he Penan Aput
The Penan Aput name comes from the right-hand tributary of the upper Baluy river where they used to live. They formed four separate bands where they kept close ties and migrated together. When the land became depleted, three of the four groups migrated into what is now Kalimatan while the fourth migrated to the Busan river and are now called Penan Busan.
The first group, led by Nyaboep, went from Aput to the source of the Kayan river, which they followed downriver. They roamed around one of the tributaries but moved back to Aput because the Kayans had become established in the lower Kayan river. Upon the death of Nyaboep, he was succeeded by his son Nyabuhan. Led by Ding, the Kayans moved upriver into the upper Baluy region.
Some years later, the Iban came and lived with the Penan in Aput. On one occasion, when all the men were out hunting, the Ibans killed the women and children and took their heads. Nyabuhan immediately went after the Iban and shot some people with poison darts. Fearing Iban revenge, they retreated in haste and fled to the Kayan Apo. They wandered along a tributary of the Kayan, the Marung and then went to the upper reaches of the Kayan and then over to the Pura river. From there they moved to the Long Langan on the right bank of the Kayan and from there to the Laham basin. From there they went to the Kayan OK (small Kayan river running parallel to the large Kayan river and finally settled in Jemahang. After wandering some more, the Penan finally settled in a Longhouse about 20 years ago (from 1974).
The Penan depended entirely on the jungle. Men collected rattan vines and women wove them into baskets and mats. They collected various resins, bezoar stones and other products. With the Kayan and Kenyan traders, they exchanged for beads, tobacco, salt and calico cloth. Distances being very great, they stored these items for when the traders came.
The staple food was wild sago. Palm logs are split, the pith extracted with a wooden hoe like implement. The pith is placed on a platform and water is poured over it. The flour then settles on the calico cloth below it. The Penan did not store large quantities of the flour. An entire days work were consumed by the whole band.
Hunting is the favoured occupation of the men. They hunt with either blowpipes or dogs and spears. Fishing also is a staple: Tengasir: fried sago flour mixed with fish and boar fat. ok: a mixture of boar meat with interstines and fat and cooked in palm leaves. ok lulung: a mixture of boar fat with shoots of a nibong or anga palms, cooked in bamboo. Tegasai tanjuk: a mixture of wild shoots and sago flour Linut Sago porridge yei: smoked meat of fish.
Dart Poison
The Penan are master of making dart poison. They extract latex out of three plants: the upas tree (tajam) the upas creeper(okatajam ) and keya (an identified creeper). The latex is mixed on a palm leaf and heated on a fire. It is then kneaded on a piece of wood. When needed, it is applied to the tip of the dart
Marriage
A young man must first ask the parents to court her. If they agree, he goes to her that night bringing with him a blowpipe, a spear and a knife. If the girl accepts him, he stays with her until morning. The next day a small feast is held and the man out hunting The catch is brought to the girls dwelling where it is eaten. The same thing is repeated the next day at the groom’s shelter. The bridal price is then paid to the girl’s parents and consists of a bead. The couple lives with the girl’s parents but they may leave and build their hut.
Adultery
Both men and women must pay to the aggrieved spouse: a bead, a knife ornamented with carved bones, a gong, a spear, one blowpipe, one cooking pot, one sarong adorned with beads and one rhino horn.
Taboos for pregnant women.
1. They may not eat salap fish or the child will die before birth.
2. They may not eat tengo fish or the delivery will be hard
3. They should not kill animals or cut their limbs. The husband may be a follower but he cannot kill.
4. They must untie knots before tying again or the delivery will be difficult.
5. The pregnant woman may not see a corpse of the child will die before birth
6.The father cannot make a knife or the child will always be sick.
The taboos must be followed until birth otherwise there are no restrictions.
Omen Birds
1. On a hunting trip, the sighting of a crested jay is a good omen. If the jay cries a different song, then the party must return to the settlement.
2. If the song is heard from the left, the cry of the rufous piculet is unfavourable
3. On a journey, the cry of the maroon woodpecker is favourable.
4. The flower pecker is a significant call for hunters. They must hunt in the direction of flight
5. The cylinder snake and the centipede are significant if the band is migrating. They must return to their old place if spotted.
6. The lekian (a kind of lizard) is an important reptile. Should the call of the lizard be heard, then the settlement must be abandoned.
7. The Hawk is a bad omen only if the cry is heard of at night. Only the Penan can hear it. The settlement must be abandoned.
From: The Penan Aput by Tuton Kaboy in the Sarawak Museum Journal December 1974
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