Geographical Setting
The land in which the Huli people dwell is one of contrasting scenery, notable for its rugged mountain ranges and fertile, swampy valleys. The rivers that drain the area are subterranean in sections, and there are numerous caves and potholes in the limestone rock formations. In places, the rivers run swiftly through deep gorges, while elsewhere they take a less hurried course through swamplands in the wide, expansive intermontane basins. The slopes of all but the tallest of the mountains are covered in dense rain forests, with here and there an outcrop of white limestone cliff or a patch of light green sword grass. The rain forests provide timber, vine and bamboo for the construction of dwellings and the crafting of artefacts, while pandanus palms in the high bush yield crops of nuts, rich in protein and harvested each year.