Seadajak Parang with rare scabbard

[VVV]

That's a bit odd if it should be Dusun as they didn't produce ilang themselves but acquired them from Sarawak or mostly Kalimantan?
The parang they did manufacture is the gayang with flat sides and usually ornaments on both sides.
Maybe your parang ilang is from one of the coastal tribes in Sarawak instead of Dusun?

Michael

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by VVV

That's a bit odd if it should be Dusun as they didn't produce ilang themselves but acquired them from Sarawak or mostly Kalimantan?
The parang they did manufacture is the gayang with flat sides and usually ornaments on both sides.
Maybe your parang ilang is from one of the coastal tribes in Sarawak instead of Dusun?

Michael

I don't think so, the reason why I think its Dusun ( or Kinabatingan area at least) is that I saw two sword in the KIT wich are in style like mines however mines is a more simple one. They are both decribed as Kinabatangan river. The description in the KIT are mostly very secure. Also the handle has the shape of plate 151 in Hornbill and dragon ( described as Dusun) a lot in common with my example. The Dusun was as far as I know the tribe who lived there in that area. You can recognize them on the triangular shap of the handle,the zig-zag line what mostly on handle and sometimes also on scabbard,the mostly grooved hooks in the carving and the scabbard what wears a square plate with carvings in stead of the mostly triangular shape of other tribes.Mostly carved with flowermotifs or stars.
Can you show me an example of the parang Gayang?

Arjan

see link http://collectie.tropenmuseum.nl/nBa...=&culturenode=

[VVV]

I base my comment on both Evans' and Rutter's ethnographic works describing weapon production among the Dusun.
According to them if it's an ilang then it's most likely "imported" from another tribe outside North of Borneo.
Here are two examples of what might be a Gayang.

Michael

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by VVV

I base my comment on both Evans' and Rutter's ethnographic works describing weapon production among the Dusun.
According to them if it's an ilang then it's most likely "imported" from another tribe outside North of Borneo.
Here are two examples of what might be a Gayang.

Michael

Hi Michael,

Also Rutter writes that some of the pagan blacksmiths have learnt their manufacture and occasonally turn out weapons of good workmanship.

On the other way the work of Rutter is mainly written around 1920 that was a times where the North part of Borneo was changing by trade, British rulers who has forbidden headhunting and other influences.
Its possible that the mandaus I mentioned are made before this time.
Mines has a coin from 1907 ( which doesn't proof of course that its made in 1907)

In my opinion the style ( in carving,not the blades) is to different from the Iban.The baldes of the gayang you show looks to be imported form the west indeed but maybe where decorated with Dusun designs?

[VVV]

Originally Posted by mandaukudi

...Also Rutter writes that some of the pagan blacksmiths have learnt their manufacture and occasonally turn out weapons of good workmanship... (snip)
...In my opinion the style ( in carving,not the blades) is to different from the Iban.The baldes of the gayang you show looks to be imported form the west indeed but maybe where decorated with Dusun designs?

Arjan,

Please also have a look in Evans page 189-190 to get the overall picture of my conclusion.
On Rutter's comment I understand that it refers more to gayang than the ilang?
Your opinion quoted above, as I understand it, I find very probable.
That even if the blades maybe were imported the decorations (=dress, hilt, carvings) are locally made and Dusun.
Similar to the trade blades in the keris world.
In several Kalimantan sources we read that the best ilang blades were traded to other tribes...

Michael

[Mytribalworld]

Originally Posted by VVV

Arjan,

Please also have a look in Evans page 189-190 to get the overall picture of my conclusion.
On Rutter's comment I understand that it refers more to gayang than the ilang?
Your opinion quoted above, as I understand it, I find very probable.
That even if the blades maybe were imported the decorations (=dress, hilt, carvings) are locally made and Dusun.
Similar to the trade blades in the keris world.
In several Kalimantan sources we read that the best ilang blades were traded to other tribes...

Michael

Hi Michael,

I don't have Evans here at hand, but whatever he writes know that he based his work mainly on the Tempasuk Dusun ( where he was located) and other coastal groups of Dusun. Kinabatangan is a whole different area. The Dusun around the Kinbatangan are from the other Dusun groups living inland.

I think that its good possible that the "parang gayang" was the trade parang and was obtained from kampong Gayang what quite close at the coast in Sabah.
see link http://www.maplandia.com/malaysia/sabah/kampong-gayang/

The Dusun mandau I ahve seen have blades that looks like the blades from the Baram rivergroups. I don't think that the Dusun blacksmith where able to produce such masterpieces. The blade of my example is very simple and I can imagine that its possible that its made locally. Its hollow but not that way like a good kayan or kenyah blade.

Arjan.

[VVV]

Hi Arjan,

It's correct that Evans was based in West Sabah but the problem is that I don't know of anybody who did any research on the Eastern Dusun. Do you?
Also naming a group of people living in such a widespread area as Dusun overall is problematic.
Having travelled myself in both of these areas I find it probable that a lot of the trade along the river of Kinabatangan might have originated from the vivid commercial metropol of Sandakan. This means that among the Eastern Dusun probably a lot more of direct Sulu influence was present than on the West side where Brunei were more influential in trade items? All villages are located close to the river today and I find it hard to believe that it was different 100+ years ago based on the dense jungles. I tried to get permission from the local guides when there to take a jungle walk but they explained to me that it was too dense and no paths. So from what I have experience this area is quite different from for instance along the Mahakam river in Kalimantan where there are a lot of paths between villages and not everything centers around the river.
On the trade blades I am of the complete different opinion based on the books I referred to. Have you found any other source or why do you think that the simpler, only locally produced parang was the trade version?
On your blade I hope to see it next time we meet to comment it further on how hollow it is etc.

Michael