Scan barcode
misspalah's review
5.0
“Almost every night the rhythm of ‘Galong’ and Chanting of the ‘Menisoy’ can be heard somewhere along the Krau River. Thus the Jah Hut are reminded daily, through their music, myths and medical practices of their ancient ties to the land”.
- Bes Hyang Dney and other Jah Hut Stories.
.
.
This is my first introduction to Jah Hut Tribe World that is situated at the Krau River Valley in Pahang. I heard about ‘Jahai’ and ‘Senoi’ but i have no idea about ‘Jah Hut’. For your information, Indigenous people in Malaysia known as ‘Orang Asli’ is the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia. Most people placed them all in one tribe which is a quite a common misconception. This book came to a fruition as Duncan Holoday went to Pahang to study Jah Hut mythology and Language. After the first edition of the book has been published it went for revision and improvement, it got republished under Center for Orang Asli Concerns. The purpose of this book is to record the culture and language of ‘Jah Hut’ people as most parents in ‘Jah Hut’ community want the integration of their kids in the mainstream of Malaysian society but they wanted their kids to learn Jah Hut language and did not forget their traditional ways. Back then, most would just teach their kids orally and practically on what to do and not to do. Due to modernization and globalization, it is losing grip and not that widely practiced anymore. Hence, preservation of these stories in Jah Hut Culture should be in the printed record. I cant remember where i see this quote but it stated like this : “Better imperfectly preserved than lost for good” on regards on keeping it for future generation.All these stories were told by the Late Batin Long together with the illustrations drawn by him on regards of Men, Bes (Illness causing Spirits) and even the Jah Hut Cosmos to demonstrate the origin. There are 4 stories :
1. Bes Hyang Dney - The story is about the first encounter with ‘Bes’.
2. The Creation of the World (Buwayat Hal Usul yang mula sekali) - The world creation and its inhabitants by Ala Taala (God) and Proman (The General of God). Adam were made first, the Papa Iblis and followed up by Siti Hawa, Adam’s companion. The story takes us into the concept of Balance as ‘Bes’ will cause destruction and ‘People’ will fight them to stop the attack. The numbers will even out due to this.
3. The Mythical Tree (Pauh Janggi Beringin Sungsang) - This story depicted the great battle between ‘Jah Hut people’ with ‘Bes’. Once the general shamans managed to lead people to win the battle, all the ‘Bes’ were banished back to the mythical trees.
4. The Tale of the first Shaman (Bongsu Saleh Layang) - Batin Long narrated the story of how the first shaman was chosen among Jah Hut and by lineage, the skills and expertise will be placed to the following son. One of the skills that they got is the ability to see ‘Bes’. This particular skill will help them to cure the tribe if they were being disturbed or infected by ‘Bes’.
Once i finished the book, i felt that it is too short! I want to read more stories
- Bes Hyang Dney and other Jah Hut Stories.
.
.
This is my first introduction to Jah Hut Tribe World that is situated at the Krau River Valley in Pahang. I heard about ‘Jahai’ and ‘Senoi’ but i have no idea about ‘Jah Hut’. For your information, Indigenous people in Malaysia known as ‘Orang Asli’ is the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia. Most people placed them all in one tribe which is a quite a common misconception. This book came to a fruition as Duncan Holoday went to Pahang to study Jah Hut mythology and Language. After the first edition of the book has been published it went for revision and improvement, it got republished under Center for Orang Asli Concerns. The purpose of this book is to record the culture and language of ‘Jah Hut’ people as most parents in ‘Jah Hut’ community want the integration of their kids in the mainstream of Malaysian society but they wanted their kids to learn Jah Hut language and did not forget their traditional ways. Back then, most would just teach their kids orally and practically on what to do and not to do. Due to modernization and globalization, it is losing grip and not that widely practiced anymore. Hence, preservation of these stories in Jah Hut Culture should be in the printed record. I cant remember where i see this quote but it stated like this : “Better imperfectly preserved than lost for good” on regards on keeping it for future generation.All these stories were told by the Late Batin Long together with the illustrations drawn by him on regards of Men, Bes (Illness causing Spirits) and even the Jah Hut Cosmos to demonstrate the origin. There are 4 stories :
1. Bes Hyang Dney - The story is about the first encounter with ‘Bes’.
2. The Creation of the World (Buwayat Hal Usul yang mula sekali) - The world creation and its inhabitants by Ala Taala (God) and Proman (The General of God). Adam were made first, the Papa Iblis and followed up by Siti Hawa, Adam’s companion. The story takes us into the concept of Balance as ‘Bes’ will cause destruction and ‘People’ will fight them to stop the attack. The numbers will even out due to this.
3. The Mythical Tree (Pauh Janggi Beringin Sungsang) - This story depicted the great battle between ‘Jah Hut people’ with ‘Bes’. Once the general shamans managed to lead people to win the battle, all the ‘Bes’ were banished back to the mythical trees.
4. The Tale of the first Shaman (Bongsu Saleh Layang) - Batin Long narrated the story of how the first shaman was chosen among Jah Hut and by lineage, the skills and expertise will be placed to the following son. One of the skills that they got is the ability to see ‘Bes’. This particular skill will help them to cure the tribe if they were being disturbed or infected by ‘Bes’.
Once i finished the book, i felt that it is too short! I want to read more stories
More...