LIVING Where there’s fire
FIRE-MAKING
furthest end of the channel. Many will know the technique from its use in the film Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks. In a very powerful scene, Chuck, played by Hanks, struggles for hours to make a fire using the hand drill. Finally, he gives up and tries another method: the fire plough, and succeeds. When I first read about the Baining people, I knew immediately that I had to go. Not only did they conduct fascinating dances and rituals associated with fire, but also I suspected they would fall within the fire plough’s geographical zone. It would be the perfect combination for one of the chapters in the book I was writing. After a comfortable night in Port Moresby I board a morning Air Nuigini flight to Rabaul. Having spent an hour gazing dreamily out of the window down on to the Solomon Sea, I glance up at the horizon and can just make out the faint, jungle-clad mountains of New Britain looming in the distance. Half an hour later the scene changes abruptly from blue sea
THE NEXT GENERATION ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT
RADIAL MASTER IN USE
to vibrant green rainforest bordered by aquamarine coral reefs. As we descend into Rabaul I count at least four or five volcano cones, including the infamous Mount Tavurvur, which has a thin grey plume gently rising from its crater. This truly is the land of fire. After a few days by the coast exploring the area and organising a visit to the Baining, I bump and crawl in an old four-wheel-drive vehicle up into the hills and arrive in their territory. It is pleasantly cooler higher up and my hosts welcome me graciously. They cook a delicious meal of chicken with local vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and baked using hot stones from the fire.
Traditional ways ... Papua New Guineans demonstrate their fire-making ability.
HOBBY 6” WARRIOR SAWMILL
4.2M (14FT) LOG LENGTH
MANUAL 6” OR 8” WARRIOR SAWMILL
4.2M (14FT) LOG LENGTH
AUTOMATED 10” WARRIOR SAWMILL
6M (19.69FT) LOG LENGTH
RADIAL MASTER 8” RADIAL MASTER
4.2M (14FT) LOG LENGTH
1M (3FT) DIAMETER LOG ANY DIAMETER MAY BE SAWN
1M (3FT) DIAMETER LOG ANY DIAMETER MAY BE SAWN
1.5M (6FT) DIAMETER LOG ANY DIAMETER MAY BE SAWN
0.9M (3FT) DIAMETER LOG ANY DIAMETER MAY BE SAWN WITH EXTENDED LEGS
Port Moresby
Lae
Kimbe
Kokopo
Madang Kaislan Ave, Madang
Okuk Hwy, Mt. Hagen
Prince Phillip Hwy, Ranadi, Honiara
Ph: (+675) 325 1088 Fax: (+675) 325 0083
Ph: (+675) 472 3799 Fax: (+675) 472 6327
Ph: (+675) 983 5500 Fax: (+675) 983 5306
Ph: (+675) 982 9911 Fax: (+675) 982 9912
Ph: (+675) 422 1344 Fax: (+675) 422 1594
Ph: (+675) 545 1990 Fax: (+675) 545 1019
Ph: (+677) 30046 Fax: (+677) 30047
Warehouse & HO Wards Rd, Hohola
Cnr Malaita & Malekula St, Lae
San Remo Dr, Kimbe
Karmuk St, Kokopo
Mt. Hagen
Honiara
November – December 2018
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