CENTRAL BORNEO PEOPLE

Loosely called the Orang Ulu ( upriver people ), these people are also found in adjacent Kalimantan ( Indonesian Borneo ). In Sarawak, the Orang Ulu account 5.3% the population. Formerly animists, many Orang Ulu are now Christians.

KENYAH AND KAYAN

The Kenyah and Kayan live in the middle and upper reaches of the main rivers of Central and Eastern Sarawak. They originate from the uplands of the Kayan River in Kalimantan. The Kenyah and Kayan are skilled and energetic farmers, who have recently diverted from the cultivation of hill rice to cash crops.

KELABIT AND LUN BAWANG

The Kelabit live in the mountain fastnesses of the upper Baram; their Lun Bawang cousins inhabit the interior of Miri and Limbang Divisions though some of them are moving nearer to the coast. The Kelabit and Lun Bawang have long cultivated rice in irrigated fields; this makes them less dependent in searching for new farmlands every few years.

TATTOOING

The Kayans, Kenyahs, Kelabits and Iban practice this form of body ornamentation. In the old days, a tattoo on the back of a man’s hand signified that he had taken a head. The Kayans believed that a tattoo would serve as a torch in the underworld. Nowadays, some young men get tattooed on a journey. Iban men liked to tattoo almost all their bodies, with designs variously known as “dragon”, ‘”scorpion”, “dog” or ornamental scroll work. Women usually confined themselves to simple wrist or hand decorations. Kayan men and women may be tattooed, Kenyah and Kelabit ladies of rank had very elaborate tattoos in the past, lacy designs that covered their limbs and took months, sometimes years, of pain and expense to complete.

ORANG ULU BEADWORK

The Orang Ulu have developed a general Sarawakian interest in glass and stone beads to the status of a fine art. Beads have been imported into Borneo for many centuries. They were important items of barter trade, originating from China, India, West Asia and Europe. The Orang Ulu value the larger antique beads, which they fashion into head-dresses, bracelets, necklaces, girdles. Seed beads are used for the distinctive craft of beadwork, which decorates baskets, baby carriers, sword sheats, belts, head-bands, bracelets, hat blazes and hat tops – anything at all !!

ORANG ULU WOODCARVING

The Kayan and Kenyah, and their cousins the Berawan, are among the most skilled wood carvers in Sarawak. They embellished their houses, boats, tools, musical instruments, articles of daily use and personal ornaments with masterly designs. One of their most important motifs is the aso, a “dragon dog” with a long snout, curling fangs and horns, and bulging eyes. Its body may end in scaly tall. This figure played an important part in the traditional religion and folklore of the Orang Ulu, and is also used as a tattooing design. The aso may be seen supporting tables or salvers, bottle stoppers and war canoe prows. The elaborately carved masks of the Kenyah were formerly used in harvest ceremonies.

 PENAN

The nomadic Penan are hunters and food gatherers and live in very simple huts. Though they keep dogs for hunting, they do not rear domestic animals for food. The Penan are unchallenged masters in the manufacture and use of the jungle’s silent weapon, the blowpipe. This used to be one of their most valuable barter products, besides basketry and finely plainted mats.