papua new guinea - the land of the unexpected Too many cooks spoil the broth?

The village farmers have gathered for a festival and each family has

brought food from their own garden. One farmer is preparing a holy red

fruit called Merita. It is so holy that you must not eat it if you

have had a death in your family during the past year, also, women may

not eat it. The food consists of various roots, sweet potato, Merita

sauce and algae, and is served on leaf plates. One of the plates was

specially salted with saliva from chewing a certain plant. The food is

spicy and tastes delicious.