Asia Beauty Spot – Asia Scenery

In Sarawak, the Dayaks as a whole can be subdivided into numerous group. Dayak which means upstream or inland, is used as a blanket term by the Islamic coastal population for over 200 tribal groups. Typically, they live in longhouses, traditional community homes that can house 20 to 100 families.

Iban – The Iban are the largest group make up about 30% fo the population in Sarawak and were previously called Sea-Dayaks because of their association with costal regions. They were once the legendary warriors of Borneo; the most feared of the headhunting tribes. Thankfully they now no longer headhunt, and have adopted a peaceful agrarian lifestyle. The Ibans traditional settlements are located in the river valleys of Batang Ai, the Skrang River, Saribas, and the Rajang River. The Ibans are well known for their intricately-built longhouses normally located near a river, which are made up of a longhouse that are compartmentalised into individual units. These longhouses may have anywhere between six to nearly a hundred units! Longhouses located in newly opened areas are typically made of bamboo and tree bark, but more established and prosperous longhouses can be made of precious and long-lasting hardwoods.

Bidayuh – The Bidayuhs formerly known as the “Land Dayaks”. They consist of many groups and sub-groups, with the main groups consisting of the Bukar-Sadung of Serian District, Bau-Jagoi of Bau District and Salako-Lara of Lundu District. These different groups speak multiple of dialects, which further distinguishes between the different sub-groups that exist. It is believed that the Bidayuhs were the first people to settle in Sarawak In the past, the Bidayuhs have been known to work the land, shifting their agricultural and hunting bases every so often, in areas surrounding their permanent villages. Their gentleness and simplicity in the life of the Bidayuhs endears them to everyone they meet!

Melanau – Then there are the Melanau fisherman of the littorals of Central Sarawak, and the multitude of upriver tribes who collectively form the Orang Ulu, which are the people of the headwaters; the nomadic Penan, guardians of the rainforest. They have remained as a remnant population of traditionally nomadic hunter-gatherers, and have managed to maintain this lifestyle despite the influence and encroachment of modern living.