably counted as many as 20 people). Then this entire large motley crowd dances, sings, sits, communicates, and listens to the speeches of government representatives. And tourists walk and look until their eyes sparkle :)

Each group has two very responsible people. The first one carries a sign with the name of the group. The second is the shoes of the performance participants.

Residents of coastal regions are easily recognized by their rich shell decorations.

Most Papua New Guineans have a bad habit of chewing betelnuts. This nut has a weak narcotic effect. Therefore, the Papuans look a little bewildered. Nut chewers can be easily identified by their rotten teeth and red mouth.

But these people in moss suits simply tore apart my idea of ​​​​national costumes :)

The bag on the girl's head is a noken. Traditional Papuan bag. Sizes range from a small cosmetic bag to a giant string bag (which fits a large backpack). The bag is worn on the head. They carry not only things there, but also children, for example.

Pay attention to this handsome guy, we will return to this village later

All participants in the show are very willing to pose. Because if a white man decides to take a photo of you, then the costume was a success :)

Welcome to one of the most untouched corners of the earth. Papua New Guinea. It is a state of impenetrable tropical forests, home to 38 species of birds of paradise. There are no cars or bicycles here, not even working horses or mules. There are no restaurants, bars, shops, electricity or roads. In these places, a newborn girl may be called Spade, and a boy - Axe.

There are about 2,000 tribes living in these places, including these weirdos - the Mud People of the Wagha Valley.
To find it unusual tribe, we will go to the center of the island of New Guinea at an altitude of 1677 meters, where the large fertile Wahgi Valley is located. Here, by the way, is the fifth largest city of Papua New Guinea with a population of 46,250 people - Mount Hagen. It is also the so-called “border of civilization”, because further on are the territories of mountain tribes.

The members of our Mud People tribe from the Wagha Valley look very colorful. Their bodies are painted and smeared with clay, and there are frightening masks on their heads. The enemies will definitely think 10 times before advancing further.


Look how terrifying they are!


Handsome men.


IN Papua New Guinea There is a language problem - more than 800 different languages ​​are spoken here, and very often members of one tribe do not understand what neighbors who are just a few kilometers away are saying.

The state of Papua New Guinea is located in the western Pacific Ocean, north of Australia and close to the equator.


The island of New Guinea and most of the other islands of the country have mountainous terrain where the hill tribes live. The altitude of a significant part of the territory is more than 1000 m above sea level, and some peaks of New Guinea reach 4500 m, that is, the belt of eternal snow. Many of the mountain ranges are chains of volcanoes. There are 18 active volcanoes in Papua New Guinea. Most of of which is located in the north of the country. Volcanic activity is also associated with strong, sometimes catastrophic earthquakes.


Plant life here is expectedly rich - more than 20 thousand plant species grow here. Dense tropical rainforests, formed by hundreds of species of trees, rise up the slopes of the mountains.


As the world's largest and largest tropical island, New Guinea occupies less than 0.5% of its land surface but supports a high percentage of global biodiversity. Approximately 4,642 vertebrate species inhabit the island of New Guinea and its surrounding waters, representing about 8% recognized species world vertebrates.


The country's fauna is represented by reptiles, insects and especially numerous birds. There are many snakes in the forests and on the coast, including poisonous ones. Crocodiles and turtles are found along the seashores and in large rivers.


And the mud people of Papua New Guinea say it's time for us to go home.

When we're talking about about something outdated, we say: stone Age. We try to imagine how our ancestors lived, and museums help us in this, where we can see all the attributes of “that century” - stone axes, flint scrapers and arrowheads. Many books, paintings and films are devoted to this. But not everyone knows what we have unique opportunity observe people of “that time” in the present.

The spaces of the Earth today are developed, inhabited, filled with people, in some places to the point of extreme crowding. And yet there are “nooks and crannies” on Earth where, without a never-invented “time machine,” you are surprised to discover life as it was in the Stone Age, when people still knew neither iron nor bronze, when the ageless yellow color metal has not yet driven the human race crazy. One of these corners of relic life is located in the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, on the Bismarck Archipelago and the northern part of the Solomon Islands, where the state of Papua New Guinea is located.

Tribes that have preserved their original lifestyle ancestors who cannot write or read, who do not know what electricity and a car are, who obtain their food by fishing and hunting. They believe that it is the gods who send them rain and are trying to protect themselves from contact with ours. modern world. It is Papua New Guinea that accommodates several dozen unique tribes on its territory.

Many missionary scientists tried to penetrate into the lives of representatives of various tribes, but few returned from there alive... practically no one!.. And the reason for the “one-way trip” is banal - the “stranger” was eaten. In scientific terms, the brave souls were destroyed by the cannibalism of the Papuan tribes. They did not accept strangers - violation of their space led to death.

Now everything has changed. Residents of many tribes happily receive guests and observe representatives of civilization with no less mutual interest.

There are few places on Earth with such a diversity of languages, customs and cultures. Imagine - on one part of the island live officials, businessmen, workers, wearing European clothes and those with education - modern people, and on the other - mountain tribes who never crossed the Stone Age. They fight among themselves and do not understand the language of the tribes from the neighboring valley. And for us their lives are amazing. It is so strange that in the 21st century there are still peoples living in primitive times. But we are as wild to them as they are to us.

Here are a few of the tribes of Papua New Guinea.

Dani tribe was unknown for a long time, but high mountains in West Papua for a long time were considered uninhabited.

The places here are beautiful and the people are nice, the only problem is that strangers could not establish contact with them. Everyone disappeared without a trace - both travelers and missionaries.
In 1954, the first Christian missionary parachuted here. This is how the local population learned that they were not alone on this land.
It’s almost impossible to believe, but the stone ax remains the main tool of labor here, and the arrow and bow are the main weapons. But hunting feeds them less and less, because... the number of animals decreases - civilization advances.

Dani is a heavy smoker. Everyone smokes here - from children to old people. The first meeting with Dani may seem aggressive - it is a ritual in the form of fighting, with which they greet the natives. So it’s better to be mentally prepared for meeting them.

Papua - amazing island. One hundredth of one percent of all humanity lives here, speaking 15% of all languages ​​existing in the world! Even the Dani use four different dialects.
For some time the Dutch missionaries did not understand why they were asked to stand downwind when they walked with members of this tribe - it turned out that the Dani did not really like the smell white man. The sensations were mutual - the smell that comes from the tribute is also unusual for a white man.

The Dani have a terrible tradition - they take the loss of loved ones very hard, and when this happens, the man cuts off a piece of his ear with a bamboo knife, and the women cut off the phalanges of their fingers.

It will probably take a long time before the Internet reaches the tribes of Papua New Guinea, social media and other nonsense of civilization. Then, perhaps, they will start talking about loneliness and selfishness, vanity and cynicism. In the meantime, the tributes have everything in common and they have much less problems, or they are completely different than in “our” world.

The main wealth of the Dani people is pigs. Everything here is measured in pigs. A person's wealth here can be determined by two things - the number of wives and the number of pigs. For ceremonies and holidays, the pig is very important for tribute. If you are going to visit them and want to make friends, buy a pig and you will be a welcome guest!
The Dani are excellent farmers - their harvest is an abundance of vegetables and fruits. Women wear grass skirts, and men wear kateku, an item that is worn at the casual place and is the only element of a man's clothing. To the question: “Can a man walk without a catheque?” one traveler received the answer: “No, of course, without harim you are naked! We’ll have to cover ourselves with our hands so that women don’t see!” Of course, people who live closer to Wamena and go there often already wear clothes. But, despite some eroticism in the costume of local men, the morals of the tributes are strict. debauchery, characteristic of people in other parts of the world, there is no place!

Dani live quite a long time and rarely get sick - life also affects fresh air, and physical labor. It is clear that this promotes longevity. And this is despite the terrible unsanitary conditions, which they will so generously share with you, treating you to their outlandish dishes. But they live and don’t even complain! In general, one can only envy their immunity.

And there is something incredibly touching in these people and something that we no longer have - simplicity and sincerity.

Someday the fruits of civilization will reach this tribe and technical progress and the tributes will change. And they will become like us...

The next representatives of the “Stone Age” are fallow deer tribe. Arriving on their land, do not be surprised if you see a considerable number of abandoned huts. The fact is that the Lani people, wherever they stop, even for a few hours, build huts from branches, bamboo, leaves and ferns to protect them from the rain.

Not so long ago, the fallow deer tribe had a reputation for being cannibals. The connection between the fallow deer and the civilized world has still not been established. In exchange for knives, matches and pots, they offer hospitality in a hut filled with acrid smoke.

In general, the tribal people of Papua are an amazing people who know how to live in perfect harmony with nature, earning their living by hunting and farming. The men look robust and wear the same "clothes" as the Dani men. They don’t wear clothes here even in cold weather; in such cases, the body is rubbed with pork fat.

The appearance of women will be simpler - they are dressed in skirts made of plant fibers, on their heads they wear a long net that goes down on their backs like a bag in which personal belongings are kept, including babies or piglets. Their fingers are often horribly mutilated, the result of ritual amputation as a sign of mourning for their loved ones. So, finger by finger, the doe tribe sacrifices part of itself in memory of loved ones...

According to the authorities, there are no longer cases of cannibalism among the tribes of Papua, but some claim that in the depths of the island, in the most remote and difficult places, bloody battles still break out between tribes, which are a continuation of long-term enmity. If they win, they simply commit traditional ritual- eating the enemy's body.

But, despite all the “stoniness” of the doe’s life, they still had an inevitable meeting with a white man, and therefore with metal knives, plastic buckets, T-shirts, jeans, missionaries, anthropologists and tourists.

Yali tribe 35 years ago they ate “human flesh”. Today it is the turn of civilization - it “eats” them. Missionaries, with their interference in their lives, are gradually destroying their original culture, and the Indonesian government is unceremoniously seizing territory that has belonged to the Yali since ancient times. Now the Yali tribe numbers about 20 thousand people.

The very first acquaintance of the Yali with white people occurred more than 50 years ago, but this meeting changed practically nothing in the life of the Papuans. If you don’t count such little things as changes, such as the appearance of metal pots and pans in the life of the Yali. Appearance they differ little from the appearance of other natives of New Guinea. Their height is very small (the tallest Yali is one and a half meters), and they still walk naked. Women wear only some kind of miniskirt, while men wear a kateka - a kind of cover made of dried pumpkin - over their manhood.

Yali are very hardworking, their main occupation is agriculture, they grow sweet potatoes, bananas, corn, and tobacco. They eat only what they have grown themselves and what nature gives them. The only factory-made food product that is extremely popular among the Yali is dry vermicelli “Mivina”! This can be seen by driving through the Jungle, where wrappers from this fast food are scattered here and there.

The Yali are one of the few tribes that are known for cannibalism. The natives have various tricks and weapons for attacking people, which is worth one black bow made from palm wood and for which there is a whole arsenal of arrows for different prey. And among these arrows against birds and other living creatures there are arrows against people. According to Yali, buttocks are considered the most delicious delicacy. They see nothing reprehensible in cannibalism. But according to many travelers and island authorities, yalis no longer eat people with white skin. Because White color for them it is mourning. It seems to them that white people are the servants of death.

They live according to the principle “girls go left, boys go right,” i.e. women with children live separately from men. But when boys reach 4 years of age, they move to the “men's house”.

What can disrupt such an orderly way of life? The answer is simple - war. The most amazing thing is that the cause can be a complete little thing, but if it’s not a little thing, then it’s definitely not a reason to start a war. The pig, or rather its disappearance, is the “global” cause of strife. And if something like this happens, the yawls immediately take up their bows and spears, ready to attack. Everything is explained by the fact that among the Papuans a pig is worth its weight in gold; for one well-fed pig you can buy yourself a wife. This is the exchange.

But yali can treat themselves to fried wild boar extremely rarely, only on holidays. For example, a wedding or an initiation ceremony, that is, the formation of a boy or a man - here you can smoke a pig. And on weekdays you have to walk around a delicious pig and “delight” yourself with a semi-edible root or New Guinea carrot.

Missionaries are increasingly “infiltrated” into the life of the tribe, trying to make their life more civilized. They bring them medicines, teach children to read and write, build small hydroelectric power stations, landing pads for helicopters, bridges on rivers... But at the same time, the territory where the Yali tribe lives has been declared a national park, and, therefore, hunting is prohibited there, which deprives the tribe food. There were attempts to resettle the yali closer to civilization, because... Earthquakes are frequent here, but in the valley the Yali people begin to suffer from malaria.

At a time when cannibalism in New Guinea had not yet slowed down, local authorities, in order to ensure the safety of tourists, obliged all visitors to obtain permission from the police and provide them with their data - the approximate route of the expedition. Probably, so that they at least know in which pot to look for them later...

By the will of fate Asmat tribe settled in the wettest and swampiest area with high degree humidity and the richest source of disease.

They live in the region of the same name in the province of Papua in Indonesia. The number of Asmatian people is estimated at about 70,000. The Asmatians are professionals in the field of wood carving, their products are highly valued among collectors.

The Asmat culture and way of life are highly dependent on natural resources obtained from forests, rivers and seas. The Asmat live on starch extracted from sago palms, fish, forest game and other species of animals and plants that can be found on the island. Due to frequent floods, Asmats place their homes on wooden beams - two or more meters above ground level. In some regions, Papuans' homes are located 25 meters from the ground.

The Asmats, like other tribes of Papua, at one time “sinned” with cannibalism.
They still have a lot of fun ways to use the parts human body- the use of a skull as a “pillow” under the head or a children’s toy, a human tibia was used as a dart.
And now they will help the guests build a house, every day they will supply you with fish, shrimp and boar meat in exchange for fishing line, hooks, razor blades, matches, salt, knives, axes or machetes. Some of them will take the time to help you learn their language, which will overwhelm you at first incredible mixture incoherent muttering, cooing and cackling.

Korowai - tree-dwelling tribe

The Korowai tribe is one of the most interesting and unique finds for anthropologists and other researchers. They live in eastern region Indonesians in the trees and speak only them clear language. According to this year's census, there were about 3,000 Aboriginal people in this tribe. They skillfully climb ladders to their wooden houses, located at an altitude of 50 meters or more from the ground. The height at which the house is located depends on the relationship with fellow tribesmen. The worse the relationship, the higher the house. For construction, trees are cut down, on which a rather specific structure is installed. It’s incredible: there, at a height, dogs, pigs and other living creatures also live together with members of one or two families. You can climb to this house only by a very thin wooden ladder - along a bamboo stalk with steps cut out.

Until the late 1970s, when anthropologists began studying the tribe, the Korowai were unaware of the existence of people other than their tribe. Favorite dish tribe - beetle larvae. To do this, sago trees are cut down 4-6 weeks before the feast and left to rot in the swamp, where they are filled with these larvae. At the appropriate stage of larval development, the trees are “opened” with a stone ax or a sharp spear. Beetles are eaten both raw and fried. They taste quite good. In the protein-scarce world of the Korowai people, these beetles are one of several important sources of fat.

They greet guests attentively, but warily. They can treat you to their delicacy - a dish made from sago starch. They also eat bananas and pineapples. Pork is a luxury for them; they eat it probably once a year. But communicating with representatives of this tribe is not so easy - they didn’t like something, so they immediately ran up and closed.

One of the most mysterious peoples land - tribe kombai. Until recently, they practiced cannibalism. Many missionaries tried to understand what makes tribes eat their own kind?

In order to understand another culture, you need to become part of it. This is what many scientific travelers did. No roads, no concrete, no buildings, no telegraph poles - just kilometers of jungle. These people live deep in the forest and are hunters and gatherers. The journey to them could have taken several weeks if not for the network of airfields built by the missionaries. About one hundred representatives of the Kombai tribe live in Wangamala, built in the 70s. They wear European clothes, the children go to school, and on Sundays everyone gathers for mass. After the missionaries came to them, the Kombai did not immediately accept them and were very hostile. But after the missionaries gave them clothes, dishes, and tobacco, the attitude towards them changed. People who live in villages have it much easier than those who live in the jungle. Seeing a man in clothes, they hide and shoot him. These people still eat each other to this day.

Don't be surprised if they ask you to take off your clothes when you meet them. Perhaps to make sure that you are ready to speak Their language, following Their traditions. Kombai walk naked, covering only the groin area with leaves. For an outsider, invading one of the clans can cost their lives. If you approach one of the huts alone, you may get shot. There are no utensils here that we use. Imagine what it’s like to live without frying pans or utensils in which to boil water and even without drinking utensils - there are only leaves and stones.

Smoking them favorite hobby and it is surprising that these people do not have problems with the lungs, at least they calmly move along the mountains and slopes without experiencing shortness of breath.

In this society, responsibilities are clearly divided into men's and women's. When men cut down a tree, women take out the core. Their life seems easy. When they want to eat, they go hunting, and the rest of the time they rest.

It's hard to imagine that these calm and good-natured people could be cannibals. Cannibalism is explained differently in different world cultures. Reasons range from simple hunger to paying homage to the dead. In some tribes, cannibalism is considered a form of execution - only criminals are eaten. It is believed that if a person is evil, he must be eaten. The Kombai believe that the soul lives in the stomach and brain. That is why these body parts need to be eaten. "If bad person kills someone from my family, I will kill him. If he is from another village, I will eat him. If he is from our village, I will give him to be eaten by all my neighbors.” Like this. They still follow this morality.

The jungle is covered with a carpet of thorns, but the Kombai don't care. They do not wear shoes - this makes their feet hard and insensitive.

Traveling through Papua can be a good school of life. Having been close to danger and difficult living conditions, you evaluate your life in a new way and find extremely important what you previously treated with unforgivable carelessness.

Tue, 15/04/2014 - 14:56

In all countries of the world, the concept of masculinity has its own meaning and people different countries They themselves determine when a boy can be considered a man. IN modern society In order to become a man, you need to reach puberty, start a family, gain status in society, but in various tribes, in order to be considered a real man, you often need to go through creepy rituals initiations involving pain and humiliation. And only after this can the boy rightfully bear the proud title of a man.

Canada - drug test

The Algonquin tribe considers childhood to be merely an obstacle to becoming a real man. For this reason, they conduct initiation ceremonies aimed at completely erasing childhood memories in boys.

Young members of the tribe from 14 to 21 days sit in special cages, and they are not allowed to eat anything except a very powerful hallucinogen - visokkan. It not only leads to memory loss, but also causes other side effects- loss of speech, rapid heartbeat, severe hallucinations, aggression, inability to move, weakness and even death.

After two to three weeks, the young initiates are released from their cages and questioned. If they have completely forgotten their childhood, they have gone through the ritual and are now considered real men. If they still have at least some memories, then the cruel ritual will have to go through again.

Ethiopia - Bull and Cow Jumping

Each generation of the Karo tribe undergoes an initiation ritual - men must jump over a row of bulls in what their mother gave birth to. Literally.

Sounds like something simple and fun? Not really. The solemn ceremony has a truly terrible implication: if a man is already biologically fully grown, then among the Karo he is considered a boy until he undergoes the ceremony. And being a boy in the Karo tribe means two things: firstly, you cannot marry, and secondly, boys must kill their children.

Karo babies born to non-ritual fathers are considered illegitimate, and according to Karo law, illegitimate children have no right to live. The tradition of killing illegitimate babies is called mingi - mothers stuff their children's mouths with dirt and leave them to die in the desert. And only if the husband jumped over the bulls naked can his children live.

Philippines - traditional circumcision

In the Philippines, circumcision is an important event. Statistics from 2011 showed that about 93% of Filipino men are circumcised. Interestingly, boys are not circumcised in infancy, but at around age 12, and Filipino teenagers can only be considered male if they are already circumcised.

And if this does not happen, society considers them cowards and weaklings. And in order to escape constant ridicule and bullying, Filipino boys themselves ask their parents to circumcise them.

There are two types of circumcision in the Philippines: modern medical and traditional. In the traditional method, no anesthesia is used - instead, boys chew guava leaves, as this is believed to reduce the pain of surgery. Instead of a knife, a piece of wood called subokan is used for this painful procedure. After circumcision of the foreskin, the penis is wrapped in white cloth.

Kenya and Northern Tanzania - group lion hunt

Maasai boys must go out to hunt a lion with only clubs and shields. In the past, they had to hunt alone, but since there are few lions left, the tradition has been changed, and now the Maasai grow up to hunt in groups.

Lion hunting is very dangerous. It is because of this danger that it is considered a worthy ritual of initiation into a man. When Maasai boys hunt lions, they demonstrate that quality that, according to the Maasai, only real men possess - courage. It is interesting to note that they hunt wounded or weak lions. Lionesses are not touched, as they are considered the givers of life.

Papua New Guinea - scarification (scarring or scarification)

The Kaningara tribe from Papua New Guinea practice very unusual ritual, which aims to strengthen the spiritual connection between tribe members and their surroundings. One of the ritual ceremonies is held in the “House of the Spirit”. The teenagers live in seclusion in the Spirit House for two months. After this period of isolation, they prepare for an initiation ceremony that recognizes their transition to manhood. During the ritual, the person's skin is cut with bamboo fragments. The resulting notches resemble crocodile skin. The people of this tribe believe that crocodiles are the creators of people. The marks on the body symbolize the teeth marks of a crocodile that ate the boy and left behind an adult man.

Brazil - pain and poison

The ritual for gaining masculinity of the Matis tribe consists of four extremely painful stages. At the first stage, the initiates inject poison into the eyes of the young: the Matis believe that this is how they improve their boys’ eyesight. At the second and third stages, the boys are subjected to severe physical pain - they are repeatedly beaten and lashed.

On last stage the boys ingest a poison called campo, extracted from tree frogs. Kampo is not a hallucinogen, although it can cause strange mental reactions. But there are plenty of physiological effects from it - vomiting, dizziness and uncontrolled bowel movements. The Matis tribe firmly believes that kampo increases the stamina and strength of boys, turning them into real men and hunters.

Papua New Guinea - blood purification

The Matausa tribe living in Papua New Guinea considers female blood unclean. The Matausa are convinced that their boys, in order to become real men, must be cleansed of the filth of their mothers.

The elder begins the ritual of purifying the blood by inserting reed tubes into the throats of the young initiates - then they vomit blood. The elders then insert tubes into their nostrils to expel bad blood and mucus from the body. Periodically, the tubes are removed to be cleaned, and at this time the initiates have time to take a breath of air. Finally, the elders make several cuts on the tongues of the young people using an arrow-like instrument. After a painful ceremony, young people become real men in the eyes of the community.

Cleansing the blood of the mataus is such an important and secret rite of passage that not all members go through it - you still have to prove that you are worthy. Men who have not completed the ritual are not considered adults and cannot enjoy the corresponding privileges - for example, they do not have the right to marry. In addition, they are considered weak members of the tribe, unable to fulfill their responsibilities as men.

Australia - Penis cutting

To become real men, the boys of the Unambal tribe must experience hellish physical pain. The elders of the tribe make cuts on the skin of their buttocks, chest, arms and shoulders, and sand is poured into them to prevent the wounds from healing. Afterwards there should be scars on the body.

Also, upon reaching a certain age, all the youth of the tribe undergo an incredibly painful operation, which is medically known as a urethrotomy. To turn a young man into a real man, he is circumcised, and then the urethra of the penis is cut and this procedure is regularly repeated throughout his life, as a result of which the penis becomes “forked.”

After completing the ritual, newly-minted mature men leave the tribe for some time and live separately, but upon their return they are expected to be honored and respected by their fellow tribesmen - the ritual completes their formation as full members of society.

It must be said that the men of the tribe were lucky that they were not born, for example, on the island of Ponape, part of the Caroline archipelago - the men there not only cut the tip of their penis, but also deprive them of one testicle.

Papua New Guinea - fellatio and cum swallowing

The Sambia tribe believes that boys must swallow semen - this is the only way they can become men. Sambia boys from seven to ten years old must please experienced warriors for years and every time swallow... um... the result.

According to the tribe's belief, the male seed is the source of life and the essence of masculinity. In addition, the Sambia believe that a boy is capable of becoming a father only if he first swallows the sperm of an adult.

However, we are not talking about homosexuality here - men who have gone through the ritual are not considered gay. When boys turn 15, they stop doing this and become seed donors themselves.

Once a man gets married, he is prohibited from further participating in the ceremony. The Sambia believe that female genitals make men's reproductive organs dirty and their sperm becomes "impure" so that it is no longer suitable for children about to become adults.

High altitude dives

The Republic of Vanuatu, as the encyclopedia tells us, is a state located on the islands of the New Hebrides (Espiritu Santo, Ambrym, Efate and others; about 80 islands in total), in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean; and occupies an area of ​​only 12.2 thousand square meters. km.

Here, among the aborigines of some tribes, the custom of celebrating the birth of the harvest and seeing off teenagers in adult life special way in which young men receive real chance prove your courage to everyone and demonstrate your courage.

This custom is honored on the island of Pentecost. Tribal residents erect a tower in a clearing, built from improvised materials (bush branches and reeds), its height is 30 meters. And from this tower the young men, tied to a special beam with a grass rope to their shins, jump upside down towards the ground. During a jump, the human body reaches a speed of 72 km/h. A jump is considered correct when the jumper almost touches the ground with his head. And, unlike bungee jumping, the tied rope does not stretch or absorb shock. Any incorrect calculation of the length of the rope entails death.

Bullet Ant Test

The Amazonian tribe of Sateremawe Indians uses a simple mitten to perform initiation rites for teenage boys. And yet, such a ritual is considered very dangerous to health and quite painful.

The mitten that the young man must pull over his hand is filled with bullet ants, whose venom is 20 times stronger than the sting of an ordinary wasp. I think you can now imagine the pain a teenager experiences when he undergoes this rite of passage.

For this purpose, adult members of the tribe collect bullet ants throughout the jungle for several weeks, which are then stored in a certain solution, where they hibernate, retaining their poison. On a certain day, the men of the tribe gather around a common fire, and the boys pull a mitten with ants on their hands. Then they go to the fire where they dance. Many boys lose consciousness during the ritual, and their bodies shake in convulsions. The pain from an ant bite lasts for at least 24 hours. But the most curious thing is that the teenagers, in ecstasy, put on the mitten several times, trying to prove to their fellow tribesmen their courage and fearlessness.

Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation

Oryol State University

Essay

by discipline: "Culturology"

on this topic: "Aboriginal Australian Culture and

Papuans of New Guinea"

Performed:

1st year student, 3rd group

Melanesia, or the Black Islands, is New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, the New Hebrides, the Bismarck Archipelago, New Caledonia, Fiji, the islands of Santa Cruz, Banks and many other smaller pieces of land. Their indigenous population consists of two large groups- Melanesians and Papuans.

Melanesians live on the coast of New Guinea, and Papuans live in the interior of the other large islands. Outwardly they are unusually similar, but they differ in languages. Although Melanesian languages ​​are part of the larger Malayo-Polynesian family, the people who speak them cannot communicate with each other. And the Papuan languages ​​are not only unrelated to any other languages ​​of the world, but very often even to each other.

In addition to the Melanesian and Papuan peoples, small pygmy tribes live in the inaccessible mountainous regions of New Guinea and on many large islands. However, their languages ​​have not yet been sufficiently studied.

Resident of Papua New Guinea in ritual sorcerer's robes.

The state of Papua New Guinea is located in the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, on the Bismarck Archipelago and the northern part of the Solomon Islands. In the 16th century these lands were discovered by the Portuguese. Since 1884, the territory was owned by Great Britain and Germany, and at the beginning of the 20th century. it was controlled by Australia. Although the country became independent in 1975, it is a member of the Commonwealth and the formal head of state is the Queen of Great Britain. Copper, gold and zinc are mined in the country. They grow coffee, cocoa and coconut palms.

Papua New Guinea is often called "a paradise for ethnographers, but a hell for any government." This expression was coined by colonial officials, but it is no less true today. Why “paradise” is clear: there are few places on Earth with such a diversity of languages, customs and cultures. On one side are officials, businessmen, and workers in the capital city of Port Moresby, who wear European clothes and are educated. On the other hand, there are mountain tribes that have not emerged from the Stone Age, waging war with each other and not understanding the language of the people from the neighboring valley. They may welcome a visiting scientist, but kill a man from the nearest village. Therefore, this is “hell” for the government, because it has to “harness to the cart” of the state structure not only “an ox and a trembling doe,” but also “a swan, a crayfish and a pike” in addition.

The government of the country tried to strengthen in the minds of Papuans and Melanesians that they belong to the same people - the Naim of Papua New Guinea. For this you need first of all mutual language, because no one has counted the number of languages ​​in the country. In essence, there was a common language, and one that was understandable throughout Melanesia. In Papua New Guinea it is called "tok pisin". It arose from English words and Melanesian grammar among plantation laborers from different tribes who needed to communicate with each other. The British called this language “pidgin English” (from the English pigeon - “dove”); the pronunciation of the Papuans and Melanesians reminded them of the cooing of doves. The language spread very quickly, reaching the most remote mountain villages: it was brought by men returning from work or by wandering traders. Almost all the words in it are English. Although the Germans controlled the territory of Papua for a long time, only two words remained from their language (one of them is “pasmalauf” - “shut up”).

If in English “you” is “yu”, and “me” is “mi” (in Tok Pisin this means “I”), then the combination “yu-mi” (“you-me”) gives the pronoun “we” " “Kam” - “to come”, “kam - kam” - “came”; “bow” - “look”, and “bow-bow-bow” - “look for a very long time”. The most common word is "fela" (from English, "guy"); This is how planters addressed their farm laborers.

In essence, there is nothing strange in the Tok Pisin language: French and Romanian, Spanish and Portuguese arose from the Latin brought by the Roman colonialists, which the conquered peoples changed in their own way! You just need to develop the language to publish newspapers, talk on the radio, etc. That's why Tok Pisin is taught in all schools in Papua New Guinea. And the main slogan of the country is “Yu-mi wan-pela peepal!” (“We are one people!”).

It is interesting that Papuans and Melanesians not only consider Tok Pisin their language, but also know that there is another English, the real one. It is called "tock-pleas-bilong-Sydney" - "Sydney language". After all, Sydney is the closest Big City, populated by whites. Therefore, anyone who wants to get an education must speak the “Sydney language”.

The famous traveler Miklouho-Maclay observed the Papuans of New Guinea, who did not yet know how to make fire, but already knew how to prepare intoxicating drinks: they chewed the fruits, squeezed their juice into coconut shells and after a few days received mash.

The crops grown in forest clearings by the Papuans of New Guinea are mostly fruiting or tuber-bearing plants and, unlike grain crops, cannot be stored for long. Therefore, the community is always in danger of starvation.

There are some principles of relationships between people. Ethnographers who have spent years studying societies with primitive economies have repeatedly emphasized that people here are far from alien to romantic love. While the basic principles of family structure are not regulated by any strict rules and allow for wide freedom of choice,

Life primitive man inextricably linked with hunting. Therefore, first of all, magical operations relate to it. The so-called “trade magic” has been preserved among modern backward peoples. When hunting sea animals, the Papuans of New Guinea place a small stinging insect at the tip of a harpoon so that its properties give the harpoon a sharp edge.

In Papua New Guinea, religious views have always played and continue to play important role. Animistic beliefs are deeply rooted in the minds of many people, as is the belief in the magical effects of witchcraft, which serves as a means of regulating social relations. From the middle of the 19th century. The activity of Christian missionaries intensified, thanks to which currently approximately 3/5 of the population, at least nominally, are listed as Protestants and about 1/3 as Catholics. Until World War II, it was mainly missionaries who treated and educated the Melanesian population. The largest Protestant denominations are the Lutheran and the United Church of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made by new evangelical congregations, in particular one of the largest Pentecostal organizations, the Assemblies of God.

The country's population, according to ethnic and linguistic criteria, has always been divided into many groups, often very small in number. A separate group form Papuan tribes on south coast New Guinea.

Papuans believe in their pagan gods, but when night comes, evil spirits, which they are extremely afraid of. They closely follow the customs of their ancestors during hunting, holidays, war or weddings. For example, the Dani Dugum tribe believes that their ancient ancestors were birds, and "bird" themes are present in their dances and exotic body paint. Some traditions of the natives of Papua may seem shocking to us, for example: they mummify their leaders and talk to the mummy on the days of the most difficult trials; Native sorcerers use spells to cause and stop rain.

Most Papuan men (and almost all boys aged 8-16) constantly walk with a bow and arrows, as well as a large knife (with its help they quickly cut new arrows), and shoot at everything that moves (whether a bird or an animal ). The reaction of the Papuans is simply magnificent.
Many Papuan men walk around completely naked, but with tubes tied in front.