Jerunei: The Coffins and Slaves of a Tribal People.
A jerunei is a large pole or monument used by the Melanau (a people living on the coast of Sarawak). Jeruni poles are almost always hollowed out to receive the bones of the deceased. It may or may not be carved, since the erection of the pole involves many expenses. The poles are made when the house is built.
There are carved and uncarved Jerunei poles. One pole, at Kampung Angus is the tallest in the area standing surrounded by scrub and neglected vegetation and hidden among the sago palms. It is clothed with creepers and in the hollow are numerous bats. These are said to be born of the slaves who were sacrificed during the burial ceremonies.
The Kampong Angus pole is 8 meters and 20 cm high out of the ground, with 3.7 meters buried underground. There are four V cuts at the top of each side, each about 2.7 m deep and carved with teeth-like indentations along the edges. About 167 cm below the base of each V is a square hole 15 cm wide and 3.67 m  deep. This hole is carved straight through the pole. Beneath the hole is a band of carvings and other decorations with little flowers and snakes.
About 1.5 meters are four smaller holes 10 cmX15 cm. These serve to place the pole into the ground. The men walk around and around, drilling the pole into the ground.
The Misan Jerunei is not as tall as the Kampong Angus pole. It is 2.6 m high with a pineapple carved on the top. From the base of the pineapple, a canopy slopes down and is supported by decorative pillars. Under the canopy is a jar.
The poles are selected from trees in the forest. They are then cut down and man handled to the appropriate positions. Many men and slaves had to perform the work of carrying the poles to the site. Sometimes it took days or weeks to move them, with a buffalo killed every 2-3 days.
In selecting the tree, the omen birds must be fully consulted. If the song from about eleven birds is heard, everyone must return to their village. If the birds are seen but not heard all is well, only if the birds fly from right to left. If the birds fly left to right, all work is stopped and one must wait until a favorable time in which to try again.
During the period of felling a tree, the call of the Barking Deer would stop the work. When the tree had already been felled, the tree must be moved from the spot to a new location to keep the omen snake, the worse possible omens, from crossing into the freshly fallen tree.
A working shed is built near where the pole is erected. Here, carpenters cut and decorate the post. They often compliment the host who acquired the tree about how he shows respect to the dead ancestors. He is told his magnificence will be told far and wide.
When the carving is completed, the owner and a dukun(medicine man) select the day for erection. A slave is killed, and his blood is splashed over the pole and into the hole. The body of the slave is stuffed into the hole with the pole. The spirit of the slave is supposed to help in its erection.
Burial
When the corpse is placed in the Jerunei it is two or three days old, and before it is badly decomposed, it is placed in the hollow of the Jerunei. A slave is bound up to his neck, his head placed in some kind of stock which strengthens the poles anchored on the V with his legs resting on the beam of the lower holes. The slave is left there to cry and starve, securely lashed to look upwards. After about three days, he joins his master or mistress in death. His spirit is to serve his master or mistress in the afterlife.
In some circumstances, the body is placed in a canoe-like coffin where an atap roof is constructed. A small hollow bamboo is inserted into the bottom of the coffin, where the fluids and decay drain. After some time, the bones are taken out and placed in a Jerunei. A second feast is then held, and a live slave is tied to the pineapple at the tip of the pole. He remains there until he is dead.
Rank
If a person of high rank $225 ($3 straits dollars =1 US D.) owns a Jerunei, no one of lesser rank, even relatives, may use his Jerunei. If the child of a person marries a person of lesser rank ($125) the difference must be made up. It usually comes from animals and vegetables consumed during the feast.
Underlying the importance of Jerunei is the idea that spirits may turn into animals. It is far better to be a bird that flies instead of an animal that roots around in the ground.
From
Jamuh, George Jeruni Sarawak Museum Journal vol 1 no. 1949.
BorneoHistory.net
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