Cornell University Library Digital Collections
Batu Nyakit (valuable stones) from the bladders of white monkey, shown here in Selungan-clad hands for Tamu (barter trade)
- Title (English):
- Batu Nyakit (valuable stones) from the bladders of white monkey, shown here in Selungan-clad hands for Tamu (barter trade)
- Collection:
- Perema: Digital Museum of Penan Culture
- Set:
- Penan Cultural Digital Museum
The Penan people along the Baram
- Photographer:
- Morrison, Hedda
- Creation Date:
- 1955-1965
- Location:
- Sarawak, Malaysia
- ID Number:
- RMM04516_b15_v01_013
- Collection Number:
- 4516
- File Name:
- RMM04516_b15_v01_013.jpg
- Work Type:
- photographs
- Materials/Techniques:
- black-and-white photographs
- Subject:
- tamu (barter trade)
selungan
Lakau betēē' (hunting)
- Description:
- Batu Nyakit were smooth medicinal stones taken from the stomachs or bladders of white monkeys. Nyakit is the Penan name of the white monkey. They were ground up, mixed with water and used to treat pain. As such, they became very valuable and used for tamu (trade), with a single gram costing several hundred ringgit and coveted by Chinese traders. Real Batu Nyakit should taste bitter.
- Source:
- Image source: 'The Penan people along the Baram' photobook by Hedda Morrison.
Metadata source: Franklin George, Garen Jengan, Toréng Giak and the Penan community of Long Lamai.
- Cite As:
- Hedda Morrison photographs, #4516. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
- Related Work:
- An alternate printing of this image in "Penans of Sarawak" is available as an "additional view".
- Repository:
- Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
- Archival Collection:
- Hedda Morrison photographs
- Box:
- 15
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- Cornell University holds the copyright to this item and provides access to this item for research and personal use. The written permission of any copyright and other rights holders is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use that extends beyond what is authorized by fair use and other statutory exemptions. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of an item and securing any necessary permissions ultimately rests with persons desiring to use the item. Inquiries regarding reproductions of and/or permissions to use this item may be sent to rareref@cornell.edu.
