The Mamuju live in the Mamuju district, primarily along the coast. They speak a distinct dialect that is very prestigious since it is the trade language of the area. The Pattae' live in the valleys along the Mamasa River and speak a dialect of Mamasa. The other tribes dominate the southwestern 'leg' of Sulawesi, and inhabit a lush, mountainous region that consist of caves, waterfalls, and large, shallow lakes. They are a self-sufficient people who have little respect for outsiders.
Rice is both the main subsistence crop and a valuable export.
Today, some Bugis farmers prepare wet rice land with tractors, although most still use oxen or buffalo. Since about one-third of the farmers in southern Sulawesi do not own enough land, they are forced to sharecrop on the fields of wealthier farmers. The Bugis living in the river valleys grow both wet rice and coffee. Almost all of the people living on the coast are fishermen. The Bugis often work as day laborers in several Sulawesian cities.