Iban Tattoos

According to Iban informants, the practice of tattooing was inherited from the Panngau, a group of superhumans who reside in Kalimatan (Indonesian Borneo). From these Panngau came a series of stories and legends featuring Keling and his wife, Kumang. They taught the Iban how to tattoo and find charms for successful hunting and warfare. The Ibans

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Penan Gang

+ The Penan Gang The Penan Gang occupy seven communities in the northern part of Belaga district. They trace their origins to the Apat river, a tributary of the Jek river, and, as a single band, they were known as the Penan Apat. They moved out of the Plieran watershed and into the Gang River,

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All Creatures Great and Small # 17

Tomistoma New Book One Crowded Moment of Glory is a recent history book about Jesselton uprising in 1943. Available from the University of Malaya Press, it is an important work about Chinese history. For a review see DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022463421000692 Another New Book “Data Gathering in Colonial Southeast Asia is best described as “a thorough re reading of

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British Blunders lead to Punjabi Defeats in Kuching Retreats

The British Punjab Retreat from Kuching Toms Note: The Punjabis or Sikhi are from India and are known for their smart turbans. They were led by British commanders during the colonial period. The Germans entered Belgium, Holland and France in 1940. They were unable to take England because of the British Air superiority. They next

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Mouse Deer

Since I arrived here 12 years ago, I have heard of the stories about the Mouse Deer. I wanted to find examples, but the stories in English were all prohibitively expensive. Finally, a few months ago, a volume appeared in Ireland and was termed a “reading copy.” I jumped on it. When it arrived three

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