Penan

Penan

ETHNONYMS: Pennan, Poenan, Poonan, Pounan, Punan

Orientation

The Penan consist of one large ethnic group of nomadic forest people living in Borneo's interior; they may be distinguished from other "Punan" (a general term for Bornean forest dwellers) by language and other cultural features. Most live in Sarawak, though some live in Kalimantan and Brunei. Their range is approximately 2°45′ to 4°15′ N and 113°25′ to 115°50′ E. The Penan recognize two main groups among them, and these may be called the East Penan and the West Penan; the groups are culturally distinct and are geographically separated by the Baram River. The Penan hold no exclusive territory, but rather live alongside other groups. There are approximately seventy small Penan groups, and total population likely falls under 3,000 people. Overall migratory inclination has been in the direction of the China Sea. The Penan habitat consists of climax forest with streams and rivers. The Penan language belongs to the Kenyah Group, and includes two dialects (Eastern and Western, spoken by the two main groups respectively), dialects that are sometimes mutually intelligible. Much linguistic borrowing has taken place from settled populations nearby.

History and Cultural Relations

The Penan know little about their history, but probably they arrived in their present location by traveling through the Lio Matu area from Pejungan. The trend toward settlement and agriculture has a long history, and this trend has been encouraged by colonial governments. The Penan have occupied settlements on the Niah, Suai, and Buk rivers since the early nineteenth century. Western Penan can trace their genealogies that far back as well. Assimilation is occurring at an increasing rate. Both Eastern and Western Penan have borrowed cultural features from the settled longhouse dwellers. They secure their manufactured trade goods from settled patrons, who profit greatly from the Penan's gathered goods.

Settlements

Eastern Penan build a semipermanent base camp inside a new territory; from there they move around the forest using a series of temporary camps. The base camp serves also as a storage facility. Western Penan, in contrast, live in a settlement for as long as two years; groups of one or two families each spread out from the camp to gather forest products, leaving the sick and elderly behind. Penan houses are made of saplings, and roofed with palm leaves; Eastern Penan build their houses on pilings, and Western Penan on the ground.

Economy

The Penan staff of life is the wild sago, which grows in lower elevations and sporadically in the mountains. Animals are hunted as well, using spears and blowguns with poisoned darts, though firearms are becoming common. The game is primarily gibbons and macaques, though the wild pig is most desired. Fish are caught with hook and line, as well as poisoned with derris root. Food is shared. The Western Penan also make iron tools. The Penan trade with Kenyah people at the latter's longhouses three times annually, giving such things as hornbill feathers, wild latex, damar, and anteater scales. In return, they receive, at a disadvantageous rate, spearheads, knives, cookware, jewelry, matches, etc. Goods that they receive in trade are not shared. Land is not owned, but goods that the Penan trade with others are the property of the collectors. The Penan do not prevent other people from using the land that they themselves use.

Kinship

The Penan have no descent groups. Kinship is reckoned bilaterally, but patrilineal links are more important than matrilineal ones; offspring take their father's name.

Marriage and Family

The Penan allow marriage outside the nuclear family; also, Eastern Penan may marry their first cousins, but Western Penan may not. Polygyny is accepted, but rare. Marriage to another member of the same group is desirable. Marriage does not entail ceremony or official approval. Ideally, the groom should pay a bride-price of swords, blowguns, etc., but this is rarely done. Postmarital residence is with the wife's group for a year if different from the husband's group. The domestic unit is the nuclear family. Divorce takes place at the choice of either party. With little to inherit, there are no formal rules of inheritance; siblings and offspring decide among themselves who is to have what goods.

Sociopolitical Organization

The Penan group has an official headman, but he is without much power. His office is frequently passed from father to son. There is no political organization above the level of the group. The Penan have no formal means of ensuring social control.

Religion and Expressive Culture

The Penan creator divinity is Peselong. The Western Penan believe that their society originated in the upper Lua river region. The Penan cure illness through a shaman (dayung ), who removes illness-producing spirits from the sick. Christianity has spread to some Penan groups since World War II.

See also Kenyah-Kayan-Kajang

Bibliography

Hoffman, Carl (1986). The Punun: Hunters and Gatherers of Borneo. Ann Arbor, Mich.: UMI Research Press.

Needham, Rodney (1972). "Penan." In Ethnic Groups of Insular Southeast Asia, edited by Frank M. LeBar. Vol. 1, Indonesia, Andaman Islands and Madagascar, 176-180. New Haven: HRAF Press.

DANIEL STROUTHES