The mainland of the nation of Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern half of the second largest island in the world, the western half being part of Indonesia. Most of the country is moutainous, heavily forested, and watered by innumerable rivers and streams. Although inhabited for at least forty thousand years, the island’s topography encouraged the development of many small and isolated clan based cultures, some of which remained uncontacted until the twentieth century. Even today, a half century after independence from Anglo-Australian control, clan and tribal identities remain paramount for many, especially the large majority who live in scattered villages and hamlets. More than 800 distinct languages have been identified, although pidgin and English provide some linguistic cohesion. The tribes of the highlands remain relatively small and economically depressed. Tourism, although limited, provides a significant source of revenue, and a major incentive to maintain traditional forms of dance and body ornament (bilas). Included here are images made in the Tari, Mt. Hagen, and Goroka areas of the highlands, and encounters with traditional performers from the Huli, Tambul (Enguwal), Melpa, Omo Masalai (“skeleton tribe”), and Asaro, among others.