Simbu – The “Bamboo” man

This is one of the stories from “Kaubasis” that I am really looking forward to sharing.

PNG would appear to be predominantly a Christian country although after living here for a short while it has become very obvious that the way of the ancestors is still very much alive and kicking.

From Answers.Com:
Religion in Papua New Guinea is predominantly Christian with traditional animist and ancestor worship still found in some places.

The arrival of christian missionaries to the shores of PNG and the uptake of christianity as a religion by the nationals has seen a gradual decline in what we might refer to as shamanic or animist practices. This does certainly not mean that they are dead. Far from it. In my experience this is one of the dichotomies of PNG – the way nationals hold true to Jesus at the same time holding true to the way of their ancestors.

Onya!!

Since coming to PNG I have heard many stories of magic and unexplainable phenomenon that would blow your mind. It was always my dream that once in PNG I would have the opportunity to see, witness and experience something unbelievable or perhaps unexplainable from a western perspective. The stories of magic certainly continue to flow in at a rate of knots yet the experiences
or what I have actually seen is yet few and far between. This is totally understandable – PNG nationals are an incredibly superstitious folk – eg: blaming most deaths on the sanguma (evil witchdoctor) – also, I happen to find myself living in a relatively large town, Lae.

For the “good” stuff – one needs to head into the hills…

My 1st experience happened back in “Massey” about three months ago. We were staying with Eli’s cousin Alberta and husband Elyson. The 1st day in “Massey” there was a funeral service for one of the local women that had died a few days before. Eli stayed back with her relatives and I was invited to accompany Elyson down the road to the home where a traditional service was being held. Part of the protocol was the giving of food (tonnes of it) by friends and relatives of the deceased. The clan elders then proceeded to share out the food – I have some great photos of this sharing. As the sharing of food was happening a small “mob” approached the main gathering, they were following a “possessed” women. I asked Elyson what was going on and he told me that in his village whenever someone dies as a result of “foul play” another village person becomes possessed with the spirit of the deceased. The possessed person can turn out to be anyone of any age. This person then wanders around the village behaving and speaking exactly like the deceased and also telling
everyone the truth – basically how they really died. On the day – the possessed girl actually approached me and as she came closer she was smiling and then she shook my hand. Pretty weird stuff. Worth mentioning that once the village realised that a “possession” was ocurring – a couple
of locals suddenly packed their bags and left town!! ( I was told that they were the ones guilty of murder).

Back to Kaubasis and the “Bamboo” man…

I think it was on the monday afternoon and we were all out. The boys were helping out Eli’s Dad with some building. Uncle Joel and his wife Rose were out working their gardens and Eli and myself went for a wash and some “time-out” down at the river. Uncle Joel’s hut was basically empty and supposedly locked up. It turns out that while we were all out – someone had broken into Uncle Joels’ hut and stolen some food, a bit of rice, some noodles and yam and also some pig which we had cooked the day before.

It was obvious going by the concern and the look on peoples faces that the situation was being taken fairly serious, Uncle Joel and Rose were concerned that something of mine might have been taken. I was asked to check my belongings and there was a collective sigh of relief that all was still there (except for the missing food of course).

About half an hour passes…

I was having a little rest and a lay down in the “bedroom” section of Uncle Joel’s hut when Eli comes up to me and says very softly so that no one else can hear : “Do you want to see some real magic”?

Of course! You bet!! Please!!! Pretty please!!!!….

She then tells me the story about the “Bamboo” man and his powers. Eli said that for K10 (AU$5) the man would come to our village and find the “culprit” (the one whom had stolen the food). I got up and went outside and had a talk to Eli’s Dad and Uncle Joel to double check if what Eli was telling me was in fact correct as I was more than happy to chip-in a few bucks to see some real live magic. Eli’s Dad and Uncle Joel and some of the other locals confirmed the powers of the “Bamboo” man as very real. They had all witnessed it many times before. In the end it was decided that the crime did not warrant the “hiring” of the local shaman as what was stolen was only food and besides “they” must have been very hungry indeed.

Now, I have confirmed and double confirmed the validity of what this so called “Bamboo” man can do. At first I thought : no way! But talking to and asking people whom I respect and trust (such as Eli’s Dad and Uncle Joel) – I believe it to be true. In the end I did not witness the powers of the “Bamboo” man (unfortunately) but believe that one day I perhaps will. I am also now convinced that the magic up in the “hills” is very very real.

What actually happens is that the “Bamboo” man has a special piece of bamboo which floats through ther air totally unassisted by human or hand. Apparently it travels through the air at a very fast speed with the “Bamboo” man in tow – I am assured that the bamboo floats and travels
unassisted – it (the bamboo) goes out and finds the culprit!! The “bamboo” somehow finds it way to the persons house and pierces the wooden door, going right through the solid wood and then proceeds to attack the person or persons guilty of the crime in question. The attacking motion of the
bamboo is repeated again and again with the victim (or guilty person) receiving many stab wounds. Again this stabbing motion by the bamboo is totally unassisted by any human hands whatsover.

The Land of the Unexpected!!!

If I ever get to see the “Bamboo” man in action and experience, see and witness some real magic you will all be the first to hear about it!!

For photos of this trip to “Kaubasis” in Simbu please check out the Kaubasis visit (7/7/06) photo
album. !!