Malay Lady elder in Kuching

 Malay Lady elder in Kuching - Circa 1960's

Kelabit Girls with Bead and Tattos

All Kalabit women are tattooed when they reach the age of sixteen. Bold zigzag bands are traced on the forearm, not completely encircling the limb, and strikingly decorative geometrical designs are tattooed on the thigh, the shin, and sometimes, on the knee-cap. They wear strings of large blue beads around the waist and wrist, and necklaces of smaller beads. (Circa 1922 : Charles Hose)

Iban Maiden

Iban Maiden with traditional attire.

Old Dayak warrior

Old Dayak Warrior with traditional attire and weapon

Melanau Bride

Pengantin melanau dengan pakaian tradisi melanau

Lun bawang People

Photo: Big credit to http://millaz104.blogspot.com/


Lun Bawang is a tribe in Sarawak. They are a component of the group of indigenous people collectively known as Orang Ulu.Although there are sub group of Borneo Dayaks. They can be found in the Limbang Division of Sarawak, as well as in the Interior Division of Sabah, Temburong District of Brunei, and in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Althougyh they are known as Lun Bawang in Sarawak, in Sabah they are called Lun Dayeh. Among themselves, they go by the names Lun Lod, Lun Baa and Lun Tana Luun. The different names give a clue as to where they settle. The name Lun Bawang means "people of the interior", Lud Lod means "people of the estuary" and Lun Dayeh means "people of the upriver". When the British were governing Sarawak, the Lun Bawang were often listed as Murut by them, although the Lun Bawang insisted that they belong to a separate, distinct tribe from the Murut, which is another ethnic group in Sabah

Ethnics In sarawak and their Origin locations

1.Iban(Ulu Kapuas)
2.Balau(SriAman,Lingga,Banting,Kuching)
3.Skrang (Betong area)
4.UluAi(Lubok Antu,Batang Ai)
5.Melikin (Balai Ringin)
6.Remun (Serian-BalaiRingin)
7.Sebuyau
(Kuching,Lundu,AsaJaya)
8.Bidayuh (Kuching Division)
9.Jagoi(Bau,Krokong,Lundu)
10.Bisingai (Singai area)
11.Bibukar(Bukar area,Taee,Tarat)
12.Biatah (Siburan area,Benuk,Borneo Height)
13.Bianah (Padawan,Borneo Height)
14.Saadong(Serian)
15.Mentu (Mongkos,BunanGega)
16.Melanau(Mukah,Dalat,Matu,Daro)
17.Seduan (Sg Merah,KpgNangka,Sibu)
18.Belawai-Rejang(Belawai)
19.Tanjong(Kanowit,Belaga)
20.Kanowit (Kanowit,Rajang)
21.Kejaman(Belaga)
22.Lahanan (Pelagus)
23.Sekapan(Pelagus)
24.Sihan (Belaga)
25.Lisum(Belaga)
26.Kayan (Baram,Belaga,Tubau)
27.Kenyah(Baram,Belaga,SgAsap,Bakun)
28.Kelabit (Bareo,Ramudu)
29.Tringgus(KpgTringgus,Semban,BorneoHeight)
30.Selakau(Lundu,Sematan Area)
31.Lara (Biawak)
32.Tatau(Ulu Tatau)
33.Kedayan (Bekenu,Beraya,Limbang,Lawas)
34.Bisaya(Batu Danau,Limbang)
35.Lun Bawang(Bakelalan,Lawas,Limbang)
36.Saban (Long Banga)
37.Tagal(Merapok)
38.Tabun (Mendamit)
39.Baketan(Batang Ai(extinct),Ulu Kakus)
40.Ukit(Pelagus,Belaga,BtgRajang)
41.Penan (Baram,Balui,Belaga)
42.Punan(Belaga,Pelagus)
43.Penan Suai (Suai,Niah)
44.JatiMiriek (Miri,Lutong)
45.Lakiput (LongKiput,Marudi)
46.Narum(Marudi)
48.Memaloh (Kapit,LubokAntu,Katibas)
49.Buket(Ulu Belaga)
50.Melayu (Kuching,Samarahan,Lundu,Simunjan)
51.Melayu Kalaka
(Pusa,Kabong,Seratok)
52.Bugis (Jemukan,SadongJaya)
53.Jawa(Kolong Matang,Kpg Sri Arjuna bt12)
54.Cina(Everywhere)
55.Lugat (Ulu Belaga)
56.Seru(extinct)
(Seratok,Kalaka)
57.Undu(extinct) (Lundu)
58.Seping(Ulu Belaga)
59. Ngorek (Baram)
60.Berawan(Loagan Bunut,LongTerawan)
61.Kenyah Badeng (Ulu Belaga,LongBusang)
62.Bintulu(Jepak)
63.Segan (ulu Segan,Bintulu)

Retro Faces Of Borneo People

This photo taken from Dennis Lau website

Dont sue me ah..hehe.

Kelabit

The Kelabits of Sarawak First "discovered" around the turn of the 20th Century, the Kelabits, a tribe of fierce warriors and headhunters who saw off anyone entering their territory, were generally given a wide berth by neighbouring tribes. Their origins are not known. Culturally and linguistically, they are distinct in many ways from the other thirty or so tribes in Sarawak.Under broad conical hats, they wore their hair long at the back or done up in a bun held in place by pins of metal or horn. Around the waist hung a long sword-parang with a curved staghorn hilt and wooden scabbard. The men had two holes on each ear, pierced during infancy.

The bottom hole was adorned with heavy brass ear rings which greatly extended the ear lobes so that they often hung down to the shoulders. In the upper hole, kept open by wooden plugs, the warriors wore leopard's fangs. The women had elaborate tattoos, a fine lacework of dots and lines, on almost the entire lower limb, from the foot to well up the thigh, so finely decorated that from a distance, it looked as though they were wearing blue-black stockings. They also wore brightly coloured skull caps, and their eyebrows were plucked for the sake of beauty.Their homeland, now called the Kelabit Highlands, is pretty much a large plateau ringed by a series of jungle-covered mountain peaks.Lying at an altitude of between 3400 to 6000 feet above sea level in the north-eastern corner of Sarawak, their territory extends to the Sarawak edge of a central mountain spur that divides Borneo along the middle. On the other side of this spur lies the Indonesian state of Kalimantan, formerly part of Dutch Borneo.One of the smallest tribes in Sarawak and, now, a branch of the Orang Ulu, the total Kelabit population of about 6000 people represents a mere 0.4% of Sarawak's population of 1.5 million, just 0.027% of Malaysia's 22 million. Less than a third of them live in the highlands. The rest have moved away to the towns, for further education, to find jobs, and so on.

Short History of Bario

In the tribal heartlands, most Kelabits live in longhouses.Bario Asal, the original longhouse (until 1963, the only longhouse) at what is now called Bario, extends in territory from the Tama Abu range to the Dabpur River. The plains it is located upon, and the longhouse itself, was known to the Kelabits as Lemba'a (literally wet place). Members of Z Special Force made a parachute drop into this area in 1945 and set up their HQ there. Defining this operational area as "The Plains of Bah", they waged a guerrilla campaign against Japanese forces with the help of Kelabit warriors.

When the war was over, the Kelabits finally entered the mainstream of 20th Century life. In recognition of wartime service, many warriors from this longhouse were awarded medals and decorations. And the airstrip built to service the war effort became, and still remains, the only gateway into Kelabit territory. Shortly after the war, groups of missionaries arrived, chastised the Kelabits roundly for their pagan ways of life, destroyed many cultural artifacts and converted them into Christianity, almost en masse! Around that time, too, came the first schools. Sarawak was then a British Colony. In 1963, Sarawak joined Malaya as another state in the newly-formed Federation of Malaysia. Indonesia laid territorial claims to Sarawak and began what is now known as the Confrontation, with Indonesian soldiers entering Sarawak and attacking tribal people living along the border areas.Since Bario had the largest area of flat land on which to build an airstrip, it became the operational centre for British forces stationed to defend other Kelabit longhouses deep in the interior.

However, many of these were too close to the Indonesian border and too dispersed to be properly defended. People from the border areas were, thus, re-settled on the Bario plains, to protect them from Indonesian attack. Land was donated to them by the people of Lemba'a, not only for building new longhouses but also for raising padi.

These migrations, staggered over a period of time, were quite complex. The original longhouse people renamed their home Bario Asal to differentiate it from those of the newcomers.

Upper and Pa' Ramapuh Lower - these two longhouses, side by side astride a small stream to the front of the Junior School, were built by people from now-extinct longhouses at Pa' Main and the original Pa' Umor.

The following longhouses are currently also located on the Bario plains:
Arur Dalan - located beyond Bario Asal at the foothills of the Tama Abu range, its people originating from the now extinct Kuba'an and Pa' Tik longhouses. (Note: The latter has been revived by nomadic Penans in comparatively recent times.)

Pa' Umor - located on the east bank of the Dabpur River, inhabited by Kelabits from a longhouse of the same name once located on the hills adjoining Kalimantan. Arur Layun - a small seven-door longhouse, lying across the road from Bario Asal just behind the church, built by people moving in from Pa' Bangar and Pa' Lungan.

Pa' Ramapuh Ulung Palang Upper, its people originating mostly from the now extinct Pa' Main longhouse, and Ulung Palang Lower, with people from the now extinct Pa' Mada longhouse near Long Dano - lie between the old airstrip and the two schools. (Note: The former was destroyed by fire on 8th August 1997 and has not been re-built.)

Pa' Derung - about an hour away on foot from Bario proper, now home to people who came from Kuba'an and, in more recent time, from Long Lellang. Several new longhouses have come up since the upheavals of 1963 and 1964:Pasir Puteh - once listed as two separate entities, namely, Padang Pasir (around the old runway) and Kampung Baru (about half an hour away from the runway). Not really a longhouse, except as an administrative entity, it is an assortment of single houses built around the old airstrip and several government buildings. The area was developed fairly recently, around and after 1990, mostly by displaced retired Border Scouts from various places, such as Pa' Ramudu, Pa' Dalih and Long Dano.

Bario's one and only shopping mall is located there! Pa' Ukat - around an hour away from Bario, and built around 1970 by people moving in from Pa' Umor and Pa' Lungan. Farther afield from Bario lie several old Kelabit longhouses, ranging from six to ten hours away from Bario, these being the travelling times on foot through the jungle: Pa' Lungan - around three hours away.

Long Dano - around nine hours away, at about 3000 feet above sea level. Pa' Dalih - around ten hours away, near Long Dano, at about 3000 feet above sea level. Pa' Ramudu - on a triangulate route, around ten hours away from Bario (one hour away from Pa' Dalih), at about 2700 feet above sea level.

Long Peluan - around ten hours from Pa' Ramudu and farther downhill. Close to it lies Long Banga, the home of the Sabans, an off-shoot of the Kelabit tribe. Even farther afield, not on the Kelabit Higlands but in the Baram lowlands, are three other Kelabit longhouses:

Long Lellang - about three days away, south west of Bario, Long Seridan - a long distance away to the north-west, and Long Napir - beyond Long Seridan, the farthest away from Bario

Demography : Ethnic In Sarawak

There is more than 20 ethnic in sarawak,me myself maybe know maybe ten of it.based from some article about sarawak,there is 28 ethnic in Sarawak..mm..i listed what i know here just for my own information etc etc.All these ethnic divide into three ..

• Dayak Laut (Sea Dayak
• Dayak Darat ( Land Dayak)
• Orang Ulu (Upriver people)

Each part have sub many other races or dialect,take example Orang Ulu ( kayan,kenyah,kelabit etc etc)

1. Iban
2. Melayu (Malay)
3. Bidayuh (Bukar Sadong, Biatah,Jagoi )
4. Melanau Mukah
5. Melanau Bintulu (Baie)
6. Kayan
7. Kenyah
8. Penan
9. Kelabit
10. LunBawang (southern Murut)
11. Berawan
12. Kiput
13. Bakong
14. Kedayan
15. Mirik (Merek)
16. Dalek
17. Narum
18. Bisaya
19. Punan
20. Selakau
21. Penan Tanah
22. Belait
23. Saban
24. Bukitan ( also known as Baketan,extinct and now mix mith malay and Iban )
25. Ukit (almot extinct as mix with other tribe)
26. Sian
27. Kejaman
28. Sekapan
29. Lahanan
30. Bahau
31. seru (absorb and mix with malay and iban)
32. Dayak Kajang
33. Dayak Lara
34. Kanowit (absorb and mix with Iban)
    

Each of this ethnic have their own dialect and culture,even maybe some of the dialect and culture different,hence there are some parts of the language and culture same...each ethnic also have different dialect and the dialect maybe have some simmiliarity with other dialect..

The Ethnis,the location and the language

BALAU (BALA'U) Southwest Sarawak, southeast of Simunjan. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayic-Dayak, Ibanic. May be intelligible with Iban.

BERAWAN Tutoh and Baram rivers in the north. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Berawan. Dialects: BATU BLA (BATU BELAH), WEST BERAWAN, LONG PATA, LONG TERAWAN, LONG JEGAN.

BIATAH (KUAP, QUOP, BIKUAB, SENTAH) Sarawak, 1st Division, Kuching District, 10 villages. Also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Land Dayak. Dialects: SIBURAN, STANG (SITAANG, BISITAANG), TIBIA. 71% lexical similarity with Singgi. Siburan is the prestige dialect. 'Bidayuh' is a political cover term fo all Sarawak Land Dayak groups plus Selako. Speakers cannot understand Bukar Sadong, Silakau, or Bidayuh from Indonesia. 45% literate. Radio broadcasts in Biatah. 'Siburan' is speakers' name for themselves. Agriculturalists: sago, wet rice, vegetables, fruit, rubber, pepper; animal husbandry: pigs, poultry; government employees. Christian, Muslim , traditional religion.

BINTULU Northeast coast around Sibuti, west of Niah, around Bintulu, and two enclaves west. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Bintulu. Could also be classified as in Baram-Tinjar Subgroup or as an isolate within Rejang-Baram Group. Not close to other languages. Coastal.

BISAYA, SARAWAK (BISAYAH, BISAYA BUKIT, VISAYAK, BEKIAU, LORANG BUKIT) Southeast of Marudi, 5th Division. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Sabahan, Dusunic, Bisaya, Southern. Dialects: LOWER BISAYA, MID BISAYA, UPPER BISAYA. 58% lexical similarity with Sabah Bisaya, 78% to 79% with Brunei Bisaya, and lower with other Dusunic languages or any other language in Sabah. Radio broadcasts. Access by boat, road. Radio broadcasts. Agriculturalists: hill and wet rice, fruit, vegetables, rubber; sago palm; animal husbandry: water buffalo; fishermen. Christian, Muslim, traditional religion. Bible portions 1938.

BUKAR SADONG (SADONG, BUKA, BUKAR, TEBAKANG, SERIAN, SABUTAN, SEPUTAN, SAPUTAN) . Serian 1st Division, Sarawak, 30 or more villages. Also Indonesia.Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Land Dayak. Dialects: BUKAR BIDAYUH (BIDAYUH, BIDAYAH), BUKAR SADONG, MENTUH TAPUH. Radio broadcasts in Bukar Sadong. 57% lexical similarity with Bahasa Malaysia. Work in progress.

BUKITAN (BAKITAN, BAKATAN, BEKETAN, MANGKETTAN, MANKETA, PAKATAN) Kapit, 7th Division. Also Kalimantan, Indonesia. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. Christian. Survey needed.

DARO-MATU . Matu River from north channel of Rejang River to the sea, around Daro and Matu.Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Dialects: DARO, MATU. May be intelligible with Melanau. Survey needed.

IBAN (SEA DAYAK) From Sadong River north to Bintulu, Sibu, one village in Tawau District of Sabah, and west and northern Kalimantan, Indonesia. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayic Dayak, Ibanic. Dialects: BATANG LUPAR, BUGAU, SEKARANG (SKARANG), DAU, LEMANAK, ULU AL, UNDUP. Largest language group in Sarawak. 35% literate (1980). Iban taught in some primary schools. Dialect of Second Division is the norm for literature. Radio broadcasts. Typology: SVO. Agriculturalists: dry and wet rice, fruit, rubber; fishermen. . Bible 1988. NT 1933-1952. Bible portions 1864-1968.

JAGOI (SARAWAK DAYAK, JAGGOI, BAU-JAGOI) Bau, 1st Division, Sadong, Samarahan and Lundu rivers, about 20 villages. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Land Dayak. Dialects: GROGO, SENTENGGAU JAGOI, KROKONG, GUMBANG, SERAMBAU (SERAMBO), EMPAWA, ASSEM, SINGGE (SINGGAI, SINGGI, SINGGIE, SINGHI, BISINGAI), SUTI, TENGOH, DONGAY, TAUP (TAHUP). 69% lexical similarity with Bukar Sadong. Related to Singgi, Tringus, Taup. Radio broadcasts in the language. Work in progress.

KAJAMAN (KAYAMAN, KEJAMAN) Near Belaga on the Baloi River in central Sarawak, 7th Division. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. May be intelligible with Sekapan. Limited comprehension of Iban. Survey needed.

KANOWIT [ Middle Rejang River, below Tanjong language, 3rd Division. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Being absorbed by Iban. Survey needed.

KAYAN, BARAM (BARAM KAJAN) Baram River area, Upper Sarawak. Not in Brunei. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Kayan-Murik, Kayan. Dialects: LONG ATIP, LONG AKAHSEMUKA. Access by river. Trade language. Agriculturalists: wet and dry rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, tobacco, sugarcane, maize, rubber; hunters; fishermen; rattan sellers, beeswax, camphor. Christian, traditional religion. Bible 1990. NT 1970. Bible portions 1956-1965.

KAYAN, MURIK Below Long Miri (Banyuq) and below Lio Mato (Semiang) on the Baram River. Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Kayan-Murik, Murik. Dialects: LONG BANYUQ (BANYUQ), LONG SEMIANG (SEMIANG). Not closely related to other languages. Survey needed.

KAYAN, REJANG (REJANG KAJAN) Rejang, Balui river areas. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Kayan-Murik, Kayan. Dialects: MA'AGING, LONG BADAN, UMA DARO, LONG KEHOBO (UMA POH), UMA JUMAN, LONG MURUN, LONG GENG, LEMENA, LISUM. Limited comprehension of Baram Kayan. Survey needed.

KELABIT (KALABIT, KERABIT) Northern Sarawak, in the remotest and highest of Borneo mountains. Also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Kelabitic. Dialects: BRUNG, LIBBUNG, LEPU POTONG, BARIO, LON BANGAG. Speakers highly educated, strongly independent. Inaccessible by river because of rapids. Agriculturalists: paddy and hill rice, maize, tapioca, pineapple, pumpkin, cucumber, beans, fruits; hunters; fishermen. Christian. Bible portions 1965.

KENYAH, BAKUNG (BAKONG, BAKUNG, BAKUNG KENYA) [BOC] 2,000 in all countries (?) (1981 Wurm and Hattori). South central, near Kalimantan border. Mainly in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah. Dialect: OGA BAKUNG. Muslim. Survey needed.

KENYAH, SEBOB (SIBOP, SEBOP, SEBOB, SABUP, SAMBUP) [SIB] 1,730 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). On the upper Tinjar River in northern Sarawak, 4th Division, between the Rejang and Baram rivers, several large villages. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah, Sebob. Dialects: TINJAR SIBOP, LIRONG, LONG POKUN, BAH MALEI (BA MALI), LONG ATUN, LONG EKANG (LONG IKANG), LONG LUYANG. Not closely related to other languages. Muslim (Lirong).

KENYAH, TUTOH (TUTOH KENYA) [TTW] 600 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Northeast, Tutoh River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah. Dialects: LONG WAT, LONG LABID, LUGAT. Not closely related to other languages.

KENYAH, UPPER BARAM (UPPER BARAM KENJA, KENJA, KENYAH, KINJIN, KINDJIN, KANYAY) [UBM] 2,660 in all countries (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Upper Baram River near the Kalimantan border. Also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Not in Brunei. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah, Main Kenyah. Survey needed.

KENYAH, WESTERN (WESTERN KENYA, KENJA, KINJIN, KINDJIN, KANYAY) [XKY] 1,250 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Balui, Belaga, Kalua, and Kemena rivers. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah, Main Kenyah. Dialects: LONG BANGAN, KEMENA PENAN, KAKUS PENAN, UMA BAKAH (LONG BULAN), LUNAN. 80% lexical similarity between Madang and Lepu Kulit. Madang may be a dialect. 25% literate. Agriculturalists: wet and dry rice, sweet potatoes, bananas, tobacco, sugar cane, maize, rubber; hunters; fishermen. Christian, some Muslim. Survey needed.

KIPUT (LONG KIPUT) [KYI] 2,460 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Northeast around Marudi. Not in Brunei. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, A. Dialects: KIPUT, LEMITING. Related to Narom, Lelak, Tutong 2, Belait, and Berawan. Muslim. Survey needed.

LAHANAN (LANUN, LANAN) [LHN] 350 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Central, east of Belaga, southwest of Long Murum. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. Not the same as Illanun of Sabah or Iranun of the Philippines. Closest to Kayaman. Survey needed.

LARA' (LURU) [LRA] 12,000 in all countries (1981). Two small villages on Pasir River, Lundu, 1st Division, Also Kalimantan, Indonesia. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Land Dayak. Related to Bukar-Sadong.

LELAK [LLK] 220 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Northeast, east of Sibuti (Dali) and the Tinjar River (Lelak). Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, B. Dialects: LELAK, DALI. Related to Narom, Kiput, Tutong 2, Berawan. Muslim. Survey needed.

LUNDAYEH (LUN DAYAH, LUN DAYE, LUN DAYEH, LUN DAYA, LUN DAYOH, LUNDAYA, LUN LOD, SOUTHERN MURUT) [LND] 10,000 in Lun Bawang dialect in Sarawak (1987); 2,800 in Lun Daye in Sabah (1982 SIL); 25,000 in Kalimantan, Indonesia (1987); 450 in Brunei (1987); 38,250 in all countries. Southwestern border of Sabah and Sarawak. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Kelabitic. Dialects: LUN BAWANG (SARAWAK MURUT), LUN DAYAH, ADANG, BALAIT (TABUN, TRENG), KOLUR, PADAS, TRUSAN (LAWAS, LIMBANG), LEPU POTONG. Not Murutic, although sometimes called Southern Murut. Radio broadcasts. Agriculturalists: wet and dry rice, coffee, sugar cane, maize, cucumber, pumpkin, tapioca, coconut, banana, pomelo, papaya, durian, mango; animal husbandry: chicken, pigs, buffaloes; hunters, fishermen. Christian (Lunbawang and some Lundayeh), traditional religion (others). Bible 1982. NT 1962. Bible portions 1947.

MADANG (BADANG, MEDANG, MALANG, LEPO TAU KENYAH, LEPO TAU KENYA) [MQD] Tinjar River, 4th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Kenyah, Sebob. May be intelligible with Sebob Kenyah. 25% literate. Christian. NT 1978. Bible portions 1957.

MELANAU (MILANAU, MILANO, BELANA'U) [MEL] 25,320 in all countries (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Coastal area of the Rejang delta up to the Balingian River, 3rd Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Dialects: MUKAH-OYA (MUKAH, MUKA, OYA, OYA', OGA), BALINGIAN, BRUIT, DALAT (DALAD), IGAN, SARIKEI, SEGAHAN, PREHAN, SEGALANG, SERU, SITENG. 52% literate. Tropical forest. Agriculturalists: sago, rice, coconut, rubber; fishermen; loggers; animal husbandry: chickens, goats, water buffalos; traders with Iban. Traditional religion, Muslim, Christian, secular.

MILIKIN Southwest, south of Simunjan. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayic-Dayak, Ibanic. Survey needed.

NAROM (NARUM) [NRM] 2,420 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). South of the mouth of the Baram River around Miri and to the south. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Berawan-Lower Baram, Lower Baram, Central, B. Dialects: NAROM, MIRI. Survey needed.

OKOLOD (KOLOUR, KOLUR, KOLOD, OKOLOD MURUT) [KQV] 1,000 in Sarawak; 100 to 200 in Sabah (1987 SIL); 2,000 to 3,500 in all countries (1985 SIL). Sabah southwest of Tenom and Sipitang districts on some of the plantation estates and some along the headwaters of the Padas River. Primarily in Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Murutic, Murut. 82% lexical similarity with Okolod of Sabah; 70% with Pensiangan Murut (Tagal), 34% with Lundayeh. 1 school in Sarawak. Traditional religion, Christian. Work in progress.

PUNAN BAH-BIAU Central, around Merit, Rejang River, 7th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Rejang-Sajau. Dialects: PUNAN BAH (PUNAN BA), PUNAN BIAU. Nomadic. They get salt from the Kayan. Hunter-gatherers. Survey needed.

PUNAN BATU 1 [PNM] 50 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Central, west of Long Geng, southeast of Belaga. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. May be intelligible with Bukitan. Distinct from Punan Batu 2, a dialect of Sajau Basap in Kalimantan. Nomadic. They get salt from the Kayan. Hunter-gatherers. Survey needed.

PUNAN-NIBONG (PENAN, NIBONG, NIBON) [PNE] 9,000 in Sarawak (1988 Lian); 50 in Brunei (1988); 9,050 in all countries. Upper Baram and Balui rivers around Mt. Dulit, 3 villages, 4th to 7th Divisions, and Nibong branch of the Lobong River, a tributary of the Tinjar River. Also in Brunei. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Punan-Nibong. Dialects: NIBONG, BOK PUNAN (BOK), PUNAN SILAT, PUNAN GANG (GANG), PUNAN LUSONG (LUSONG), PENAN APO, SIPENG (SPENG), PUNAN LANYING, JELALONG PUNAN. Not closely related to other languages. Traditionalists are nomadic and semi-nomadic; Muslims are settled. Schools. Tropical forest. Subsistence agriculturalists, hunter-gatherers. Muslim, traditional religion. NT 1974, out of print. Bible portions 1958-1967.

SA'BAN [SNV] 1,000 in all countries (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Northeast on the Kalimantan border, northeast of Ramudu, Upper Baram, 4th Division. Also in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Kelabitic. Bible portions 1969. Survey needed.

SEBUYAU (SIBUYAU, SABUYAU, SIBUIAN, SIBUYAN, SABUYAN) [SNB] 9,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Lundu, 1st Division, mouth of the Lupa River, west bank around Sebuyau. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Malayic-Dayak, Ibanic. May be intelligible with Iban. Survey needed.

SEKAPAN (SEKEPAN) [SKP] 750 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Belaga, 7th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. May be intelligible with Kajaman. Christian (1 village). Survey needed.

SELAKO (SELEKAU, SALAKAU, SILAKAU) 3,800 in Sarawak in Kalimantan, Indonesia (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Saak, Lundu, 1st Division, 22 villages. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundia, Malayic, Malayic-Dayak. Gradually being adopted by the younger speakers of Lara'.

SERU Kabong, 2nd Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Extinct.

SIAN (SIHAN) Belaga, 7th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. May be intelligible with Bukitan, Ukit, Punan Batu 1. Survey needed.

SIBU Sibu, 3rd Division, Rejang River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Dialects: SEDUAN, BANYOK. May be intelligible with Melanau. Survey needed.

TANJONG . Rejang River above the Kanowit language area, below Song village, Kapit, 7th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Melanau. Survey needed.

TRING [TGQ] Long Terawan village, lower Tutoh River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, North Sarawakan, Dayic, Kelabitic. Not the same as Tringgus. Survey needed.

TRINGGUS (TRINGUS) [TRX] 350 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Southwest of Kuching, south of the Jagoi, on the Kalimantan border. Some in Kalimantan. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Land Dayak. Dialects: TRINGGUS, SEMBAAN (BIMBAAN). Each dialect has a few villages. Closer to Biatah than to Jagoi. A different language from Tring. Survey needed.

TUTONG Along the lower Limbang River. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Sabahan, Dusunic, Bisaya, Southern. Distinct from Tutong 2 in Baram-Tinjar Subgroup.

UKIT Upper Rajom and Tatau rivers, Baleh, 7th Division. Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Borneo, Northwest, Melanau-Kajang, Kajang. It may be intelligible with Bukitan, Sian, Punan Batu 1. Distinct from the Punan Ukit dialect of Bukitan.

Sarawak : Demographics

Sarawak has more than 40 ethnic groups with their own distinct language, culture and lifestyle. Cities and larger towns are populated predominantly by Malays, Melanaus, Chinese, and a smaller percentage of Ibans and Bidayuhs who have migrated from their home-villages for employment reasons. Sarawak is rather distinctive from the rest of Malaysia in that there is only a small community of Indians living in the state.

2.1 Malay

The Malays make up 21% of the population in Sarawak. Traditionally fishermen, these seafaring people chose to form settlements on the banks of the many rivers of Sarawak. Today, many Malays have migrated to the cities where they are heavily involved in the public and private sectors and taken up various professions. Malay villages (kampungs) - a cluster of wooden houses on stilts, many of which are still located by rivers on the outskirts of major towns and cities, play home to traditional cottage industries. The Malays are famed for their wood carvings, silver and brass craftings as well as traditional Malays textile weaving with silver and gold thread (kain songket).

Malays are Muslim by religion, having brought the faith to Asia some 1000 years ago. Their religion is reflected in their culture and art and Islamic symbolism is evident in local architecture - from homes to government buildings.

2.2 Melanau

The Melanaus have been thought to be amongst the original settlers of Sarawak. Originally from Mukah (the 10th Administrative Division as launched in march 2002), the Melanaus traditionally lived in tall houses. Nowadays, they have adopted a Malay lifestyle, living in kampong-type settlements. Traditionally, Melanaus were fishermen and till today, they are reputed as some of the finest boat-builders and craftsmen.

While the Melanaus are ethnically different from the Malays, their lifestyles and practices are quite similar especially in the larger towns and cities where most Melanau have adopted the Islamic faith.

The Melanaus were believed to originally worship spirits ina practice brinking on paganism. Today many of them are Christian and Muslim, though they still celebrate traditional animist festivals such as the annual Kaul Festival.

2.3 Chinese

The Chinese first came to Sarawak as traders and explorers in the 6th Century. Today, they make up 29% of the population of Sarawak and comprise of communities built from the economic migrants of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The first Chinese migrants worked as labourers in the gold mines at Bau or on plantations. Through their clan associations, business acumen and work ethic, the Chinese organised themselves economically and rapidly dominated commerce. Today, the Chinese are amongst Sarawak's most prosperous ethnic groups.

The Sarawak Chinese belong to a wide range of dialect groups, the most significant being Hokkien, Foochow, Hakka, Teochew, Cantonese and Henghua. Hokkien and Mandarin are the most widely spoken dialects. The Chinese maintain their ethnic heritage and culture and celebrate all the major cultural festivals, most notably Chinese New Year and the Hungry Ghost Festival. The Sarawak Chinese are predominantly Buddhists and Christians.

2.4 Iban

The Ibans form the largest percentage of Sarawak's population, making up some 30%. Reputed to be the most formidable headhunters on the island of Borneo, the Ibans of today are a generous, hospitable and placid people. Because of their history as pirates and fishermen, they were conventionally referred to as the "Sea Dayaks". The early Iban settlers who migrated from Kalimantan (the Indonesian part of Borneo south of Sarawak) set up home in the river valleys of Batang Ai, the Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang River. The Ibans dwell in longhouses, a stilted structure comprising many rooms housing a whole community of families.

The Ibans are renowned for their Pua Kumbu (traditional Iban weavings), silver craftings, wooden carvings and beadwork. Iban tattoos which were orignally symbols of bravery for the Iban warriors have become amongst the most distinctive in the world.

The Ibans are also famous for their tuak, a sweet rice wine which is served during big celebrations and festive occasions.

Today, the majority of Ibans are practice Christianity. However, like most other ethnic groups in Sarawak, they still hold strong to their many traditional rituals and beliefs. Sarawak is unique to colourful festivals such as the Gawai Dayak (harvest festival), Gawai Kenyalang (hornbill festival) and Gawai Antu (festival of the dead).

2.5 Bidayuh

Originally from West Kalimantan, the Bidayuhs are now most numerous in the hill country of Bau and Serian, within an hour's drive from Kuching. Historically, as other tribes were migrating into Sarawak and forming settlements, the meek-natured Bidayuhs retreated further inland, hence earning them the name of "Land Dayaks". The traditional Bidayuh abode is the "baruk", a roundhouse that rises about 1.5 metres off the ground. Typical of the Sarawak indigenous groups, the Bidayuhs are well-known for their hospitality, and are reputed to be the best makers of tuak, or rice wine.

The Bidayuhs speak a number of different but related dialects. While some of them still practice traditional religions, most modern-day Bidayuhs have adopted the Christian faith.

2.6 Orang Ulu

The phrase Orang Ulu means upriver people and is a term used to collectively describe the numerous tribes that live upriver in Sarawak's vast interior. Such groups include the major Kayan and Kenyah tribes, and the smaller neighbouring groups of the Kajang, Kejaman, Punan, Ukit, and Penan. Nowadays, the definition also includes the down-river tribes of the Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh, Murut and Berawan as well as the plateau-dwelling Kelabits. The various Orang Ulu groups togther make up roughly 5.5% of Sarawak's population. The Orang Ulu are artistic people with longhouses elaborately decorated with murals and woodcarvings. They are also well-known for their intricate beadwork detailed tattoos. The Orang Ulu tribe can also be identified by their unique music - distinctive sounds from their sape, a stringed instrument not unlike the mandolin.

A vast majority of the Orang Ulu tribe are Christians but old traditional religions are still practiced in some areas.

Some of the major tribes making up the Orang Ulu group include :

2.7 Kayan

There are approximately 15,000 Kayans in Sarawak. The Kayan tribe built their longhouses in the northern interiors of Sarawak midway on the Baram River, the upper Reiang River and the lower Tubau River, and were traditionally headhunters. They are well known for their boat making skills, which they carve from a single block of belian, the strongest of the tropical hardwoods.

Although many Kayan have become Christians, some are still practise paganistic beliefs.

2.8 Kelabit

With a population of approximately 3000, the Kelabit are inhabitants of Bario - a remote plateau in the Sarawak Highlands, slightly over 1,200 meters above sea-level. The Kelabits form a tight-knit community and practise a generations-old form of agriculture. Famous for their rice-farming, they also cultivate a variety of other crops which are suited to the cooler climate of the Highlands of Bario.

The Kelabit are predominantly Christian, the Bario Highlands having been visited by Christian missionaries many years ago.

2.9 Kenyah

There are few findings on the exact origin of the Kenyah tribe. Their heartland however, is Long San, along the Baram River. Their culture is very similar to that of the Kayan tribe with whom they live in close association. The typical Kenyah village consists of only one longhouse and the people are mainly farmers, planting rice in burnt jungle clearings.

2.10 Penan

The Penan are the only true nomadic people in Sarawak and amongst the last of the world's hunter-gatherers. The Penan make their home under the rainforest canopy, deep within the vast expanse of Sarawak's virgin jungle. Even today, the Penan continue to roam the rainforest hunting wild boar and deer with blowpipes. The Penan are skilled weavers and make high-quality rattan baskets and mats. The traditional Penan religion worships a supreme god called Bungan. However, the increasing number who have abandoned the nomadic lifestyle for settlement in longhouses have converted to Christians.

Sarawakians practice a variety of religions, including Islam, Christianity, Chinese folk religion (a fusion of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and ancestor worship) and animism. Many converts to Christianity among the Dayak peoples also continue to practice traditional ceremonies, particularly with dual marriage rites and during the important harvest and ancestral festivals such as Gawai Dayak, Gawai Kenyalang and Gawai Antu.