«Claims based on ritual knowledge are frequently heard at the District and Supreme courts in Papua New Guinea, yielding decisions as bewildering to the claimants as the substance of the claims must appear to the presiding judges.

I am grateful to the Dean of Social Sciences and the Academic Development Fund at Western for the financial support that made this work possible. None of these people are responsible for any errors or shortcomings, which are all my own.

For helpful comments and suggestions, I thank Alison Dundon, Fred Errington, Don Gardner, Philip Gibbs, Imke Jorgensen, Albert Katz, Pierre-Yves Le Meur, and Marshall Sahlins. In Bultem and Tabubil I have several individuals to thank for their help and friendship, including Stan Tinamnok, Kaiku Beksep, Domi John, Robert Dripal, Wilisep Dripal, Yon Dagayok, Salat Dagasim, Simon Soltumnok, Etnayok Dripal, and Matinus Toim. I am grateful to Jim Robins and Georgia Kaipu of the National Research Institute for their timely assistance, and especially to Linus Digim’Rina of the University of Papua New Guinea, who was a helpful and friendly colleague at every turn. This article is based on research that was facilitated by several individuals and organizations whose assistance I am pleased to acknowledge.

Township tale mines map