For effortless movement in streams, rivers, lakes, mangrove areas, and shorelines, two types of vessels are used. One is a dugout canoe, and the other is a boat. Both boats and canoes are hewn from single tree trunks, made of the same material and using the same manufacturing method, and are of similar design. In the following, we discuss the specific types of freshwater and brackish-water designs, the adaptations for their use at sea, and the manufacture of these boats and canoes. Dugout canoes Dugout canoes (locally called Aba) are the standard vessels for water transport. They are made from…

In the fields and forests of Siberut Island, various land crabs can be found, and the inland waters contain other freshwater crustaceans, like prawns and shrimps. On the coast and in the sea, there lives a far larger variety of crustacean species. Terrestrial crabs The following land crab species occur in Sumatra: With high likelihood, all four species also occur on Siberut. The Pacific Land Crab (Tuerkayana hirtipes) has been explicitly confirmed, and Turkana magnum, the Giant Orange-legged crab, is the famous ‘Anggau’ crab of Mentawai. These crabs are also recorded at Sipora, the island just south of Siberut. The…

When hunting with a pack of dogs for deer, wild boars, or monkeys, three types of weapons can be used to finish off the cornered game. One is a bow and arrow, which, however, is not safe for dogs during the commotion that usually occurs. The other one is the machete (Lugguk), with which the hunter tries to sever the animal’s spine. Which also has its disadvantages. The safest and fastest method to kill the cornered game is the use of a spear as a lance. This method is the same worldwide, including among the Mentawai. Another application for a…

In rivers, coastal zones, and mangrove forests, a diverse array of bivalve and gastropod species is collected and utilized for food. Bivalvia species Freshwater streams River clams (Batissa violacea) occur in large quantities in the lower zones of all slow-flowing rivers with muddy bottom on Siberut Island. These clams are large, thick-shelled bivalves with a dark purplish-brown hue. Collecting these bivalves is always done by a group of women who support each other. Often, two of them will share a canoe, and each one has its own five-meter-long bamboo stick. They ram this stick from the dugout canoe into the…

The fruits eaten by Mentawai people in the forests are various species of bananas, coconuts, durians, and fruits from the rattan palm. Other fruits are also harvested, of which some grow wild, while others are planted and cultivated. Fruits are by far more seasonal than staples and vegetables, and there is a higher variety of fruits available compared to staples and vegetables. Wild fruits gathered by Mentawai people Besides rattan palm fruits, various other fruit species grow wild in the forests. These are the fruits of the Marang tree, Torch ginger, Helmstedtia, Pianggu, and the Wild Cranesbill bush. Black Rattan…

Cassava (Manihot utilissima) leaves and Fiddlehead ferns are the most essential vegetables for the Mentawai people living in the forests of Siberut Island. Both vegetables were discussed in separate articles on this webpage. Details about Cassava leaves can be found at the provided link, and about Fiddlehead ferns (Diplazium esculentum) and (Diplazium polypodioides) here. Besides these two vegetables, Torch ginger flowers (Etlingera elatior), which are used both as a vegetable and a spice, were discussed in the linked article. However, these are not the only vegetables eaten by the remote Mentawais; a wide variety of other vegetables are available. Some…

Depending on the location of the longhouse of a Mentawai family, fishing is conducted in any permanent water structure large enough to hold fish, gastropods, or crustaceans. In general, fishing is regarded as the work of men;  women fish only with hand nets in terrestrial water bodies, or with scissor nets in the sea. Fishing methods Hand net fishing Hand net fishing is often practiced in the island’s interior. It is typically done by women who wade up to their hips in slow-moving streams or channels. With a hand net, they try to catch freshwater prawns, crabs, frogs, and small…

Three of the four most essential food plants for Mentawai people on Siberut Island in Indonesia are carbohydrate sources. Notably, sago is a key provider, with an average composition of approximately 94% carbohydrates, about 7% moisture, and negligible other components. Besides sago, taro, and bananas/plantains, other starchy foods are grown, as seen in the following table. Due to the forest conditions, rice is not traditionally planted in Siberut, but it is sometimes obtained through trade or as gifts from relatives in the villages. According to Pradipta (2019), in the 1980s, governmental reforms were implemented throughout Siberut, aiming to replace sago…

Bites from venomous snake species appear to be the highest concern when walking in the Siberut forests. There are anecdotal reports that middle-aged Mentawai men were bitten by pit vipers three or four times in their lives. Non-Venomous Snakes (Harmless to humans) On Siberut Island, 40 species of snakes have been documented. Out of this total, 23 species are non-venomous and harmless to humans. These species are: Slightly Venomous Snakes (Mildly venomous to humans) From a total of 40 species, eight species are rear-fanged and only slightly venomous to humans. These snake species are: Some Rhabdophis species can be dangerously…

Ginger flowers are eaten in many Southeast-Asian cultures. In Indonesia, most ginger varieties are known from Siberut Island. The native population of this island has utilized the flowers of Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R.M. Sm.) since ancient times for medical and culinary purposes. These plants are also known under Red Ginger Lily and other local names. The Mentawai people call them ‘Tairatti’. Brief description These flowers have elongated buds on tall stalks with green, fleshy, fibrous stems. The buds are oval-shaped and about 10cm long and covered by protective, modified leaf coverings known as bracts. When the flowers are…

Young cassava leaves are a regularly eaten side dish for Mentawai people. Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is endemic to the southern rim of Amazonia in South America. There, it was domesticated around 5000 BC. In the 16th century AC, Spanish and Portuguese explorers brought them to Africa. Only in the 1960s was cassava introduced to Asia. So, it is not a traditional food addition to Mentawais but only a recently adopted one. Mentawai eating habits As mentioned in previous articles, Mentawais’ staple foods are Sago, Taro, and Bananas. These are foods rich in carbohydrates. Protein comes from the field, stream,…

Vegetable ferns (Diplazium esculentum (Retz.)) are among the few wild vegetables Mentawai people in the forests eat regularly on Siberut Island. By Mentawais, they are called ‘Laipat.’ Other wild vegetables are cassava leaves, ginger flowers, taro stalks, and wild eggplants. In times of hunger, Mentawais also eat shoots of sugar palms. But generally speaking, all these wild vegetables are just an irregular addition to the regular diet of sago/taro/bananas and meat. Where do vegetable ferns grow? Vegetable ferns (Diplazium esculentum) prefer to grow at the edge of forests towards cultivated land. However, distinguishing between cultivated and non-cultivated land is often…

Domestic pigs are a typical gift from a Mentawai family to a shaman for his support or services. In our case, Aman Aru attended a ceremony in a neighboring Uma (family home in the forests), which had to be cleaned from evil spirits. After the ceremony and lots of food, we returned late at night to our Uma with a live piglet packed in strings of sago leaves. Shamanic ceremony and slaughtering Unfortunately, I was so impressed by the chanting of Aman Aru that I forgot to record the ceremony. When it was over and death spelled, I only started…

The Mentawai people at Siberut Island use forest huts (called Sapou by them) for various reasons and purposes. One is a permanent dwelling for single, old men who do not live with their family in the Uma (family home in the forest), as was the case with this forest hut described here. Other purposes for such a hut would be as a resting place when tendering taro gardens or as a hunting base in faraway locations. The particular purpose of forest huts For couples, it is strictly taboo to exchange any sexually inspired feelings within the Uma. Couples have to…

Rattan fruits are available throughout the year in all Southeast Asian rainforests. There are about 600 different species of rattans, and many of them bear edible fruits. However, rattan prickles are a common nuisance when walking in the jungle. Nevertheless, the usefulness of the rattan plants is weighing up this disadvantage. Rattan fruits can be eaten, and young rattan stems contain an edible core. And there is no stronger and more flexible binding material than from some rattan species. For the Mentawai people, rattan palms are necessary for binding and construction materials, food additions, and coconut grating devices. Rattan as…

Mentawai people use five types of carrying baskets, which they call Opa, Tuku, Jarakjak, O’orek, and Bolokbok. Opa – the standard-sized carrying baskets. Opa are the most popular type of carrying baskets. They are entirely woven from Calamus javensis rattan vines collected from the surrounding forests. Primarily, men use them as their ‘standard backpack’ to carry small fruits, other agricultural produce, and lightweight items. These baskets are about 70 cm (28’’) high with an inner diameter of about 40 cm (16’’). Carrying straps are made from the bark of the Baikho tree (Artocarpus elasticus). That is the same material used for bark loincloths or…

The cutting- and chopping tools used by forest dwellers include adzes, axes, machetes, and a specialized knife. All of these tools have a strong historical background and are still in use today. Axes People primarily use axes (Oggut) to fell sago and other palms. The handle of the observed axe was carved from Arenga pinnata wood. It was so old that nobody at the Uma could recall when the steelhead was purchased or how long the handle had lasted. Combined Adze and Axe The cutting edge of an axe is parallel to the handle, whereas the cutting edge of an adze…

Sago worms are one of the food items that come naturally with the Mentawai’s staple food, sago flour. The worms grow in felled palm trunks or saplings. They are not worms but larvae and pupae of the Palm Weevil beetles (Rhynchophorus sp.). These beetles are worldwide regarded as a significant pest of palm trees. Geographic distribution By the beginning of 2024, at least ten recognized species of Rhynchophorus beetles infested nearly all palm-growing areas worldwide. Distribution map of Palm Weevil beetles worldwide, according to this source. Rhynchophorus vulneratus (Panzer, 1798) is commonly found in Indonesia. Furthermore, Rhynchophorus lobatus (Ritsema, 1882) was described to occur…

Deep in the rainforests of Siberut Island, the Mentawai tribe food culture transcends simple nutrition, weaving a complex web between the physical world and the spirit realm. While their diet is traditionally rooted in sago and forest foraging, the domestic chicken occupies a sacred space that goes far beyond the dinner plate. In this exploration of Mentawai Shamanic Rituals, we delve into why the sacrificial chicken is the ultimate messenger to the ancestors and a cornerstone of Sikerei (shamanic) tradition. Domestic chickens are omnipresent around every Uma (family home) in the forests of Siberut Island. During nighttime, they are kept…

Rattan leaf stalks have been, since immortal times, the tools with which Mentawai people have been grating coconuts. These long-lasting tools grate the coconuts into the required size of flakes. When worn out or broken, a new one will be found and cut in the surrounding forest within half an hour. Interestingly, no reference can be found in literature and the internet for using these leaf stalks for grating coconuts, even not here. Which species of rattan is used for grating stalks? The following characteristics of the preferred type of rattan were observed: Due to a recognizable nose-shaped leaf sheath…

Taro (Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott) is one of the three staple food items of the Mentawai people on Siberut Island in Indonesia. The other two are sago and bananas. In many other countries, taro leaves and corms are eaten. Mentawais prefer just eating corms and eat leaves only occasionally. Before imported tobacco arrived, dried taro leaves were rolled into cigars and used as a stimulant. Taro plants on Siberut Island. Two types of taro cultivars exist: Colocasia sp and Xhantosoma sp. At Siberut Island, most taro types are Colocasia species with one bulb. Mentawais cultivate taro in dedicated patches of…

Roasted sago starch is the staple food for Mentawai people living in the moist, tropical forests of Siberut Island, off the coast of Western Sumatra in Indonesia. On the other hand, sago, boiled to porridge, is eaten as a staple food in areas of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, where rice farming is not possible. Sago Palms Sago palms have already been discussed on our website.  A summary of the most important essential information about sago palms can be summarized as follows: After cutting down a harvestable sago tree, there are always small saplings in the vicinity that…

White Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig) belongs to the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) botanical family. Mentawai people use the crushed stem to clean their hands after touching arrow poison or one of its two poisonous main constituents. In another article on this website, we presented a soap plant from Vietnam, which is also used as a detergent. Plant description The Missouri Botanical Garden describes the White Ginger Lily in its noteworthy characteristics as follows: ‘Hedychium coronarium, commonly called white ginger lily or garland flower, is a rhizomatous tender perennial that may grow to 10’/3m tall in its native habitat, but more…

The Mentawai people use poison on their arrows to hunt game. In previous articles on this website, we discussed the Mentawai people’s hunting methods. Then, we presented an actual hunt for Flying foxes. We then discussed the longbows used on these hunts, the arrows used for different animals, and quivers. In the following section, we will discuss the manufacture of Mentawai arrow poison. Before starting this article, one important fact has to be remembered. The Mentawai people don’t have a written language and only communicate orally. Therefore, a variety of different transcriptions of this vernacular language exist. I wrote the…

Bows and arrows are the primary hunting weapons used by the Mentawai people. Their bows were already described here. This article will explain the different types of arrows used for these bows and give an insight into the quivers used. Another article described arrow poison and its manufacture. Arrow shapes and designs Three types of arrows are used: one designed primarily for monkey hunting, another for wild pig hunting, and one for bird hunting. Arrows for monkey hunting This is the most common arrow type. It is used for hunting monkeys and all other small game that can be penetrated with a…

Boiling water in green bamboo stems (‘culms’ would be the botanically correct term) is not a significant skill, but it represents the basic cooking technique in Southeast Asian forests. One of the following articles will build on that and explain how rice is cooked in bamboo. Another cooking method is using bamboo stems split horizontally in the middle. These traverse bamboo sections are used for advanced primitive cooking methods and will be presented in detail in another article. Bamboo species used for boiling water Generally, bamboo used for boiling water should have a thick wall and long intersections between the…

Hunting bows are the primary hunting weapon for the Mentawai people and are very personal items for a hunter. They have excellent skills in using them and practice shooting from childhood onwards. During my stay with the Mentawais, I looked closely at two of these bows and will describe them in the following. Bow #1 was the hunting bow of Aman Aru and was used to shoot a Flying fox, as described in this article on this website. Bow #2 was the hunting bow of the grandson of Aman Kuki and was also in regular use. The Longbow itself Both…

Flying fox hunting remains a prevalent activity in Indonesia, particularly in Sumatra. Aceh, the northernmost province, is the epicenter of the trade in Flying fox meat. Locals believe that this meat possesses qualities to alleviate asthma, although this claim lacks medical substantiation. Despite this, it perseveres within the local perception. The ‘large flying fox’ (Pteropus vampyrus) is also known as the Greater Flying Fox, Malaysian Flying Fox, Large Fruit Bat, or Kalong. Its description and ecology can be found under this link. The author was on Siberut island, off the coast of Padang in West Sumatra province in Indonesia, with…

The hunting methods of the Mentawai people have developed over about 3000 years. Their ancestors were of a Mongolian race that migrated from Taiwan via the Philippines to modern-day Indonesia. They arrived around 1000 BC at Siberut island in West Sumatra province in Indonesia. These people primarily rely on Sago and Taro as their main food sources. Chickens and pigs are mainly reserved for ceremonial occasions. Consequently, wild animals become essential for protein needs. Despite this, the Mentawai people are selective in their eating habits. They avoid arthropods such as insects, arachnids, centipedes, and animals they deem dirty, like reptiles…

Roof thatching is vital for shelter waterproofing in the Mentawai tribe, which has around 6,000 members, on Siberut Island, Indonesia. Siberut lies about 100 miles (160 km) west of Padang in West Sumatra. Of the 6,000 Mentawai people, roughly 1,000, mainly elders, live traditionally in the Evergreen tropical forests. The younger generation attends schools and must adopt recognized Indonesian religions, leading to a loss of cultural ties. Consequently, they may settle in villages outside the forest. As a result, most traditional family houses might deteriorate, and vibrant shamanism could give way to tourist-oriented hip-hop dances in the future. Our group…