Patihoni is a small village in the hills of Palae, Sinjai regency, about six hours drive south of Makassar. The men of the village dress in sarong, the women wear the traditional Muslim jilbab or headcovering. Livestock are let loose without fear of being stolen.

Patihoni, with a population of about 300, lives by Islamic law or Syariah. For the past 15 years not a single case of cattle theft, a common crime in other villages, was reported