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OndobondoA magazine of new writing from Papua New Guinea

Editorial This is the first issue ofOndobondo, a forum loryoung writers publi.ehed byOndobondo Buk Haus, thepublication wing of theLiterature Department at theUniversity of Papua NewGuinea.

It contains poetry, storiesand plays. It is hoped thatsubsequent issues willinclude excerpts from biggerworks. interviews, reviewsand articles of literaryinterest representative ofwriters from all parts ofPapua New Guinea. It willappear twice a year.

The editors seek to make itfresh without being light,-

weight, original withoutbeing clever, and Melanesianwithout looking like everyother literary magazine inthis part of the world.Contributions of every formof creative writin; f'1' tliterary d.i8COUT~i".3:~welcome.

Ondobondo is a Binandereword for festival or einping.It emhracee all the perform-ing arts. The name was first1Ulf!d for the series of posterpoems published by theLiterature Departmentduring the third SouthPacific Festival of the Artsin 1980.

ntustrationB by graphicdesign students, NationalArts School, Port Moresby.Cover photographs by JamesJicki, Photographic Depart-ment, University of PapuaNew Guinea.

Cover design by StephenRaw and technical advice byEd Gainford, both of theGraphic Design Department,National Ar18 School, PortMoresby.

2 Kum Koimb Thomas Tuman

11 Portrait of a Parable Russell Soaba

14 Boroko Saturday Moming Jerry Daniels

17 Johnny Walker Ignatius Kilage

18 Black Market Buai Nora Vagi Brash

23 Poetry Kubura Basu, Valerian Bauai,Nora Vagi Brash, Alex Dawia, Suki S.S. Geberi,Loujaya Kouu, David Las, Joe Mangi, MelioMasen, Fa'afo N. Patrick, Rusaell Soaba, ZakTiamon.

31 Contributors

Contents

This issue has been editedhy Alan Chstterton andGangs Powell. ~itorialBoard: Bernard Minal,Russell Soaba, GangaPoweJl, Alan Chatterton,Prith Chakravarti (Chair-man). Editorial AdviBoryCommittee: Authur Jawodim-hari, John Kasaipwalova,Greg Murphy, Neil Cumow.

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There WllB a great Borrowand loud wailing amot1jJ thepeople of DondlUJ uiUage.Dark shGdow8 settled likesediments in every heart.Kipiye, a great warrior in thedark days, a luluai andleader of the Kumga peoplehad died. It was the secondday of mourning andKipiye's corpse was due forburial that afternoon.

Kipiye had been a man tobe remembered. He had beena man who was feared by allthe hostile tribes. The verymention of his Mme Bentcold shivers throlJgh any-body who heard it.

Now M lay lifeless in abed of blankets. People fromfar and near, both enemiesand friends, came to mournOueT the death of a triballeader. This WllB one of therare occOBions when alltribtU barriers were put 08ide.

All the fierceness hadabandoned his face. Whatwere once powerful hands .now lay by his side, stiff andcold. His head rested on twopillows which were coatedwith talcum powder. Coveredin mud, his three wives andthe other women of Donduavillage sat around the body,weeping loudly, while themen 'stood weeping silently,

In a house some distanceaway, a group of ten youngmen, all reUJtives of the lateKipiya Bat quietly, earscocked in the direct;on of thewaiUng. They were the nightglMJrdtJ. They were to guardthe grave of K;piye, leBt evilSallllumas came to steal thebody.- It was a nile not to go outof the house as there may besome Sangumas among thecrowd who, by some evilpowers, may take the se~of sight away from them inthe night, thus enabling theSangumas to steal the body

2

This traditionalstory by THOMASTUMUN is from Kupin the Simbu province.It tells of a man ofevil, a Kum Koimb,whose powers involvetaking possession ofan animaJ. The KumKoimb has the powerto kill, the ability toinvoke Kipe Kangi. orthe Devil, and a desireto eat the dead. TheTok Pisin word usedfor such a person inthe story is Sanguma.The Tok Pies text isfrom mid-Wahgi.Drawings are byAKINU SAHANUBEand RON WALKER.

without being seen. Theycould not afford to lose theirsight if they were to catehthe evil doers.

The wailing grew louderand the ten knew that fUJskwas around the corner andKipiye's body was ready forburial. It was a couple ofhours before sunset. Kipiye'sbody, wrapped up in thickblankets covered withsweet-scented talcum powder,was laid in a wooden boxand the lid closed tightly.Four young men, two oneach end, lifted the oox ontotheir shoulders to be carriedto the graveyard.

It was now about an hourbefore the sun went downover the western horizon.People from far and neigh-bouring tribes made theirway /wme heavy.hearted,leaving the procession,comprised of his closerelatives, bearing Kipiye'sbody.

Ans, one of the ten guards,went on tip·toe to the doorand peeped out. Satisfiedthat no one was in theimmediate artra, he went outto scout the surroundingarea. He came back someminutes later and armedhimself with bow andarrows.

The nine others didlikewise, as they knew allwas clear of any intruder.Each had an axe ttu:ked intohis belt as they moved outinto the grey twilight of duskto take their post.

They placed themselvesquietly under the cover ofsome bushes. eQui-distantfrom each other, surroundingthe grave aoout 25 metresaway. With their axes laid infront of them for immediateaction, they fitted arrows totheir oows and waited at theready, eyes and ears peerifJ,g

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in the direction of the graue.In the fading light, not

knowing where. but con-scious of the hidden goords,the re14tiue. watched sadlyas the coffin bearers finishedcovering the grave. So wasthe end of Kipiye, one-timewarrior and. leader of theKumga people.

The rehltilJes stood withbowed heods for a fewmoments to pay their lastrepects before they madetheir way home. The last toleave. Kipiye's wife, lit up akerosene lamp and left itburning by the graveyardbefore she also departed.

Except for a few camp firesglowing in the distance andthe lD.mp at the groueyard,complete darkness onceagain claimed the earth. Thesilence still remained. Theten guards waited patiently,each busy with his ownthoughts in his own location.

It wos one of those darknights when the moonwasn't in the sky. A silentbreeze started to blow andthe leaves rustled as ifsinging a soft farewell hymn.The breeze bought with itcold, and the men began tofeel the bitterness enteringtheir system, almost freezingtheir blood.

The small flame in thelamp was dancing to thebreeze. casting huge monostrous shadows on the.bushes near the grave.In the very early hours ofdawn, the men's eyes wereheavy laden with sleep, butthe bitterness of the cold keptthem awake. The tensionthot grew within the tenwhen they took their postwas now fully reletued.. Theythrew down their weaponsand relaxed.

Then from a tree near thegrave. an owl hooted loudly.As if this was a signal, the

earth sent a small tremorand then the world becamealive, with the slight breezedeveloping into a strongwind hollering through theleaves.

Both creatures of the airand the earth seemed tocome out of their sleepmaking ghostly no~es.Every single hair on theguards stood ori end. Coldshivers ran throlJ/lh theirspines. Each man knew toowell. The hour htui come forthe sons of man to turn eviland try to eat their own kind.

Each in his own littlehiding spot, the mentrembled like leaves. Theyfitted arrows to their bowsand waited nervously, eyesfixed on the graveyard.

The owl hooted again andthis time it was followed by amovement near the grave.The loose soil began to fall inand the ten pairs of horrifiedeyes beheld the body ofKipiye coming out of thegrave.

Voices could be heardaround the grave, but theycould see no one. There weresounds of footsteps butnothing was visible exceptthe body of Kipiye. It came.

Both of his hands werenow out of the grave. It keptcoming out, stripped nakedof its covering of clothingand bla.n~ts in which it hadbeen wrapped.

Then he was there,standing upright on hisgrave, the lifeless magnitudeof Kipiye's body. The tenmen were now useless andshaking heaps of bonelessflesh, soaking in their ownurine.

Then a commanding voiceshattered the night, altholJ/lhthe owner wos invisible.

"All you men of tlu>mountain tribes. You Dams,Bandis, Kambug18, Kewas;

you men from the valleytribes, you Dagles, Numans.KUmals and all from far andnear. Far, tu far tu the eyecan see, and near, tu near astlu! hand can reach.

"Tonight is a moment ofhistory for our secret lives. Agreat feast shall we have andfeast to be remembered. Harkthee to my words, all youcomrades of the secret life Ilive; for the hour has comefor us to destroy and devourthe body of Kipiye!

"The body that once was afear to us and our fathers.The body that once molestedus and sent terror throughevery living soul. Ha! Ha! Itis now ou.rs. Am I not right,all you fellow comrades ofKipe Kangi?"

"Siu·u·u.-u-u Sip-u-u-u-uHa!" they cheered. A loudroar bellowed from athousand voices, shakingevery leaf and shrub in thevicinity. The earth under-neath shoc:J.k.

As there fre earthquakes,there was T: body quakewithin the ten men. Thenthere was fomplete silencefor a while! and the ten couldstill hear tbe roar of themultitude M invisibleSangumasl ringing in theirear •.

They were the guards, to'protect the body of Kipiyefrom Sangumas, but howcould they fight people theycouldn't see?

Despite their precautions,and although no one sawthem in the house preparingor hiding in the bushes, therewas a leak somewhere intheir proceedings that causedthe theft to go unchallenged.Added to that, the happen-it1lls were horrifying, moret1uln enough to freeze theblood and knock out the wits.

Then there came a suddenburst of rain and thick fog

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dominated the graveyard.Amidst the fog, they couldsee Kipiye's body ascend and'then stand in the air, a fewfeet off the ground.

The bewildered men couldhear voices as Kipiye's body,now lying on his back inmid-air. moved across thebushes. It was too obvious.Kipiye's body was beingcarried away by invisiblehands.

The men had lost all senseof bravery. They were tooscared to follow in pursuit asthey watched the body floataway into the darkness. Thefaint voices of the Sangl/,_mas, the wind and therustling of leaves settled likesediments of sorrow on theearth. bringing completequ.ietness.

For a while, the men sat insilence, a thousand thoughtsforming in their minds.There was only one whogrinned to himself and sal atease. Then Am disturbed thestillness.

"Yekomba, woia woia," hecalled nervously as hewalked towards the emptygrave. "Come out, cam.rades. " He stood looking atthe hole while large beads oftears rolled down his cheeks.The other nine were soon byhis side. All swallowed lumpsin their throats and found ithard to talk as tearsstreamed down their cheeks.

The magic of evil hadoutwitted them. It hadoutfired the weapons of theirfore·fathers. Under thewatchful eyes of ten ablehuman beings, the once

honoured body of Kipiye thegreat, was stolen withoutchallenge, to be devoured bylawless creatures of KipeKangi.

Despite their precautionsand despite their carefulplanning, there was a leaksomewhere, somoofU! hadbetrayed them, yet whoeverit could be they couidn't tell.

They stood in silentconcentration for a while andthen mOved off into thedarkness in single file. In thedarkness one man. smiled tohimself as a cock announcedthe coming of dawn.

• • • • •

The morning was -brightand the promise of a goodday hung in. the air. Taie, theold tultul or messenger of theKumga tribe stood alone inthe meeting ground. Soonpeople of Dondua villagebegan to pour in.

They had been wonderingwhy the meeting had beencalled so abruptly duringtheir sleep. Stirring rest·lessly, they had beenpondering over the suddenannouncement of a meeting.

Taie. his face revealingnothing, stood meditating fora while and looked up at thepeople. The women hadtaken to one corner and weresilent while the men talkedin low murmurs.

The sorrow at the death ofKipiye was still around thecorner of their hearts. Seatedat the back of the conversingmen where the ten guards ofthe night, looking very graveand very much shaken aftertheir experience.

Taie looked up and all heldtheir breath. His eyes, glassywith tears but fierceunderneath, betrayed thepurpose of the meeting. Thenpointing towards the tenguards of the night. heboomed, "All you sons anddaughters of Kipe Kangi: agreat injustice has been doneand it must be avenged!

"Last night the body ofKipiye was removed by

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lawless heartless followers ofKipe Kangi."

It seemed as if the fury ofa demon had suddenly seizedhim and he knew himself nolonger. Shaking his head hecontinued, "Under the verywatchful eyes of ten guardslast night, Kipiye's body wasremoved without challenge.

"Do you know why? Doyou know how? They wereinvisible. Now, that has onlyone conclusion.

"One of us here, in thisvery congregation, is aSanguma, a heartless KumKoimb, who has spied on thegua rds and by the poweracquired from the evil KipeKangi has upset theirVISion.

There was a sigh ofdisbelief. Heated argumentsfollowed. Some young men

~~

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* Stories

wanted to seek out thelawless Sanguma andavenge the theft of Kipiye'sbody, while other disagreed.Then AIlS spoke out.

"Be/ore it is too late, asearch party must beorganized and the bodyrecouered." There wasgeneral agreement and themen prepared themselves.

A group of 20 young menwere picked. They armedthemselves with bows andarrows and tucked axesunder their bark belts. Thewomen went to their housesand came back a fewminutes /ater with what foodthey could find. These theygave to the 20.

The men having eaten,nuu12 their way out ofDondua.Thegreat8ea~hhad st4rted. Those remainingwatched the column until itdisappeared into the bushesand then nuule their way totheir houses.

6

Taie stood for a whilelonger and then uttering aCurse on the Sangumas, theKum Koimbs, he too kft forhis hut, leaving the meetingplace quiet and deserted.

The sun was overhead nowand the people went abouttheir normal routine, thewomen to their gardenswhile the men went aboutcollecting firewood andfetching water. Some of theyounger men, who wereemployed by the Administra.tive Station went to work.

Taie sat in his tent,making arrow heads for hisarrows. He had just corn.pleted sharpening his axe.He was an old man w/u) had.lived during the dark daysand he still had. a st01lllbelief in superstition. sorceryand the pay back system. Nowhite man was go;f16 tomake him change.

The search party had splitthemselves up into ten

groups of two. &ch /lTOuptook a small creek, andstarting at its mouth where itjoiru up with the mightyWaghi River, searcWupwards towards themountains.

It is a belief that Salagu-I1IaB alwayS ate their preynear a creek so as to drownthe juicy flesh with water.The search COntinued aU dayand the men became weary.

It was late afternoon nowand dUBk Wd.4I around thecomeI'. They were now aboutthe same diskJnce from tMWaghi River as DondUGvillage and they could see itin the dist4nce, about a mikor twoawqy.

Aru an,df his comTtlth,Wagl. werejust about to quitwhen Waglnoticed somefootprints around the area.He pmced his foot on one butfound that';t did not fit. 'Surveying the area, henoticed more prints. Follow_ing them, he came to a darkspot where the canopy of theleaves and vines overheadconcealed the sunlight.

The search was gettinghot. He could see the ,remnants 01 a feast. Hescanned the area for a whileand then, brushing aside ahump of leaves, he ex.claimed, "Ana! Ans! Comeover here. "

Ans ran over and stoodmotionkssatwhathesaw.hwas an arm cut off from theshoulder. The fingers hadbeen gnawed off It washidden u1Nkr the leaveswhich WtWl had brushedaside. Kipiye's arm! The twomen stood silent for a shortwhile and then Wagl brokethe silence as he called forthe other groups.

In the qlliet. early stogea ofdusk, the other /lTOupsdistinctly heard Wagl's voicr,They were at the Scene in a

wink. They surveyed the areafor more remnants but foundto their disappointment onlydying grass from the flow offat and a few bits of fleshstrewn here and there.

They collectedwhat theycould find ond finally, withheavy hearts and forcingtheir voices through lumps intheir throats, cheered aloudat the finding.

Taie, who had jrut finishedhis 'MaJ, was reaching forhis bamboopipe and some"brus" when he heard thecheering in the di.stance.Hewalked out into the twilightand called for the people togather at the meeting place,With difficulty, he rolled astone stool into the middlewhere he sat smoking hispipe and waited for thepeople to gather.

The search party, carryingthe remnants of Kipiye'sbody, slowly made their wayhome, followed ~ya multi·tude of {lies. The cicad4s hodceued and night met themhalfway. There was a genthbreezeand the night air wascool.

Nearing the village, theycould see camp fires blazing,revealing the crowd aroundthem. They walked forwardat a slow and quiet pace.

They entered the'meetingground from the entranceand placed their findings infront of Toie.

"Ah! Wow wow." heshouted, jumping up. "What!Come, come."

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The people stood horror The morning was bright.stricken at the sight. It The sun's rays broke throughthrilled every fibre of their the partitions of leaves andframes, Some of elders, tree barks, waking theage-mates of the late Kipiye, Dondua villagers. The firststarted weeping. thoUllht that hit them was

Taie's aged frame was their assignment, to haverocking violently os he both eors and eyes opened.straightened to address the It was a market day andcongregation. "Goodpeople the women folk were alreadyof Dondua, the white man on their way. The elders, whohasn't taken away all our hod hod their sha.reof thetribal customs. Our old pkasures life offers, sleptjudiciary system still kms on their wooden beds.remains. It was a special occasion

"Hark thee, my people! for the young men, a time ofFrom tonight onwards, keep social plea.sure.This was ayour eyes and ears open at day when they met all theair times, The thieves must young girls from thebe sought and dealt with neighbouring tribes, the dayadcording to our tribal of mating after their longby-laws, An eye for an eye hibernation.and a tooth for a tooth. My ~~ ;good people, go now and rest 'your tired frames,"

In the quiet moonlnsnight, the". heart8 burdenedwith sorrow, the people m.o.i:k ~their way home. There was ~ -- =--only one man who pondered -- _over the tribollaws and _.:...-= ---=---shivered in his blanket. '

• • • • •

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* Stories

It was one of tlu specialday. when a girl could invitea girlfriend to her house for asocial evening. A chance notto miss. They young menwashed and put on theirSunday best.

A long all the roads aroundthe Kup administrativecentre, the people werecoming towards the market.Some women led a pis or apiglet by a cord. Their sons.walking behind the animal,whipped its haunches with akafy branch to hasten itsprogress.

At the -market there was athrong of human beings,animals and food mixedtogether. Ans and Wagl hadjust arrived at the marketand were directing theirsteps towards some of theirage-mates from neighbourinatribes when they saw someyoung girls sitting in onecorMT all by themselves.They changed their courseand walked towards them.

"Hot day today, eh! Do youreckon 80 girls?" began Ans,always good at beatingaround the bush, "On Buch aday as this. it's glorious toend it by pairing off. Am 1not right, Wogl?"

A grinning shrug fromWagl brOUlJhtan angryretort from one of the girls,"Get out, old rascals!"

Ans UIO& quick to reJIpond"Apa'ah, Pi amb kawi, Enzkembigl nond Wa.., Hepatted her on the bottom."Come on good girls. Youknow you possess the beststuff in the world - bottomand aW"

Irritated at being touched,the girls stood. This was anopening and the whole lotgot ready to leave. Ans andWagl watched as they meltedaway into the crowd.

Wagl turned on Ansfiercely and was just going to

8

let him have it for hi8behaviour when a small boyinterrupted them. The boylooked timidly about him andthen with a few words in ash4ky voice said, "Come tothe house over there tonight"pointing toward8 the direc-tion of the house.

&fore they could askquestions, the child left asquietly 08 he had come,walking delicately as thoU/Ihhis feet would do harm to theinnocent grass. Ans calledafter him, but the boy took 'tohis heels and dis4ppeoredamong the crowd.

They had come to themarket with one aim andthat aim was achieved. Lackof sleep and sorrow haddeepened their sexualfrustrations and tonight wasa time they didn't want tomi8s. The thoUlJht of havingan artificial mattresB wasstill burning in their mind8as they left.

Night came. Ans and Waglleft for the girl's house. Allalong the road they spoke ofthe kind of night they wouldhave. Wagl wore a big khakilaplap and a Tee shirt, andAns, baggy trousers and asinglet.

They entered the house tofind the girls fast asleep.They were a bit late, but thatwas better still. There was norule saying one had to beearly. To be early was anhonour, but to be late meantthrowing yourselves besidethe girls without further ado.Ans and Wagl did Bawithoutwaking the sleeping girls.

They had been asleep forabout an hour when Wagldetected a strange noisecoming from Ana. Taking itto be Ans on business withhis girl, Wagl dozed offagain.

In the pitch darkness Waglcame awake again w the

same noise. This time Wagl,.sitting on his sleeping mat,li8tened attentively. TheBOUndwas more di8tinctnow. Teeth rubbing bone andtOU/Ihflesh being tom offand chewed. He listened forsome time when he heardAns whispering in lowmurrrwrs.

"Kum Koimb, we havefooled the stupid people ofDondua. Who now wouldknow that I am a KumKoimb? I, Ans, am the theone who betrayed -them.There i8 no man, not eventhe stupid Wagl and the twogirls sleeping here like 10gB

, who would know I am a KumKoimb.

"What do your say, mylittle pussy cat, my KumKiomb?" There was a smallmeow. A sign of contented-ness. The evil possessors hadto be in their Kum Kiomb'sfavour at all times, lest ittook their lives away.

Wagllet out a loud yawn,as if awakening from a deepsleep.

"Ans! Ans" he whi8pered."I haven't had a proper mealthe whole day, and I feel asif my stomach is going todump out bitter acid. Haveyou anything with you thatcan help me?"

"00'0," Ans thoU/lht, "thati8 bad."

"Why didn't the bastardsleep? What a mess. HadWagl heard it? No, it must beno. Was his girl awake too?He shook her quietly. No, shewas dead asleep. He had tothink fast. Thank God, thegirl would never know of hispossession.

Thinking Wagl would eatwithout bothering to examinethe food, he said hurriedly,"You couldn't have asked ata better time. I broU/Iht apiece of pork for you but htJ.dquite forRotten about it until

just a while ago."Curllf!my deep pockets. I

am halfway throush it, but ifyou want to help ..." AIlS

trUd to sound normal as hehaTUhilsomethins cold andsoft over to Wagl.

Wagt's hand trembled alittle as he received tM cold,tough and jelly-like flesh.Human flesh! Cold shiversran throush his body. SoAns was the double-cr08sinsKum Koimb who had apussy cat. The heartksstraitor who upset their visionand took an active part inthe theft.

Wagl sat for a wns whileallowins Ans to fall fast 'asleep. He then woke up hisgirl quietly and whispered toher all that had happened.He told her to remain quietand not reveal anythinguntil he met her again. Topsecret.

Then as the cock an-nounced the coming of dawn,Waglslipped out quietly withthe fksh still in his handsand made at breakneck speedfor Dondua. Twice hestumbled and fell, hurtinghis foot, but he kept onrunning.

He raced into the men'shouse with the fury of achargins bull. "Wake up, allyou sleepy heads of Dondua.The traitor has been fou'nd."

With the past still fresh intheir minds, the mention of itwas enoush to set the brainsawake and soon a crowd ofMked men surrounded Wagl.

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"Make the fire," hebellowed. In the brightfirelight, the men beheld thehuman {lesh, the torn bitfrom what had once been amagnificent body.

"Who is the culprit? Who isthis Kum Koimb?" A volleyof questions were thrown atWagl.

"None other than Ans"came the hot reply. A silencefollowed in which the menprepared a "welcome" forAns. A council was held.

"Ans shall die. Theyetom's son shall be killedand thrown into the bush.Let us bury this low classvillager," Taie began.

"But we can't kill him. The.white Kiap at the station willbe angry with us for killinghim and put us in thekalabus. And if we tell himabout the theft, hi•. white

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head won't believe us," one reply from the men's Muse.objected. "You were fast askep all

"Yes, yeti, that's true. We curled up and wrapped. Like acannot kill him because we'll cocoon around your girl'sal-o end up in the JuUabus." huge breasts 80 I decided to

"The white man has a leave you alone."thick skull. He is a longlong, Am hutened to the men'sin.cme. We cannot convince house but never entered it. Ahim.. Therefore, we'll de- mighty blow from old Taie'snounce Ana from the Junga club took him on his bocktribe and make him a and feUed him. He knew nooomblam. An outcast," Taie more. It was the rule. Whenconcluded. The men nodded enOUllh evidence was foundin general agreement. against a man, action came

Am woke up early to find firtlt and any explainingWagl gone. He woke Wagl's ~ame later.girl and 48ked where Wagl The women and others ofhad gone. She stared at him DondU4 heard the comma-for a short while. The early tion and rushed out to findmist in her eyes concealed what had happened, some ofthe sheer hate she had for tlu?m still wrapped in theirAns. blankets. Taie told all what

She answered, "He left had happened and. tlu?very eArly as he said he had punishment decided upon.to go somewhere." Some of the women broke

Ans ha.skned home, through the crowd and intothinking he could catch up Ans's house. They threw allwith him on tlu? way. his belongings out and setEntering the gates of his house on fire. ~Dond.1UJvillage, he called for The people were gatheredWagl. in tlu? meeting ground when

"Come here and have a Ans came to. Taie stood uppuff, Ans," came the cool and addressed the crowd.

----;--7';' ,......"'"';

,'. '

) I

10

itA great injustice has beendone and the punishmentshall be bitter. Ans! Youwould be a head. man now.But thank your white manfriend we can't kill you.

1, therefore, denounce Ansfrom our tribe and announcethat from now on, he is abomblam, an outcast."

Then turning to Ans, "Gotherefore, you Kipe Kangi'sson, to wander to the fourcorners of the earth, untilyou come to rest your .bodysomewhere.

You will see no more ofyour inheritance.. Yourproperty and land will beshared among us. You shellno more steal our people. Getout of here with your littleKum Koimb and if you showyour face here again, ki4p orno kiap, "Peng· nim kuJeaeu nol," . I'll shave yourhead with 'an axe."

The people cheered andpushed Ans forward tohasten his wandering. In thelate afternoon, a miserableAns left Dbndua villageforever.

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Portrait of a ParableRussell Soaba

I carried the carton of beer,SheUa COTTi«i her hilum ofdimdim food. and we cameout of the supermarket andwalke4 into the late evening.un.

I 1JU86f!Bted that we shouldcatch a cab .;nee it wosgoing to be Cl long walk foru.t to the hoUBe.Sheilo. triedto remind 1M about theamount of money we had lostthat week through Buchfancy eXtNJUOllances, but IiMUted and would not givein.

She wcu afraid of thatperml.ence and chtermina·lion in me. 1wished thing"and even willed them to beand there was nothing shecould do about them.

If I wanted a cab, shewould be most unwise to Bayno. If I wanted time to standstill. it would; and if it didn't,I would violently attackanyom who would dareargue that not even timewould obey my order•.

Sheila broke into a sweat,sighed, then reluctantlywooed a cab over.

When 1 was six year. old Idug an okapi knife into theBoil and stood back admirinsit. The sharp blade waspointing towards me.Someone aded what / wosdoing with the knife and /replied that / weu preparingto kick it with my bare feet.

The per80n culling me thequestion IDoJredat me for along time then shook hishead. / waited for him tospeak again, for he was anadult, but he only stared atme with his mouth wideopen.

Then, 08 if aware of what /wos going to do, the whole ofthe village populace cameand surrowuJed 1RI.'. Every-one stood still and watched.

"/ bet you, you wouldn'tkick the knife." tecuJed 0 boy

older than 1. "/ will kick it,"wos my calm reply. "You willdo no such thing," bellowedsomeone in front of me.

"You will get hurt, ••pleaded someone else frombehind me. "/ am going tokick the knife," wos my finalreply.

A moment of great silencedescended upon the village. 1waited.

When no one else spoke 1ran and kicked the knifewith my right foot. Thewomen screamed, some ofthem burying their faces intheir palms and turningaway. The men rushed overto see if / would faint, ordrop dead on the spot. /remained on my feet, calm asever.

l~~

:'\

"He's mad." screeched agirl. a teenager, and faintedat the sight of blood. "Quick,get a bucket of water,"ordered a man. "Get someclean bandage," said awoman.

"Boil the woter beforewashing his wound." "Youare hurt," said one of mysisters. "Not I'm not," 1shook my head, folded myarms.

"You are sick," said mybrothers. "Something's gotinside you." "/ am not sicknor am 1possessed, thankyou, Gregory and Arthur."

My mother came and

slapped me hard on bothcheeks. "Cry!" she ordered. Idisobeyed her command andsmiled.

She fled, screaming andtearing at her hair. Myfather caught her before shecould throw herself to theground or begin rolling inthe pig ponds.

Afterwards, my fathermarched up to me, waving astrong fist in the air. "1 willkill you, 1will murder you,you little devil," he shouted.

"0 sham-e, shame be uponmy household," 1heard mymother wailing in thedistance.

My brothers and sisters,armed with a towel, afirst-(lid kit, and a bucket ofhot water, came and tendedthe wounds of the son.

When I was nine years oldand walking home fromschool one evening 1stoppedby Herr Steppenwol{'s tradestore, which was not far fromthe village compound, to playwith Hermine and Hans.

Hermine and Hans wereolder and went to aninternational high school inthe city across the bay fromthe village. Herr Steppenwolftook them there everymorning on his speed boat,and they cycled or caughtPMVs home with the otherstudents in the afternoon.

Sometimes they travelledto and from the city withGregory and Arthur, one ofmy sisters, and many morestudents of that and otherschOols, in our village PMVsand buses.

My school was just alterHerr Steppenwolf's tradestore so 1did not have totravel far each dayHermine and Hans invitedme into their house wherethey offered me soft drinksand some biscuits.Later. Hans taught me

11

* Stories

II1

how to ride his bicycle andHermine sprayed me all ouerwith her hair spray. We hadenjoyed ourseLves 80 muchtMt evening that when 1 left,Herm;ne and Hans werelaughing joyously.

"Is that you, Bans?" calledGregory from within thehouse. "No, it's me," [said.

"Come off it," laughedGregory from inside. "You aretoo good at imitating ouraccent, Hans. Welcome to thehousehold. anyhow. Hightime Herr Steppenwolfhimself and Fraulein Her-mine came visiting us too. ".a.

"Greg, it's me," I insisted,calmly and without emphasisto my voice. Curious,Gregory came out of thehouse. "Dear oh dear ohdear," he said, planting hishands on his hips. "What·ever have you done withyourfH!lf this time?"

"What do you mean,please?" I asked. "What doyou mean· what do youmean. please? You arepainted all ouer in gold, boy.Wherever did you get thepaint from? You haven'tgoM stealing in HerrSteppenwol!,s trade store,haue you now?"

"You mean all this? It'sfrom Hermine's hair spray.""Hair spray? It's spraypaint, you nut. The onespeople use for spray paintingtheir cars and boats andhouses and things. Look at)'Ou. Just look at you. Who doyou think you are?"

Arthur came out. Then mysisters. And my parents.

"God, not again," they allsighed.

[noticed Arthur holding awooden bowl full of bakedbreadfruit nuts. ''I'mhungry," I announced,throwing my bag of books onthe floor.

12

Arthur gave me a few ofthe nuts and we both crackedand ate them while theothers watched. lookingeither annoyed or fatiguedwith too much worry overme.

I saw one of my sisters pulla face and walk out to spit.Gregory looked away,scratching his head.

"How long wiU it take forthat evil thing to some off?"shouted my father andpointed at me. "Well? Howlnng will it take? Come one,stop looking at me as if youwere born that way andanswer m.e."

"It takes time, Papa,"explained Arther. "Thingslike this ia, you wait for timeto wash them off. "

"Hermine and Hans werethere," I said simply. "1happened to be there withthem and the paint came on.That's all."

"Buy some kerosene, Papa,and we'll wash it off."suggested Arthur. ''I'm notwasting any more money onyour brother's evil activi-ties," thundered my father.

"All the money that I earnfrom the copra and fromworking in Herr SteppeR- .wolf's plantation seems to begoing to this useless brathere. He ought to be killedand buried under the ground.He's an accident in thefamily, of that I can trulyswear. "

My mother broke into tears. and Arthur took me down tothe beach to show me a fullmoon rising ouer the oceanand the ci~y.

"So A rt~ur was yourfavourite brother." saidSheila, turning towards m.ein the cab. "What otherthings do you remember fromchildhood? Iloue listening toyour stories.~'

I noticed that Sheila was

busily scribbling away on anote-pad as she spoke.

"Well, I said, "when I was14,15 or thereabouts, I readShakespeare's sonnets. Ihave been a great admirer ofShakespeare ever since."

"Did you foll in lovethen?" "Yes. How - how didyou know?" "Most adoles-cents throughout the worldwho read Shakespeare'ssonnets during their summerholidays go through thatparticular experience," saidSheila with a laugh.

"But how lucky you are tohaue read Shakespeare atthat age. I must confess Ihad never heard of Shakes-peare until my universityyears. But pb!ase, do go on. "

"Well, I fell in love withthe girl." "And then? Wasshe nice? Where was shefrom?" "She W08 a remarka-bly handsome little creature,a Ron'aryan brown nativegirl by birth. I forget whatcountry she came from.

"Yet dare one say it,immediately after I hadfallen in love with her, Ioften thought of her in termsof salad bowls, bacon slices,ham and egg sandwiches,manila folden, Bah.4Basilhouettes, Indian saris andcurries, and even hot razorblacks and primitive nativecooking pots. "

Sheila whistled andqu.ickly wrote somethingdown on her note·pad. "You.wicked thing." she laU/lhedpleasantly. "You do havesome imagination. though."

When I stole a glance ather note pad I noticed somenumerical. figures anddiagrams which did notmake any sense ro me. I amtoLd Sheila had majored inpsychology at the Universityof Papua New Guinea.

The one thing I had notdiscovered about Sheila until

uery liIte was that each timewe conversed she had herears tuned to me but herconcentration devoted tosomething else.

When exchanging dia-logues she would look pastme and stare at somethingbehind me. 1 would see doubtin her eyes then. But thenshe would smik or laughpko.santly and playfullytwi&t my nose with herfingers.

In the house 1alwaysasked her to make me coffeeor bring me a beer from thefridge and she did so withouthesitation.

The cab pulled up atSheila's house and we Juuionly Kl.50 to pay. When wereached the door, Pharoah.Sheila's huge labrador, ranout to greet me.

Sheila's son from herprevious marriage came outwith the baby-Bitter and shepicud up the boy. 1gave thebaby-sitter a carton of beerand asked her to load themall into the fridge.

Later in the evening, as 1settled down to my beer, Iturned the radio on andbegan listening to the news.Sheila came out of thekitchen and asked if Iwanted some dinner. I shookmy head and went ondrinking and listening to thenews.

"Please have something toeat," insisted Sheila. "Theboy and the baby·sitter havealready eati'n and are fastasleep. " "I do not want toeat," I said firmly. Shesighed and went back to thekitchen.

There was a wt of newsbeing read over the radio.Violence at the border, forone. It seemed to me, afterlistening to that particularnews it€m. that tlu!re wasmore vioknce going on at

Drawiolf: I«oatiua Ilake TIonike

this side of the border thanon the other side.

One other news itempuzzled me. I could notbelieve such incidents weresuitable for broadcastthrough the NationalBroadcasting Commission ofPapoo New Guinea in PortMoresby.

It was about a mangunning down a chap by thename Dasaid, then driving afour-wheel truck over thecorpse two or three times.

"They say the man is stillat large in Port Moresby,"Sheila called out from thedining room after listening tothe new.'!item. "My boss.Felix - you know Felix. don'tyou? He's a psychologist.You must meet him sometime- says he has a fair idea whothe suspect is."

"Does your boss suspectthe killer to be a foreigner ornative?" 1asked. "I don'tknow. But Felu thinks thesuspect is a non·aryan brownnative - whateuer that is."

"Oh. "

* Stories

"My only guess is that theman in question might be thesame one who ran over thatpoor woman at Boroko. Felixthinks along the same linestoo. That reminds me. Bossmentioned something aboutsomeone writing an anonym·ous note to the poor woman.1think it was the note thatdid it." "How can. you be sureabout that?"

Sheila came out. Shetapped the back of her headwith a finger and said, "It aUhappens behind cwsed doors,sweetheart. "

Thinking about her remarka bit, 1said, "I'm sure thewoman's and Dasaid's killerisn't at all a aryanforeigner. "

"I don't know," saidSheila. thoughtfully. "Butwhoeuer the suspect is Felixtells me that he will be foundout soon."

'''How will you uselesspsychologists succeed intracking down the killer?" 1asked. irritably.

"Oh, we'll know all right,in good time," said Sheila,rather distantly. Thenlooking me straight in theeye, Sheila smiled sadly andsaid, "Please. let us notqoorrel ouer these matters.They are bound to give eachone of us a terribleheadache. "

Then much later, andpulling up a chair lo join me,Sheila said, "Are youhappy?" "Yes." 1answered.I then asked her to bring a

beer ouer for me. She nodded,rose, but instead of goingimmediately to the fridge,she stood still and listened.We bolh list€ned. In thedistance we could hear thepolice sirens.

"1 think they found theman," said Sheila, andstrolled ouer to the fridge.

13

* Stories

Boroko Saturday MorningJerry Daniels

You can never see 80 manypeople as on Saturdaymorning at Boroko. &mepeople. they go to buy food,Borne go to shop. Borne go tomeet friends, Borne go to,well, just go reun. '

1 tell you, all sorts ofpeople, fat ones and thinones, teachers and students.yellow ones and white onesand 80 on.

I'll tell you a story, thestory about one Saturdaymorning when I went toBoroko just for a raun.

That morning when I wokeup 1thoU/lht to myself, shall1go mun at &rollo or not? Iremember my cousin whoworks in a bank, he said if Igo today 1meet him inBoroko hotel.

Well, I went to wash in theshower room and when thatfinished 1put on my open kgtrousers and my green armyshirt, comb my hair andwent to Mue breakfCUJt.

I went to the bUB-stop towait for the bUBo J Baw Johnand he ask me where 1 want

14

to go. I told him, "I'm goingfishing, what?"

"Good hunting," he said,"but don't t'QlJIlh too mlU:h."'Tm a good man ya," J said.

We waited and manyPMV. and b/l8es they camebut always full and they didnot stop. When one emptyone comes all the peopk r/l8hto get in. Those who are slowwill have to wait again. Jwas waiting for a long timeand J was tired already. Jwas thinking of giving up.

Then one PMV came stopand J said, "Draiua, Boroko."He said, "Four Mik,Boroka," and J jlm'lped intathe back with a lot of boysand girls, men and women,baby boys and baby girlsand piss and dogs.

Well, nat pigs and dogs butyou knaw that's a PMVexpreBBion far many things.They probably came withtheir houses, hooa - anatherexpression for carrying manythings. I was uery cross,what far too many people inone trock. Why nat some go

,

dawn and wait for otherPMVar bus.

Anyway the driver he startthe engine and we ran toAdmin College. Some peoplestanding at the bUB-Stop,they want the PMV to stopbut the driuer keep going.They become cross andswear, "You bloody pig." Wekept going, going until wecame to Waigani.

One boy want to go downso he shouted uery big andtold driver, "DrailXJ alim."One funny boy, J think he isfrom Sepik, he said, "Draiooalim, meri bilQng kaun.sililaik pispis." Everybodylaugh and laugh very much.

The trock stop and the boywent down and some morepeople came up. The drivergave it sixty and we passGordans junction. He want tostop but the passengers theyshauted. "Fullup, fullup, nospace," so we went straightta Four Mile. At Four Mik Iwent down and pay the PMV20 toea. Then J start to walkto Barako.

1 tell you, shit, you cannotwalk straight. You have towalk sideways. You bumpone girl, you ru.n into apikinini, you crash into ahurrying boy, you have tolook careful. 1cross the roadand 1heard someone say,"Smell tinfish no?"

1 look up and saw Johnand Tom laughing at me.They ask me what 1wasdoing and 1said, "1make mystyh!, what?"

Tom laughed at me andsaid, "0 look at him, likegood one." 1 said, "You Jay"and he said, "You S 0 you."1 say, "Up yours," and wemake this kind of fun and wewalk together.

That time me, John, Joeand Tom weregoing to·gether, four of us. Tom said"Maiau" to one Tolai girland she said, "Eei, nogatsem bilong you." Joe and

Drawings: John Samo

John and me were reallylaughing.

1 saw Kote coming so 1said, "Ai, Kote, Kote." Joecalled out, "Hey coonman,how's your fuse?" "Betterthan yours," Kote said andwe all laughed.

At the same time, one girlshe is very. very pretty. Shewalk past us. She W!lS

wearing blue dress and putlipstick on her mouth andpainU?dher fingernails.

She also pull some hairfrom her eye and waswearing high heeled shoe.Who knows she probablyturns her voice when shespeaks?

Anyway, Kote whistled ather and said "Bulu favour."She kept on walking and hecalled again "You oroit a?"The other boys pretendcoughing and clearing uptheir neck.

* Stories

Joe said, "That kind of girlis what 1coil a blackEuropean." John said "No,she is giving it sixty,conforming or changingahead of PNG pace. Adapt-ing that's the right word."

Now we come close toBoroho Hotel. Tom said,"Eyes right. Shall we go infor lecture or not." Isaid,"Me I'm sevende YG, 1 don'tknow MW to drink."

The other boys suggeatedwe go around Boroko andthen we'll come back and goin. So we cut across toChows corner. We saw somegirls standing in the storeand Joe wave to one heknows. John said "Ei truah?" "That's me," Joe said.

The girl came and said,"Hello Joe boy, long taim nosee, how are you?" Joe said"0 fiftY·fifty and you?" Shesaid she was okay and she

/1l

15

* Stories

and hn friend[, were going tolook for some koi at the17UJrket.

Kote qid, "We are Mvifllla tUmcf! tonisht, you wonn.ocome?" Oh tlull girl. /u!rname ia galay •• he 8tIid shewould calM. "8ri1ll/ otMrgirl. with you, ••Kate Mlid."oroit a ". She IJ4id "Okay."GIld "look He you behind,"and went bac. to her friend..

We Baw OM nice car, youknow, thae Rtmse Rouer •. I.aid "BoY8, you wanno lift,that'. my ctu'.••JOt! said. "OhI'm sorry boy. I put my carin the garage ynterdaythat's why you people haU#!to walk on your legs.

"Nothins." said Tom,"people Wu you go inhelicopter. mode of sagoleaf. •.Kote .aid, "Slait! pilot0."

We came to the Post Officeand there were 80 manypeople. Lot. and lot. of them.Some were talking ontelephones. Borne werewaiting, Borne were waitingto buy .tamps and other.were doi1l/I other Post Officethi1lllB. who knows.

"Ya I'm hungry." 1heardone fellow Bay. We decided to60 to the milk ba" at TabariPlD.cea.nd eat 8ometrn'TIIl.Tabor; Place. 1 tell you,that', the only place. Youwill I/O f:ue yanQ in fiveminutes.

You will not hear anyUU1ll/becolUe so many peoplet4Jki". ond laushing, stoeossing;1I6Ioudly, peopleshouting, ho,.,.. tooting andalso engines of the cors. It'siust one big piece of noUe.

16

One funny thing happen.Joe bumped into 0 big fatwoman and nearly kissedheT. We wanted to laugh butthe woman looked at us sowe turn our foce away andpretend to look at tM shopwindow.

"Next time, you," she BGid.Joe scratched his head. oneside and said, "Oh sorri 0."

We sat down at one tableand were gTetUling aboutsome of the girls sitting nearthe door. "That red one ,..mine," Joe declared. "That'smy ex ya," Kote said. "Asteyet sigin clai, she said shegot like for fTU!, what."

I said, "Stop claiminggirls, yOu think her father .and mother born her and callyour name for her." "Yeah,"Joe said.

We meet my cousin in thestreet and he said it's timefor our language drill at thelanguage lab. So we marchdown to Boroko Hotel.

Man, Boroko Hotel,Saturday, ,.. ilU1t like Ta~ariPlace. You see so manypeople drinking and talkingand laughi1l/l and playingsnooker and doing otherthi"lls. Some people they siton benches, others they siton the ground.

Good place for drinking too)'0. But the toilet is rubbish.Drinkers they spoil the plaee.The boys bought a lot of beerand they brought them to ourtD.bJe.

1said, "What, taro 0, likeyou people plant it in thegarden." They said, "Noworry, drink up, S.P.capBGit. "

Hove you seen those peopleat &roko Hotel? After onehour the tone goes down, thepace goes slow but thevolume becomtUI louder.Voices! Thot's what rmtalking about, not that youwill hear anything. I thinkyou know.'

That time you must becareful of what you say.Another fellow might thinkyou are crossing him. Thisway many fights come up inhotels.

Sorry, I talk too muchabout the hotel. You look atsome of those cars. Some arepointed with many coloursand some have so manyaerials that you think theyhave radio and telephoneand television inside o.

Others they stick all kindsof stickers everywhere andthey make a lot of noise andmake big smoke. But they govery fast, man.

Yeah, I did not finish yet. Icame to the bus-stop andheard many people calling,"Draiva, Gerehu," "DraivaWaigani." I ask one driver,"Uni?" He nod his head.~ Iclimb up and sat down.

I forgot everything, did notwant to listen to anybody. Ishut my mind altCJBetheru.ntil the PMV stop at Uni. Isaw the mess Open and I say,"Lunch-time, /2 o'clock."

* Stories

Johnny WalkerIgnatius Kilage

Children call him JohnnyWalker, since nobody knowshis real name. I, by cluJnce,in a t7UJr~dplace saw a childcomfortably skeping on hUmother's lap.

Looking up at his mother'ssmiling face the child said"Mother, why doea UncleJohnny Walker walk everyday?"

Mother, finding theseriousnns in her child'sface, said, "YOUI' IUlCk Juuplenty of time in t.IIU bigcity, therefore he goes for awal~ to see if he can findanybody dud can talk tohim ••

UnfortlUlGt#!lynobodytalk. to him. Poor UncleWalker, when he takes hUdaily walks from KolU! toSeven Mile and back, hepasses people of aU mces onthe road. I

Most walk, some drive incars and bttse.. He respect-fully wal~on the side, headdown, his undk of worldypossessio he carries, an icecream con iner is his hat tokeep off t~ heat of the sunor the rair4

Step by step he walks,oblivious to hi's surround-ings. Parliament could be insession maki". momentousdecisiollB that could affecthim..

Visiti". foreign dignjtariescould be escorted by mountedpolice with flying colours.There could be streetdemonstrations.

There could be children orold people run over by speedydrivers, there could be streetblocks that annoy fr.rateddrivers.

Come min, come shine,Johnny wolks his merrywoy.

Of late Ihave not seenhim.. Actually 1 mi•• him.Many of IU may be doingwonders. 1 wonder if we are

makers of our destiny.Johnny, like Cowboy

before him and many others,was the 80il and soul of Port

lMoresby. They own this )land, however barren!

They will come to haunt Ithis land yet, as theirancestors hunted and roamedthis fair hilly MOTesby,without the sky scrapers.

In a place of sickly hurry,where everbody's movementsare regulated by the all-powerful time, Johnny walk8his slow measured walk. Hehas no master, he has nowatch.

A free man, master of hisown will. He walks and seesall. In his dreams he sees hisbrothers and sisters sweptaway from their roots oftranquility and a simple lifeinto the turbulent blackwaves of materialism.

He groans, and turns ouer.but he must get his rest fortomorrow's walk.

17

j

Ii!'.,

* Plays,

Black Market BuaiNora Vagi BrashCHARACTERS,

First buai sellerSecond sellerGardenerWhite SupervisorScience Lecturer, ProC SaveKambang. science studentDuai, science studentDaka. science studentSHin, economics studentKins, economics studentToes, economics studentTouristEconomics Lecturer, Prof Bucks.

The scene is the University Gardens. Two buaisellers arrive and settle down to sell betelnuts.1st seller:Iniseni ita eda huatau ita hoidia. Oi diba turahari be Paraide namona. Sikuli memero bonakekeni be buatau aoia moma. Sedira moni tainado ita veria.

(Let's sell our betelnuts here, you know today isGood Friday my friend and these school boysand girls really like chewing. We're sure to pulla lot of money in you know)

2nd seller:Em nau yu tok stret. Nai hai me selem buai,nau long tete nait bai mi danis wantain tupelameri, husat i gat sotpela nek, wanpela emigatgrinpela sikin na narapela i gat braunpelasikin.

18t seller:Oh yea - oH slap we?

2nd seller:Yu save pinis, oH stap long Kols Klab, naBoroko hotel na bilak maket.

18t seller:Mi 8 ting bai me go painim long Tabari, saposnogat bai mi bairn PMV oa wokabaut long pies.

2nd seller:Man dispela em hat wok ia, na yu mas wokimlaik bilong yu pastaim behain yu ken Hng longpies.

(As they talk, they display their betelnuts intogroups of two's and three's according to size. Agardener nearby sees and comes running tothem pulling a garden hose)

IS

Gardener:Hey yupela! Husat i tokim yu long selem buailong hia a? Yu no save ah! Dispela pies oli i bintambuin long dispela kain pasin. Goan, raus,noggt mi putim wara long yu. (He threatensthem with the hose) Sapos masta i lukim yupelaem bai bel hat noggt tru.

2nd seller:Ab tura! What for you get cross? Here. (Handshim a couple of betelnuls) Come chew with us.We not mekin rams, we just sellin only and youare giving yourself hard time for nothing.

Gardener:(Getting irritated) Lukim mi 00 save kaikaibuai. Dispela ino maket, em univesti em piesbilong sikul oraW Plaoti bik man long we we isave kam long hia. Na mi no laik oli lap longyumi long 01 pipia na spet loog buai. Kam on,yupela raus kwik taim.

1st seller:He tura, oi badu 188i, inai buatau oi aoia vadamai goada danu oi gaukara. Oi diba buatau beita ena mauri gauna. (Come on, stop yourDnnecessary anger and chew this, it'll give youenergy for work. You know, betelnut is our life)

(The gardener cools down, accepts the betelnutsand sits down)Gardener:Ha! ha! ha! sanigiue! Nau yu tok tro, buai emwanpe!a kain samting. Sapos yu no kaikaimem, het bilong ye bai kranki nogut tru.

2nd seller:Now you tok sense. Buai is something else. Inmy home village, they say "betelnut killspeople."

Gardener:Yea, mi save long pies bHong mi i olsem. Longsampela hap long Papua Nugini 01 save tok,sapos yu no save givim buai long wanpelawantok, 01 bai bel hat na paitim yu stret. (Hechews as he talks. He starts to fan himselfuigOuTOusLy)Ab! buai yu samting tru!Supervisor:(Suddenly appears) Hey you, What the bloodyhell you doing filling your mouth with thatdisgusting stuff? Public Service regulationssays no chewing of betelnuts in working hours.Idon't care what you do after work but notduring bloody working hours.

Go on, get your bloody arse off the ground andraus them too. If I come back here and thisplace is in a mess, I'll bloody sack you, hear!(The supervisor storms off and the sellers

hurriedly put their goods in tMir bags andscramble off)Gardener:(Calls out atU!r them) Yupela mu sidaunananit long 01 plaua long Idostu long rot, em i'nap long lukim long dispela hap, planti diwai istap.

2nd .eller:No wornee mate, when he goes we'll come back.

Gardener:(Roth Iu. .tftV~up and ShoWBhis mu.scles)Blari sit nating. Nell: taim bai me paitim emetret. (to audit!n.c~) Yu ting bun nating, ab man,me aav~ hamarim 01 long Ktab. Mi strong mooyel (He BtartS to hose all over the stage andui,.)(Ermr 2nd seller ctwtiously. He loo" aroundand tMn signal& to his friend. TM {irst sellerent~rB. They both look around, spretul tMircardboard mat. and sit down)let.lter:InBi tsuna be kavakava momokani. la enagabu bamona. Papua be mau negai indepenai iaabia vadaini. (This man is really stupid. Thi& isnot even his place. Papua is alreadyindependent)

2nd .ller:Ye, lBik gud wan, maalri we sit here first andsee. He comee back again, that one am gonnaspit on his beautiful shiny white shirt withbetelnut, you wait. You know boy only anytime.

(As they talk, they go throUi/h the same ritualof spreading their wares. A group of scienceBtudents enter left, to study the reaction of limeand betelnut and p~pper)Prof. Save:Well, BB I waa saying in lectureB, the reaction ofthe lime ha been proven to cause the linings ofone'. stomach to be lined with asbestos.

However today we just want to see what it does tothe human mind under the influence of the buai.Perhaps Kambang, you can get the ball roUing byes:plaining to theee people why we are here.

Kambanr:Tura, inai kava tauna ia ura, abu, buatau, popo_oi henimai ai itaia guna. (Friend, this idiot herewante us to study lime, betelnut and pepper)

2nd eeller:Ha! ha! ha! You can see them here., and if youwant to look at them properly you must buy it,only 20 toes. We don't go to B.P. and say wewant to study bully meat, give us one tin.

* PlaY8

Prof. Save:Here's 20 toea. I can get a refund from thedepartment. ThU research ha been approved.Just ak him for a receipt.

ht.eller:Risid be dabaka? (What's a receipt?)

2ncleeller:Em lildik hap pepe bHang rabim aa. (TheyI=gh)Prof. Save:What'B the joke Kambang?

Kambanll:Nothing, I didn't hear what they said.

2nd eeller:Look here mate, I got no docket book, we notschool boy •. You want me to write on betelnutskin?Kambang:(HandlJ over 20 toeo and picb up tM betelnuta)Here boYBgo to it. We want reaction man!

Sual:Man you think we're going to achieve anyreaction. I think, we Bhould do the test on Prof.Save him"lf.Daka:Prof, why don't you have Bome. It won't killyou.

Prof. Save:I tell you what, next time we have a fonnaldinner, I'll buy some and then you can show mehow to chew it. You know what Imean. I'll tryit under relaxing circumstances. Right nowthank, all the same. (He waits for the reactionbut in vain)Buat:This is nice buai, I think I'll buy some morebefore the rush is on. You know these days youhave to travel to the markets to buy them. Thisbloody city council is making it hard for therural people.

Prof. Save:Are you feeling anything yet Daka?

Oaka:No, I feel fine, no difference whatsoever.

Prof. Save:(Write. in his book) The betelnut itself I'm told,doee not give a red colouring. However, if youchew the pepper seed with it, it gives a slightorange colour. When you add lime, the wholething Oarea up. You become hot and Bweaty.

18

* Plays

When swallowed. it hits you in the chest. (SmilesGS he remembers his drink from Last night) Justlike straight whisky. (Smacks his lips) Try itsometime yourself. The lime itself is made up ofburning shells or coral over red hot embers andcrushed into fine white powder. Thus we havelime calcium. (Jokingly) I say you got to bestrong to stomach it. Like all drugs it is astimulant.

(At this point the students are having a ball,joking and laughing with the sellers, Thisconvinces the Professor about the effects ofbefelnut chewing) Dab, Buai and Kambang Ithink are really affected. (To them] Don't forgetI want this assignment completed and handedin at 8 o'clock sharp tomorrow morning.

2nd seller:Hey yupela, tia8 bilong yu raitim wanem longbuk.Duai:Mipela ino save. Ating em raitim giamanssmting.

Prof. Save:Ab well,I guess that's the end of the lecture. (Helooks at his students, looks at the audience andsighs) Betelnut is really a menace. (He exits toright)Kambang:These foreigners will never understand the finerpoints of the true Melanesian way.

(A tourist enters from the audience takingpictures as he comes along, and throwing onetDeapieces to the audience. He comes up to thestage and halts and then takes pictures of thesellers and the students.Tourist:(Picks up a nut and looks at it) What is thisfruit?

Dak.:It's betelnut.

Tourist:So this is betel nut. Ya know back home in theStates we have them growing in the hot houses.

Buai:Well here it grows anywhE!re.

Tourist:A didn't see none on ma wey dan here.

Oaks:Well now, they don't exactly grow around here.It's far too hot.

20

Tourist:(Fans himself and wipes his brow with ahandkerchief) You can bet ya bottom dollar.What's the white stuff, is that acid?Kambang:That's not acid, it's lime.

Tourist:You know it sure looks like heroin to me. What'sit made of?Oak.:It's made out of burnt coral and shells.

Tourist:Mind if Ihave a taste of it? (He put3 hUJ fingerin the white powder then .£arts to put his fi1lllerto his mouth)2nd seller:Hey! you don't put your finger in your mouth, itwill bum you.

Tourist:(To Buai) Say what's he saying?

Buai:Well that stuff can't be taken by itaelf. It goeBwith betelnuta and the pepper.

TauriBt:Oh I see. What a super idea? What does it tastelike?Kambang:It's a taste you have to acquire YOUl'8elf.Whydon't you try it?

Tourist:A don't mind if I do. (He gilJe$ his camera toBuai) Say, can you uae one of theee?

Buai:Well, I could have a go.

Tourist:Why don't you take a picture of me while I'mtrying some native stuff huh? I wanna show itto ma family when I go back to the States.

Buai:Right, say when you're ready.Tourist:I'll just sit here in between ma friends here. (Hesits in between tM Bellers) Now what do youdo?Daka:(Hcndi1lll ouer c peeled betelnut) Now you chewthis first.

1st seller:o noggt bai ern 8pak long buai. Buai bai kilirnem stret.

Tourist:(Hears the word kilim, jumps up with 0 fright,takes the buai out) A say what's he talkin aboutkillin for? A er .... mean .... A have read aboutcannibalism. A thought the practice wasabolished by Christianity before Independence.

Buai:(Laughing) No, what he means is, that thebetelnut might make you a little tipsy.Tourist:Hey, does it make you high like dope?

Buai:(lnnocemty) What is dope?Touriat:Don't you know what dope is? Marijuana, itshould grow wild here in the tropics.

Buai:Don't know what it looks like. WeDnow do youwant to try or not?Tourist:Why yes!A'd love to try. They say you can'tsay anything less you've tried. Here goes. (Heputs the betelnut back in his mouth.)

Buai:Now you dip this pepper seed in the lime, likethis and you place it on the betelnut in yourmouth ana chew. (The tourist chews gingerly,t;en points to his mouth)Tourist: ,Wh....at do a do ne....xt?,Buai:You may spit it out if you like. (The touristswallows down the betelnut hesitantly andshuts his eyes tightly and draws a big breath.Then slowly he breathes out)2nd seller:Luk aut! nogut bai em dai ah!Tourist:(Sheepishly smiling) Whew!....A thought A'dnever recover. Say you think a could have aglass of water, my mouth sure feels dry. (Buaiexits)Oaka:Maybe you need fire extinguisher more than aglass of water.Buai:(Entering from left with a glass of water andpulling along a hose) I though you might needthis.

* Plays

Tourist:Well, a can't say a like it but am sure glad a'vetried it. A think a'lIlet Melanesia alone to itspretty habits. Thanks a million buddy. Nicemeeting ya. (He exits, right, with the students,fanning himself mD.dlywith a straw hat)(Enter, left, a group of students with aneconomics kcturer, Pro/. But:ks, carrying a textbook. Silin carries a board for writing)Prof. Bucks:Well now, if you can just put this board here.(Places the board away from the buoi sellersfacing the audience but not m48king the selle,.".The Pro/. puts his hand in his pocket, hitcheshis trousers up) Now then, this morning wehave brought a class out here for practice. Wewant to see the imporlance of rural economy.Here we have two buai sellers.(He moves to the Bellers and uses them 48 liui!models.) Both have come a long way from thevillage. Tonight they will have sold all thesebetelnuts. The important thing is they'll not begoing back with the money but taking homeproducts that are not readily available in thevillage. We call this supply and demand.(He writes it oown on the board. While the Prof.is busy giuing the lecture, the students are

. bored to tears so they sit down and buybetelnuts and start chewing with the sellers,paying no attention whatsoeuer to what's beingsaid)Prof. Bucks:These guys are very cunning. (Shakes his head)Oh no, they're not stupid either. You see theykeep up with inflation. Now statistics showthus. (He writes on the board) "Averageannual buai consumption. Period 1950·60:12 betelnuts to 12 pence." Now this was inthe days of L.S.o.(He writes again) "1960-70: ten hetelnuts toten cents."This is in the good old days. (Nostalgically) YeaIremember going to Koki market. Very wellorganised. The market was kept clean and thefresh fish, my word you could buy a string of fishfor five shilli.ngs. Those days have been kissedgoodbye.

Yeah, back to the statistics. With theintroduction of the new currency, kina, andhanding over of powers the prices haveridiculously soared sky high.(He writes again) "1976-1979: threebetelnuts for 20 toes."

21

* Plays

There 'NU a time when people would riot over abag of betelnute. There won't enough to goaround. In fact my informants tell me thatbecause of the lICarcity of the damn things,sellers wowd often sell small plants forcOl\lumption. Thank goodneu for highways.These sellers are making enormous profits ontheir produce. With ioDation. the quantitydecreaseB.

(He tUl'1U to tJu stutknq) Now what I want isfor each of you to bring back some data no laterthan 10 o'clock on Friday. (He obserfJeB hiswatch) Oh dear. I'm late for the AcademicBoard MeetinI'. (Exitll right with board)

8ilin:Well, did you hear all that rubbi.eh?

Toea:Well, I'm loing to write anything down andgive it to him. He wouldn't know anyway. (TheSu~rviIJorenter. thUndt!Ting)SupervillOr.What the bloody hell is going on in my garden?Kina:(L4uglUngJ Black market. what else.SupervillOr:What do you meanl I'll file a report to the citycouncil. Now liaten to me, you cheeky bugger. Iwork here all day long trying to get this bloodyeampua clean while you .it on your arse all daylong chewing the bloody gunk and spewing itall over my campus. Imean our campus.Toe8'Come on, what part of the university statutesata'" no chewing ofbetelnuta heh?8upervil8Or:It'.your campua aa wellaa mine. I think youmould appreciate that fad.8iUn:(Coolly) Wait a minute, what do you meanappreciation when you don't even appreciateour MelaneJian way ah?SuPervisor:(Irritated) Thia is an iD8titution made out offoreign currency, not bloody betelnut skin.,mate! As far aa the city council and I'mconcerned this is a black market.8i1in:Oh now come on, have a heart. These peoplehave come a long way. Why don't you let themfinish off the bag and let them off.

22

Supervisor:Have it your way. Don't start blaming us whenyou're sitting deep in the buai spit lake my boy.I'm only doing my duty.2nd seller:You like to try it? You try it before or no?Supervisor:Never! never! I don't mind the betelnut but Ican't stand that lime. I'm sure it's not very goodfor your system.2nd seller:Come here I show you, is good for your teeth. Itmake it strong.Supervisor:(Calming down) As a matter of fact I never hadthe full works.Students:Okay let's see the full works.2nd seller:(Cuts open a soft betelnut, hands it to thesupervisor) Put it in your mouth and chew. (Thesupervisor tries to chew and then spits out thejuice, clumsily) Now chew this daka with it.Supervisor:Oh it tastes different.2nd seller:Now I give you lime. (He brings out a tin ofSunshine Milk and takes a teaspoon full ofpowder and puts it in the supers mouth)Students:That's not enough, give him some more.2nd seller:Yea, thats not enough Igive you some mote.(He spoons another into his mouth. The supercannot hold it so he spits it all out coughingand carrying on)

Supervisor:Get out of my garden or I'll call the police.Gardener, where's that hose, bring it here andwash this damn place down.

(The gardener enters with the water and spraysit over everybody. The sellers scramble off stagecarrying what they can and leaving somebetelnuts on the ground. The garflener help.himself to these and sings as he hoses down.Two city councillors arrive, look right and left,nod approvingly to the gardener as he exits.They unfurl a banner for display)

"KEEP MOSDI CLEAN. KEEP DUAlSELLERS OUT," " '.

LOVER'S DREAM

Valerian Bauai

Reluctantly the September lIUD was strollingabove the horizon.

The llietening gtau of water was shimmeringin the heat.

The slow euterliee forced. small waves toglimmer like billiona of piec:ee of giB8&.

A lonely eea-guU was divine lazily, perfectly,on the horizon.

Perched hich on a coconut palm, a lonely heartstraddled 8 horde of Oowering nuts.

MotiOnl_8 in deep contemplation, he sat gazingat the ainking sun

while he journeyed with hi. l08t lovereverywhere.

From the universal hide-aod·seek days tothe moment. of the Pastor'. confirmation of:"Do you love her 88 your life-time wife?""Do you love him B8 your life-time husband?"

But he wall hmitant to recall the moments whenthe same Paator proclaimed:"Let our 8i.ter enjoy happineea in Heavenwith God'"

Hi, neck became dry and he aat stunned 8.8 ifhi, heart wu pierced by an arrow.

He turned hi, back.The savannah wilderm •• stretched right up tothe undulating Stanley Ranges.

He got interelted in aD oval-shaped green spot.He stared 8t it. then started up the meandering••••••••

At the summit, a thin white column waswaving at him.

He thought, could that be my lover?

Then an Wlexpected diBturbance made himturn,

Only to see the scarlet-gold circular objectjust about to slip down.

* Poems

Ita emitted early-twilight was being obscured bythe banks of a huge cumulus.

The sky immediately above the horizon wasstained Oamboyantly.

A1J the 8un retired.

Then he began to weep.

OH DALIN BILONG MI!

Melio Ma,en

He:o dalin bHang mi!

If you are really bagarap for mePlease do raitim pas na tokim mi.

Mi kisim poto bHong yu pinisI don't get gut slip long naitBecause I driman everynight for you.

o dalin bilong miYou shine like moon antapAnd glisten like solwara ananit.

She:o dalin bHang mi!

I am more than bagarap for youPleaae do come kwiktaim tru.

Taim mi kisim paa bHong yu,I get up upside down sleep long nait

. Because I driman for you.

o dalin you hurt like a rIBhing spearAnd pour like Sepik wara.

23

* Poems

MORNING CRIES

Dauid LaB

Kuku'ruku crows the kakarukAb! oH ltirap, I can see the SUD on hisway from the eaat,

And I can see the moon in her light to thewoe'

Oloman why is everybody still sleeping?Samting olsem oa mi tok, don't sleep in pairsKuku-ruku crows the kakaruk.

Ohe-aa-gaioo sbout the boys01 brata . where are your lllTOW8, where are

your bow8Em tulait nau, don't hold on to your pillowstoo long.

'I'raim oa stretim lek and rub your sleepy eyesNoken larim 01 purpur bilong 01 poromeri hidethe SUD from you

Ohe-aa·gaioo shout the boys.

Ayaeeee-Aya Aya·Ayaeee sing the girlsAb 01 8US8, mi lee long kirap, I want togo on sleeping forever

01 poroman bilang yupela must have satisfiedyour physical needs

Tuol traim oa kisim 01hilum, let's gogardenin' .

Nogut 01 poroman bHang yupela will gohunting with empty stomachs

Ayaee-Aya Aya-Ayaee sing the girls.

ANGER THEN SORROW

Suki S. S. Geberi

Led by my dog in darknessWithout knowing where I was ledI found myself sitting in front ofA heap of bonee.With anger I belted my dog to deathAnd with sorrow I buried himSix (eet underground.

YOU FEAR?

Kubura BaBU

You fear?Don't run offCurl around your fearAnd cuddle itYou'll find consolation.

!I1

Don't shove itInto your innocent throata,For feedback never mendsAnd it's alien to your wayAnd it's too demanding.

I OUGHT TO BE WRITING

Nora Vagi Brash

Today someone Bsked me"How's your writing going?""Fine, except it's washing day."I sit near the tubEach piece of cloth 1 wring bears every wordthat's meant to be on paper

The multitudes of bubbles blow snd scatter inthe breeze.

Clops! There goes another sentencePopped by a sudden burst of windLeaving my mind sterileLike my washing on the line.

* Poems

MASS MEDIA, MASS MANIA

Nora Vagi Brash

Yummy. sweet mane, tea cakeK.O. kraka, P.K., K.K.Tic tac Fanta tangoToothache, decay, decayKoikoi anywayFall out, pull em outStrong teeth? No way!

Talking about lime freshBlue Omo for brightnessPalmolive, brighter soap, whitey soapSoft soap, dope soapWhiter wash, wash wash, brain washBrain blank, blank cheque, blank bankCheck out!

Buy now, buy new, buy big, buy bulkBuy more, buy me, buy now, DinauBuy! Buy! Goodbye self-relianceSell! Sell! sell. self, sell soilSell soul, sell out, sell bottles,

Sell empty promises,SOLD OUT.

TOTAL ECLIPSE

Nora Vagi Brash

Grandmother and the old peopleAll agree how it happens.They know they say thatThe much desired moon womanElopes with an earth man loverSwallowed by a jealous angry god.

The scientists and astronomersAll agree, how it happens.They know they sayThe precise movements of Earth, Sun

and MoonAnd how the shadow of one masks

the other.Telescopes and cameras readyThey wait at their predicted timeTo prove what they say they know.

25

* Poems

But 8 thick curtain of black cloudsObscures their viewAnd the drama is hidden from their eyes.But not grandmother, ahe and the old peopleKnow about clouda too.It's very clear to them,The moon embarraaaed by too much staringHidea her race in shame.

OLD MAN

Loujaya Kousa

Unaware of his date of birthno concept of time,he haa no fear of death for he doesnot understand,to him nobody is old and time walksalowly to itst end like a turtle on its paunch.

He is the last of his kind, unawareof the chimges which t'!ave occurredhe livee on in his own backward way.

He doesn't aee nor does he realize.To him death ie hie Ia8t decision on earth,he is not afraid of the unknownfor he is too old for that.For him believing in reincarnation,death ie just another stepinto life with his ancestors.

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Loujaya Kousa

J alt and I sat in a clu.roomI thinked and I thoughtI reeled and I feltHot, tired, sticky, sweatyI tried, try, tries to tell, to toldteacher that I, me want, wantedwanl8 to go. To, to the TOILET!!!

28

SHE JUST LEFf HOME

Loujaya Kousa

She jU8t left homenever said a word

Idoubt the neighbours ever heardthe door 81am.

Never 8aid a word to good old Barnthe dog

Probably becauee of the heavy fogShe opened the gate and out she wentleaving the latch all twisted and benL

She just left home, didn't leave a thinga note perhapsor a diamond ring.But I don't mindYou know I'm not the kindwho weep or moanover girls like Joan.She jU8t left home.

WIND

Zak Tiamon

Wind yawningthrough leavesroaming through clifftoparipping through 88i1S.

I know you88 Kaiagentle and harsh.

A Kaia is a spirit that was created withthe world.

Woman, bronze in moonlightnot for rapebut for strokingas I, with my guitarto the tide's musicrising and falling

Woman, your future luminous.

WOMAN

Zak Tiamon

* Poems

WELCOME HOME

JoeMangi

The village swells as inhabitants move in.Grins are a bit wider, smiles a bit broader.Tiny weeny bits of teeth glintunder the glow of the flourescentLighting up the villagelike fireflies in the moonlight.

Hushed whispers from the newly-founds,make the brickwalls lining the numerouscorridors

feel wanted.More intimate action emerges from the darker

Bpotsinhabited by long parted lovers.Well-meant catcalls followthe new chickslike chicks following mummy hen_

Big smiles from the Big Shots."Welcomeback, nice to see you."Some genuine, some stereotyped,others in crocodile fashion.

Over-confidencespills the brim ofthe Seniors among the Small Shot•."How's yu, mite?" brims one."No probs, jest a mite hom'sik" spills the other.The Junior Small Shot looks on in awe.

I roll down the bussuitcase in one hand,' hilum in the other."Welcomehome." .Grun~s the Gunther Building.

LOVE POEM

Joe Mangi .

I am a poor man.I cannot give you money to spend.I cannot give you presents to have.I cannot give you rings to wear.I can only give youMyself.

27

;f"",

* Poems

I have a shoulder for you to cry on.I have an ann for you to sleep in.I have a lap for you to sit on.All these I have, plus more,Myself.

Forget me, Oh dear oneShould money bring you a smileShould presents gain access to your lipsShould cars and grog turn you onShould jewels relax your thighs.For these. I cannot give.I am a poor man.

PARTY CONVERSATIONS

Russell Soaba

upon our transition from wet to dry, dryto wet. we met in mid seastempted even to swap canoessomeone blew a conch. blasted the shellon the beer counter. was pushed out intoa solitary evening, the door locked behind him

another laughed, biblefolds rippling forthfrom a parliamentary potbelly, the laughtersmothering the nearest waitress: "Please sir,your drink. It is spilling." the nightwas a riddle of secret wounds, headyperfumes and other conversations

"Ah, monsieur l'ambassadeur, aimez·uousnos champignons? Ils sont bans."

cocktail hours lay heaped in a barrowto be carted away into a morningof cold green apples

anonymous centuriesfizzling in a glass ofislands, treasure, and death

TOWARDS DUSK

Russell Soaba

". accept living in exile 8S a permanentcondition of my life: a lot of it even in my

28

own country. Moat aa;tiat8 are like that,"-Albert Wendt

a thousand footprintson dried up mud pondstime leaps from weir to weirbridging islands, wholing circles

something stirred, tracedvelvet skies and islandexistentialists

devoured rich ad;ectives

reality slipped eel nngentold tall coconut stories of morningseeing night in a rainof swallows in migration: how

being wasforgotten towardsdusk, uncleared

LEAVING HOME

Fa 'afo N. Patrick

Friends shaking my handwish me luck

Father smiles handing mea buck

Mother hands me a bottle of home-made oiltears streaming down her cheeks

Everyone shouts· Emau 000

88 the boats sails awayI look back until I see the villageno mOn!o

, .

* Poems

I~Fa'ala N. Patrick

It'. only October ~ AvalaI know you're almost home, My mother's tapioca garden looks lifelessI know you're just outside my doorstep. because you've uprooted all the plants.There'. only a matter of moments to go My father's coconutplantation is languishingBut already you've Btarted roaring. because you've blown down a good number.

My grandmother is blindbecause you've blown sand into her eyes.

My baby can't sleepbecause you're eo noisy.

Months pass

AvalslYou are the strongest of all windsI can hear you blowing against my pandanushouse. / .

I can feel you cooling me after a day's work.I can see the lids of pots blown off and mygrandfather'a coconut hat blown into the bush.

Because of many thinaa I hate your visitsBut I know you will never end there.

Avs)sIt's February againThe village is peacefulThe children swim and play on the beachesI can hear grandfather calling from the gardenThe baby is asleep in the bilumEveryone is replantingFishennen are after the favourite MugiuAvala h8B left us againSingingUntil next November.AvaJa i. the name aiven by the Hula

people or the Central\proYince to theIIOUth-eut wind that blows fromNovember to February in that area.

29

* Poems

MY FRANGIPANI FRIEND

Fa 'ala N. Patrick

Each morning I wake up andOpen my eyeeI look out my balcony door.

I see you smiling meA good mominaSilently.

I laugh to myselfSmilinR' back aGood morning toMy frangipaniFriend.

.,

MYSON, OH HORNBILL MYSON

Alex Dawia

Thia poem i. tranalated from Mutone. thelangua.e spoken by the Siwaia of theNorth Solomon. province.

My 80n, oh hombill my BonMany were the times when you and I clamberedabout the steep paths

near our home. and never did you fall.How often we Ulled to climb over the mountainsmishap.

Then came that day when you fell and diedjust because your father had a longing to eat

baked meat, and took you along tohunt opossums;

now instead of feasting on Op088UInB yourfather eats your rotting flesh

Oh hombill, my $On.

If the living could follow the deadI would follow youI would leave the life of the livicg to be with

youOh hombiU, my BOn.

] ,

SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGEDauid Las

It's 80 great and endlessLike the empty apace above meNo matter how far I reach out to itLike a man loat in the deaertI keep going becauae it'a a fight for survivalLike a spoilt child I keep cryingBecause I want to have more tha.n othersThe aearch for knowledge is ao endless a taskThat to me it'a like climbing a hillJust to find at the topThat there ia another hill to climb.

CONTRIBUTORS

Kubura Ba8U:The pen-name of Doreen Soabs. Lives in AiDsi,in the loma 8ub-province of the Ora province.

Valerian Bauai:From Goilala. A third year arts student atUPNG.Non Vagi Druh:Came from Tubusereia, grew up in Kila Kilsvillage on the edge of Port Moresby. First workpublished in 1977. Poems published in variousjoumals. Expects to publish her first book ofpoetry 900n. Plays include "Which Way BigMan?" and "High Cost of Living- Differently".

Jerry Daniela:From Siaesi island. Graduated from UPNG in1981, is now editor of the "Niuglni Lutheran"and lives in Lae.

Alex Dawia:From the North Solomons. A third year student

. at UPNG, majoring in literature.

Suki S. Geberi:From Central province. Works 8S a PortMoresby secretary.

Ignatius Kilage:From Simbu province. Graduated from HolySpirit Seminary, Madang, Is Chief Ombudsmanof Papua New Guinea. His fictional account ofthe changes in Simbu and PNG through theeyes of a middl&aged man, "My Mother CalledMe Yaltep" appeared in 1981.

Loujaya KouN:Bom in Lse. Published her first book of poems"A Sense of Interest" in 1978 when she was L5.Currently a joumalism student at UPNG.

David Las:From Madang province. A third year artsstudent in UPNG.

Joe Mangi:From Minj in the Western Highlands. A fourthyear arts student majoring in archaeology.

Melio Masen:From the East Sepik province. A third year artsstudent at UPNG.

Fo'afo Potrick:From Hula in the Central province. A third yearstudent, majoring in language from UPNG, butis on an exc:hange at the University of theSouth Pacific, Fiji.

Russell Sooba:From Milne Bay province. Numerous poemsand short stories published in local andoverseas literary journals. The author of thenovel "Wan pis" and a book of poems, "Nak~Thoughts". A new novel is to be published thisyear. A teaching fellow in literature at UPNGwho will start a masters degree in creativewriting at Brown University, Rhode Island,U.S.A. this year.

Zak Tiamon:From East New Britain. Studied at UPNG andnow works for San Miguel (PNG) Ltd.

Thomas Tumun:From Kup in the Simbu province. He studied atUPNG and the University of Queensland,Brisbane. Taught for a time in the languagedepartment at UPNG.

31

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