tenegump

Tenegump

The largest hamlet in the Fungai clan territory was in the area called Tenegump.

057-17: Boys on the path between Gunts and Tenegump.

Tenegump hamlet was a ten minute walk from Gunts yard along a narrow path that crossed the area called Koinambe. The path then threaded its way along the edge of the steep slope dropping off to the Rigahn River.

The path continued on toward the high slopes of the Bismarck Mountains and crossed into the Jimi River Valley, the home of several clans with which the Fungai intermarried.

This path, therefore, both connected the local people to the larger world and was a path into the "heart" of Fungai territory.

137-23: Boys running along the path to Tenegump.

060-18: Komba, on the main path through Tenegump, stops to chat with Kondibia.

Once the path entered Tenegump hamlet it widened out and was bounded here and there by fences to keep pigs out of the family yards.
Most of the yards were small, terraced out of the slope and screened by the foliage of domestic plants such as tobacco and banana and papaya trees.

The main path joined others in the large clearing that stretched down the slope from Nui's house to Kabi's house and further downhill to their wives' houses.

020-00: Boys sitting at the entrance to Nui's house.

Nui's house was nestled under the trees at the upper end of the clearing in Tenegump. Nui slept there with his son, Maia. In the early morning, a fire was lit to cook the first meal of the day and to chase away the morning chill. The smoke filtered through the roof thatch.

Kabi's house was just down the slope from Nui's. It opened onto the largest flat area in Tenegump, a space where people of all ages gathered in fine weather.

020-0x: Wayakai chats with Ke who is being deloused by Mamunga.

028-16: Kerepe, Nui's father's second wife, has settled down near the hearth in front of Kabi's house to twist twine for the bilum she is making. Kabi and Kondibia sit in the shadow of the thatch hanging over the threshold of the house.

058-33: Nui and his cassowary

Nui's half-grown cassowary had the free run of the yard, as did dogs. But pigs were not allowed inside.

Pigs occasionally did manage to get through the fence surrounding the yard. An unwelcome intruder would be roundly scolded and chased out. Gunia reacted instantly when a young pig wandered through the yard and headed straight for the hearth and Kerepe's handiwork.

028-27_28: A young pig has found its way into Kabi's yard.

028-30: In all the confusion, the pig runs right over the hearth.

Kerepe leaned aside as she shooed the pig away, and everyone had a good laugh.

028-04_05: Kabi's son, Auta, spots a lizard that has unwisely left the shelter of the weeds at the edge of the yard.

028-32: Then Auta joins Nomani, Bossboy Gul's oldest son, to go hunting further afield.

Women often gathered on the path below Kabi's yard, pausing on their way to gardens. Some would take their toddlers with them. Those going to more distant gardens would leave them behind.

061-12: In single file, each with her yinge (digging stick) handy, Pewai, Takopo, Gandim with her youngest daughter, Koram, Tingde with her granddaughter, Waruk, and Kwingn with her daughter, Kanuk, prepare to set out.

053-24: Kanuk has been left behind with her father, Dinige. She is pleased that she is considered old enough to fetch a glowing stick of firewood from the hearth inside Kabi's house so Dinige can light a cigarette. Nui has come down from his house up the slope to chat with Dinige, while Marek is photographing the morning's activities.

In fine weather, only a few people would remain in Tenegump during the day. Preparing gardens, repairing fences, harvesting food for the day's meals, cutting firewood and occasional hunting trips or visits to neighboring clans drew people further afield.

Completed on March 31, 2011