DIVISION OF LABOUR AMONG THE PEOPLE OF ISI Kilimeri Census Division, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea Vakaloloma Siuta 1: GARDEN The garden is one area where division of labour is clearly distinguished between the men and the women of Isi villages.  Each specific task performed in the garden will be looked at and discussed firstly in relation to women and then to men respectively. Preparation This is what happens right from the beginning, in preparation for going to the garden.   The women will prepare their 'limbum' baskets ('limbum' is the term in neo-Melanesian pidgin for the base of leaves of wild arecoid palms, these thick and pliable parts of the palm leaf are bent and fixed in such a way that they form carrying baskets). Into these baskets they will load food (cooked and uncooked), cooking utensils and a small knife if they have one.  Usually they will use a bush knife or also include an axe ('tamiok') if they are going to the garden alone (that is without their husband).  Water is usually put into containers and also carried in these baskets.  If a woman has a child she will always bring her or him with her wherever she is going.  In this situation she will either carry the child in a sling or on her shoulder to her garden.

Men on the other hand will just carry an axe or a bush knife when accompanying their wife to the garden.  If a man is going alone, he will still carry only the things mentioned above.

Slashing When at the site of the garden, (usually a new one), the women will straight away start the preparation of food while the men will begin to clear the small bushes and scrub in preparation of chopping down the big trees.  When the women have completed their work, they do not rest but assist the men to clear the small bush, trees, grass and vines etc.  The task of cutting down the big trees is entirely up to the men.  After this task is completed, which usually takes about the whole day, the area is left to dry in the sun for some time before it is burnt. Burning The next task is for both men and the women: all the dried branches,stumps, leaves, roots and rubbish are gathered up and burnt.  According to the people of Isi (as described by my informant), they believe that the burning of the garden area makes the ground rich before the planting of their crops.  It is also important to note here that the people of Isi do not fence their gardens.  They do not domesticate pigs but that is not to say that there are not wild ones, which are sometimes a problem to these unfenced gardens and a source of much complaining these days.  After burning the garden is immediately planted. Planting and Tending Planting the garden is the next stage.  Both men and women perform this task.  They both dig and plant the garden and there is no particular crop that the men can plant and women cannot plant and vice versa.  After the planting is completed, the garden is left to grow but especially the women check it once in a while to see that everything is all right.   During this time too, the women do the weeding of the garden.

Gardening (from which they collect food for the whole family's consumption);

Collection of dried branches of trees and logs for firewood;

Collection of greens,especially tulip- (Gnetum-) tree leaves ('mese'), fern fronds ('sakum'), pumpkin leaves, etc.

Collection of fruit and nuts as well as betel-nuts.

Hunting for insects, little lizards('palai'), crabs ('kuka'), bandicoot ('mumut'), generally women hunt for smaller game than men do.

Gathering fish, prawns and water crabs in the rivers or creeks of the forest.

Collection of medicinal plants or parts of plants (such as vines, bark, leaves, roots juices and even fruit and nuts), of dyes for decoration for singing and dancing functions ('singsing'), and of vines used for stupefying fish.

Gathering leaves for cooking and wrapping sago pudding and string for 'limbum' baskets

Collection of the eggs of bush fowl and brush turkeys.

Cultivation of sago palms as well as the preparation of sago starch which is the main staple food of this particular group of people. From the sago palm they also collect leaves, stocks etc. for the construction of houses as well as grubs (all of them in their different stages) for consumption.

Men's uses of the forest include:

Hunting of wild animals and birds, especially the larger animals

Collection of materials from trees, particularly timber for house construction and formaking tools.

Gathering dried logs for firewood (they do not do this very often but only once in a while).

Collection of bush materials such as vines, and canes, for the manufacture of bows and arrows.

Collection of medicinal herbs and dyes for decoration.

As an avenue for sanguna practices (death spells).