Buying a Bride in New Guinea

When a man wants to obtain a bride in New Guinea ….he has to pay a price for the girl to her family .there is usually negotiations between the two families and then barter over how much she is worth .this is a very important procedure in the process.of obtaining a bride …. usually between the two families .I want to tell you a story about one such auction. .

In 1967 at tender age of 21 a naive young girl ….I went to a place called Bulolo .it is in the mountains in from the coast off Lae …I was there as a child care nurse living in a hotel…… looking after a child who’s mother was a Captain in the army ….but as there was not a lot to do ,and they were short of bar staff …..I offered to help while the baby slept …..as I also had a girl to help me with the baby and chores …so I was bored and the thought of being a bar maid really sounded exciting ..to say it was a cushy job would be very true .

Bulolo was a forestry commission town and there was a saw mill and logging industry there ..also gold mines ..some of .the people had a fair bit of money…….and on Saturday night the bar was very busy…… packed out so the bar maids were kept very busy . In one corner of the bar was John a European in Bulolo working for Telstra an Australian company putting in phone lines in the area .John was a guy who spent a lot of time joking around with the people……but he also would spin them stories and they believed him.I was very busy not really taking a lot of notice of what he was up to …..but I was aware that he had the people a little excited .

After filling the order for the drinks in this corner I stopped and took notice of what John was up to ……well my mouth dropped open. I looked at John and if I could have I would have hit him ….he was there asking how much they would pay for ME. . Me ….he has the hide to be auctioning ME off . as a bride … the hide of him…… There was some very intense bidding going on .

John in his comical voice was saying “look at her she is good strong can carry lots of firewood.”. One man at the back offered a pig …….now you think a pig ….don’t scoff at a pig it is very good ,very valuable and most fathers would be very happy for a pig for his daughter….
Not John he wanted more. .”yes who wants this good woman she can give you lots of babies ” another voice called out from the back of the room .”me I need lots of baby girls then I can sell them….. get more pigs start farm I give a hand of bananas “… ok says John
” now I think you will love to have miss Kathy as your wife….. think how good she will be out in your garden ….all the vegetables she will grow ” the bidding after awhile has reached two pigs a hand of bananas ,rooster .. I continue to serve the bar and the night is getting to closing time .the bidding is now intense …..it has now involved the whole room …I am aware now of little groups of natives huddled together in groups .

John now is telling them that as I am a good bar women …. they can send me out to work and they will get money each week ……. .so how much will you give me …….my look could kill anyone but not John……. he is in his element …..one group of natives have now pooled all there resources to buy me ….three pigs and $10.50 they tell John
.”we bring pigs ,tomorrow you give me Miss Kathy ” he says “no not enough you see Miss Kathy is very hard worker and I want more money for her” ….well at least he isn’t selling me off too cheap……I am going to kill him when I clean out this bar I think to myself.

John now stands up on a chair and says in his comical voice as I send him dargers down the bar ” ok last bid for this fine miss Kathy .. Good at carrying firewood ….give you lots of babies …..grow you lots of vegetables in your garden …..bring you lots of Money when you send her out to work in the bar …….now last chance to get a good strong wife ….she still has her own teeth ”
that is the final straw I think , he is dead now ….I call out “time gentlemen last drink five minutes ” I am really going to give him a bit of my tongue now …my own teeth still…. what does he think I am a horse ?

There is now silence and one lone man comes over and says to John
” I give you five pigs and a bag of gold ,you meet me here tomorrow I bring you pigs ” with that he holds out his hand shakes hands with John turns …..talks to his mates and walks out the bar along with half the bar……..I look at John who looks at the other people …they say
” he owns the gold mine… big boss man… he come for Miss Kathy tomorrow ”
With that the bar empties and there is silence …..I look at John he looks at me shrugs his shoulders and says ….”well that was fun “….. and walks off upstairs We finish cleaning up the bar and closing up all the time I am thinking that I hope John knows what he was doing there tonight .

Next day John comes in the bar ,after work all grins from ear to ear saying he had a great night fun laughing around and enjoying himself . I tell him in no uncertain terms it’s “not a good thing to play around with the people like that …..they aren’t used to our ways and you can get into trouble with them ….what if they believed you”.
oh he said “they know I am joking ” with that there is a lot of commotion going on out side and I can hear singing,then looking out the window I see a line of people coming and there are pigs hanging off poles being carried along on the boys shoulders ……. John looks at me I see his grin fade and he runs to the door …..There before him is a wedding party…. of five live pigs hanging from poles….. and the owner of the gold mine come to claim his bride
” ok John some fast talking now is needed what you going to do hey ….told you not to joke with them” John walks out the bar and in his joking voice he tells the owner of the gold mine…… “I can’t accept gold from you not allowed my Government won’t let me …so sorry you can’t have Miss Kathy ” ….. with that he shakes hands with him and leads him in and buys him a beer …….as if nothing at all had just happened …….., leaving me dumbfounded how does he get away with these things I wonder?.