The Pagan Tribes of Borneo Part 17

Biajau [male]

Complicated serial geometrical designs, scrolls, zoomorphs, etc.

Almost the whole body including the face amongst some of the sub-tribes.

With some sub-tribes to signify success in war and love, manual dexterity, etc.

[female]

 

? ? as with Long Glat.

Ot-Danum, Ulu Ajar, etc.

[male]

Curved lines, discs, and simple geometrical designs.

On breast, stomach, outside of arms and thighs, calf of leg.

? None.

In some cases a sign of bravery.

[female]

Simple designs like those of the Uma Tow Kenyahs (low-cla.s.s [female] [female]). High-cla.s.s [female] [female] like Long Glat?

s.h.i.+n, thigh, and calf of leg.

Kahayan [male]

Chequer design.

On breast, stomach, throat, arms.

Bakatan and Ukit [male]

Chiefly scroll and circle designs. Nearly all represented in "negative."

Jaws, throat, breast, back, shoulders, forearms, thighs, calf of leg, ankles, feet and backs of hands.

Obsolete.

Sign of bravery and experience in war, symbol of maturity.

[female]

Anthropomorphic, lines, representation of a bead.

Forearms, wrist, metacarpals.

None.

Ornament.

Sea-Dayak [male]

Degraded Kayan and Bakatan designs.

ALmost every part of the body, except the face.

None.

Ornament.

[female]

Small circles.

b.r.e.a.s.t.s and calves of legs.

None.

Ornament.

Bibliography.

1. Beccari, Dr. O., NELLE FORESTE DI BORNEO (1902).

2. Bock, Carl, THE HEAD-HUNTERS OF BORNEO (1882).

3. Furness, W. H., THE HOME LIFE OF BORNEO HEAD-HUNTERS (1902).

4. Haddon, E. B., "The Dog-motive in Bornean Art" (JOURN. ANTH. INST., 1905).

5. Hamer, C. den, IETS OVER HET TATOUEEREN OF TOETANG BIJ DE BIADJOE-STAMMEN.

6. Hein, A. R., DIE BILDENDEN KUNSTE BEI DEN DAYAKS AUF BORNEO (1890).

7. Ling Roth, H., THE NATIVES OF SARAWAK AND BRITISH NORTH BORNEO (1896), vol. ii.

8. Nieuwenhuis, Dr. A. W., IN CENTRAL BORNEO (1900). vol. i.

9. Nieuwenhuis, Dr. A. W., QUER DURCH BORNEO (1904), vol. i.

10. Schwaner, Dr. C. A. L. M., BORNEO (1853 -- 54); cf. Ling Roth, vol. ii. pp. cxci to cxcv.

11. Whitehead, J., EXPLORATION OF MOUNT KINA BALU, NORTH BORNEO (1893).

Brief references to tatu will also be found in the writings of Burns, Brooke Low, MacDougall, De Crespigny, Hatton, St. John, Witti, and others, but notices of all these will be found in Mr. Ling Roth's volumes.

Explanation of Plates.

Plate 136.

Fig. 1. -- Kayan dog design (UDOH ASU) for thighs of men. From a tatu-block in the Sarawak Museum. (No. 1054.104.)

Fig. 2. -- Uma Balubo Kayan dog design. From a tatu-block in the Sarawak Museum. (No. 1054.90.)

Fig. 3. -- Sea Dayak scorpion design (KELINGAI KALA) for thigh, arm, or breast of men. From a tatu-block in the Sarawak Museum. (No. 1054.99.)