Cornell University Library Digital Collections
Two people in the forest drinking from a Lakar (liana creeper vine)
- Title (English):
- Two people in the forest drinking from a Lakar (liana creeper vine)
- Collection:
- Perema: Digital Museum of Penan Culture
- Set:
- Penan Cultural Digital Museum
Penans of Sarawak
- Photographer:
- Morrison, Hedda
- Creation Date:
- 1955-1965
- Location:
- Sarawak, Malaysia
- ID Number:
- RMM04516_b15_v02_075
- Collection Number:
- 4516
- File Name:
- RMM04516_b15_v02_075.jpg
- Work Type:
- photographs
- Materials/Techniques:
- black-and-white photographs
- Subject:
- travel
forest
plants
Murip paso (Nomadic way of life)
Penguman (food)
Tawan-tawan tana’ (medicinal plants)
- Description:
- Identified as a posed shot, this photograph was taken during nomadic life. The two individuals pictured appear to be resting and "nisep" (drinking) from "lakar" (vines). Other types of lakar include Lakar Bekelar and Lakar Sebet. This activity is more common at higher altitudes in the mountains, where there are no streams to drink from. The Penan also believe that drinking from lakar gives energy, while drinking from a stream does not. A special technique is needed to cut vines, and only three species provide water: Laka Lahao weeds, Laka Baha, and Lakar Sepula Buan, which is straight, not curvy. Other vines can be poisonous and may cause death. There is also more water in vines during the wet season. The avet (loincloth) worn around the stomachs of the individuals in the photograph were used to provide extra strength when shooting blowpipes, as well as in the staving off of hunger, allowing the Penan to travel a whole day without food.
- Notes:
- "Store fire (tekek), use lighter, when parang crack[s], use that to light fire." "Soongan = place for animal to drink"
- Source:
- Image source: 'Penans of Sarawak' photobook by Hedda Morrison.
Metadata source: Garen Jengan, Toréng Giak, Stephen Bian Belare, Taeng Jengan 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 "The Penan people along the Baram" 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.
