John Tyman's Cultures in Context Series Torembi and the Sepik A Study of Village Life in New Guinea |
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Topic No. 25: 24 Hours in the Life of a New Guinea Woman ~ Photos 517 - 600 |
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John Tyman's Cultures in Context Series Torembi and the Sepik A Study of Village Life in New Guinea |
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Topic No. 25: 24 Hours in the Life of a New Guinea Woman ~ Photos 517 - 600 |
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| 572. Needless to say, when she got home after 2.00 pm., the children were hungry and it was time to cook again: but she first had to dash into the forest for a fresh load of firewood. |
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| 573. Then she got the fire going and started work preparing the second meal of the day ... for pigs as well as people. |
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| 574. This time she had Emma to help her. Though only 12 years old, Emma ranked as the second woman in the family, and was responsible for a number of household chores. |
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| 575. Emma was now left alone to cook while her mother went to look for greens. The river was in flood at the time, and so much debris was piled against the bridge that it was in danger of being swept away: but it held somehow, and Antonia was soon on her way home with a bilum on her back bulging with food. |
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| 576. The 'greens' she collected were 'wild' ones and came from the forest not from her garden: and the leaves had first to be stripped from the stems. |
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| 577. They were cooked in the milk from coconuts; which Antonia herself had picked: and the younger children ate their soup, plus a pancake, as soon as it was ready. |
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| 578. The bowls for their father and their older brothers, were put to one side, to await their return from the men’s house nearby … where they were busy chatting with friends. |
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| 579. It was now 3.15 and the weather was hot and sticky. The young ones, with full stomaches, soon dozed off. |
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| 580. Francis played with some other boys in the river. |
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| 581. Damien and the older boys slept … in the men’s house. |
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| 582. With her men out of the way, Antonia too, had time to relax – for 10 minutes – though she was not entirely alone. |
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| 583. It was then time to go outside again, to sort the tobacco leaves drying in the sun. |
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| 584. These were later brought inside for further curing over the fire. They were hung up in the path of the smoke ... which found its own way out through the thatch and the windows. |
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| 585. There was then time for a few minutes fishing. Two small fish might seem a less than spectacular result but they would at least add flavour to tomorrow’s soup. |
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| 586. It was now late afternoon, and time to take in the laundry before the evening thunderstorm. |
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| 587. It was also the hour for which the chickens had waited patiently. They had looked after themselves all day … scratching around under the house. And they made short work of the dried coconut Antonia had prepared for them. |
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| 588. Then it was the turn of the pigs who were by now screaming for food. They’d spent their day rooting in the forest in the shade and they tucked into their sago with enthusiasm. Their pancakes had been soaked in water so they could gobble them up quickly. |
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| 589. Fortunately, at least for some, a pig had been killed in the village that day, so Antonia now had more work to do, cooking her family’s share. When roasted and smoked the fat from the back can be kept for several days. |
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| 590. Antonia now had a few moments alone with her children, by the fire ... where Colin had one last feed. |
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| 591. It was then time to let down the mosquito net and roll out the plastic and cardboard sheets that served as a bed. The children were arranged on the floor in order, leaving space for Antonia at the end. |
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| 592. She lay down with Colin for a few minutes till he dozed off. Then she got up and went next door to help her neighbours prepare a wedding feast. |
Text, photos and recordings
by John Tyman
Intended for Educational Use
Only.
Copyright Pitt Rivers Museum,
Oxford University, 2010.
Contact Dr.
John Tyman for more information regarding licensing.
Photo processing, Web page layout,
formatting, and complementary research by
William Hillman ~ Brandon, Manitoba
~ Canada
www.hillmanweb.com