What is the most important pet for you ? - it could be dog, cat or fish ?Here in PNG, Pig is most important domestic animal, especially in Highlands. It is taken care of as a family pet, until its life is sacrificed for either wedding, funeral, compensation ceremony, or Christmas celebration.
Traditionally, wealth was measured by the number of pigs you have, and even today, cash economy is widespread, it is still a valuable asset of people in Highlands of PNG.
People value pig so much that you have to be very careful of pig belong to other people.
The first advice on driving in PNG was – if you hit the pig on the road, never stop, and go straight to police station to ask for a help, otherwise you will get into a serious trouble. – I had to stop at a terrible traffic jam on one morning, only to find out that the cause of it was a family of Pig crossing the road !!
This was in Port Moresby, and you can imagine what the situation would be in Highlands… Thanks to the advice, I have never hit a single pig so far and I am still alive….
Traditionally, wealth was measured by the number of pigs you have, and even today, cash economy is widespread, it is still a valuable asset of people in Highlands of PNG.
People value pig so much that you have to be very careful of pig belong to other people.
The first advice on driving in PNG was – if you hit the pig on the road, never stop, and go straight to police station to ask for a help, otherwise you will get into a serious trouble. – I had to stop at a terrible traffic jam on one morning, only to find out that the cause of it was a family of Pig crossing the road !!
This was in Port Moresby, and you can imagine what the situation would be in Highlands… Thanks to the advice, I have never hit a single pig so far and I am still alive….
2 comments:
Hey Hideo,
what an interesting news. That is absolutely crazy for Europeans but a very important advice. I will put it into our blog if you don't mind!
Regards Daniel from Germany
Thanks for yr comment, some years ago, one old man visited car dealer in Port Moresby to buy a new vehicle. Being asked for a method of payment, he pointed out 20 pigs behind him !!I am not sure if the car dealer has accepeted the pig for payment...
Yes, pls go ahead and tell the story to your country people.
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