The Selako are one of the dyak groups living in Lundu between Malaysia and Indonesia on the border. Batang Saka ‘ampat is a cluster of about 20 houses. (1978)
After the birth of the child, the umbilical cord is cut off off by the midwife (bidan) with a bamboo splint. (panatak pusat) The child is given a bath.(mani‘) In this birth, the midwife was actually the grandmother of the child although usually a bidan performs these services.
When the baby is well wrapped up in cloth, little black strings are put around the ankles, wrist and waist of the baby. These strings are believed to act as strengtheners (pangkaras) to the soul. (sumangat) They are usually worn until the baby begins to crawl. The mother is changed into some dry clothes and fed with rice and fine salt.(gare’)
During the birth, the men are engaged with getting some bark cloth which is used by the mother as a sort of belt around the waist. They then prepare the nangkat, a bed like structure made of ordinary planks. It is then covered with soft bark. (kulit tarap) On top of this a mat is placed. The nangat is placed close to the kitchen. The father is not allowed to go into the deep jungle for fear the evil spirits will smell the sweet scent of the baby thus endangering the child’s life.
Over the nangat, a sting is then suspended from the beam to which enables the mother to hang on to when she wakes up. The string is usually made of bark and is known as the tali simua’nk and is attached to the rafter by the husband.
Pieces of sharp bamboo(suda simintang) are then tied together in whirly bird fashion. One is placed at the foot of the ladder which provided access the longhouse. The other is placed over the nangat. The third is hung underneath the bottom support where the nangat is placed. They are believed to drive away malevolent spirits which try to gain access at this time. When the suda simintang is tied on the right of the ladder the child is a boy, on the left a girl.
Next, a kind of tree leaf (daunk tawa’) is hung on the kitchen door and underneath the nangat. This also performs as a device to keep evil spirits away. A chopping knife (iso’) is placed near the front door and the door to the kitchen. Its is also believed to keep evil spirits away.
For a period of one week the mother and child remain in the kitchen area. (previously it was three nights for a girl and seven nights for a boy) Her abdomen is covered with a bark made from tarap. The main reason is to reduce her tummy to normal. The bardiang is to maintain the body temperature of the mother.
The practice of bardiang also involves other procedures. The mothers big toes are tied up with some powdered pepper, betel leaf and powdered rice. This is believed to prevent the entrance of wind into the mothers body. This seems to be an old practice (israt).Sometimes a blanket is also used to to cover the lower limbs of the body.
For the purpose of bathing, lemon grass is boiled to extract it’s essence. In the old days, a leaf called daunk grande rusa (Gendarussa vulgaris) was pasted on the abdomen to “throw away” dirty blood. In the absence of these leaves, a small species of coconut, which is warmed over the fire, and rubbed over the abdomen.
Certain prohibitions have been imposed on the mother after birth. For one week, she allowed to eat only rice, salt,pepper and garlic. The only drink allowed is water mixed with spices. Before spices were known, leaves from the sapang plant were mixed with water. Vegetables are thought to bring about a state of extreme cold while fish is believed to cause the body to swell.
The new born baby is subject to certain taboos. When it rains on a hot afternoon, some leaves of the kaimabur and serai wangi re burned. The smoke is believed to drive away spirits hovering around the house. After one week, the baby and mother are allowed to move to the living room.
The ritual of bataah, sometimes called napung tawar, is held the following day. This gives the baby a name. (The essay stops here.)
Fr: Beliefs and Practices Concerning Births among the Selako of Sarawak by Awang Hasmadi Awang Mois in the Sarawak Museum Journal December, 1978
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