The capital city, Ujungpandang, is located in the southwestern part of the island and is well known for its seafood. The homeland of the Makassarese includes the volcanic mountain area around Mount Lompobatang. Rivers and coastal plains cover the mountain regions. The province also consists of dry, windswept salt flats, rain forests, limestone cliffs, and coastal marshes. Division of labor among the Makassarese is strict because of the rigid separation of the sexes.
Men are responsible for farming, working the plows, and carrying rice bundles after the harvest.
The household duties are assigned exclusively to women. A person's rank is primarily determined by his ancestral heritage. The family structure is headed by a male. The wife and children must show respect for the head of the household while they are in public. Final decisions concerning the family are always the husband's responsibility.