Some History and Culture

Papua New Guinea was more or less ignored by the West until late in the 19th century. Human remains have been found dating back 50,000 years. Even after the West started to have more than a passing interest in the country, it was mostly constrained to the coast. It has been administered by the Germans, the Japanese and the Australians before gaining independence in 1975.

The Highlands specifically weren't explored until the 20th century, when they were explored and "pacified". Today, they are the most densely populated areas of the country. Mostly agricultural, they produce coffee, tea, cocoa, and other cash crops, as well as traditional villages and gardens.

The inhabitants are tribal and continue to practice ritual gift-giving. Inter-tribal gift ceremonies can be lavish and extravagant. While continuing to hold to traditional tribal villages, they have adopted a lot of modern technology and customs: gifts today include traditional food and livestock (pigs) as well as motor vehicles. Tribes do also practice tribal warfare, though the violence is limited to the offending tribe (and outsides, a la Europeans, are more or less ignored). Mostly wounds arise out of this, but death is not unheard of.

Dress ranges from the traditional wicker belt, perhaps with a flap of cloth in front and leaves covering the rear for men and grass skirts for women to western apparel (though women do not wear pants). Traditional wear is mostly saved for sing sings, the gift-giving ceremonies.