Mekeo : a study of a Papua New Guinea society

Abstract

This thesis is based on fieldwork research conducted in Mekeo in three extended periods covering twenty three months from December 1969 to April 1973. My initial aim was to study 'channels of communication' between rural villages and the organs of the central Administration from the subdistrict to the national levels. The choice of Mekeo was fortuitous; I was reading a copy of the Post-Courier in Port Moresby one day when my attention was drawn to a very short item about the construction of a road from the city to Bereina. Mekeo was mentioned as a possible source of food supply for the rapidly growing capital. I decided on the spot to go there, and began making preparations for a preliminary field research. I was informed by the Central District headquarters in Port Moresby that the only government house vacant in the area was just outside Beipa'a village. So this was the dwelling that my wife and I occupied during our first stay in Mekeo. On our subsequent field trips after we had become well known to the villagers, we were given the rear half of a ceremonial house (ufu) to live in. Being located in the middle of the village, our new accommodation afforded us a central spot from which to observe what was happening in the community. The people received us with hospitality, generosity and patience; and whilst at times they were uncertain of our intentions they rarely failed to treat us with courtesy.