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By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, June 18: With many longhouses favouring modern design and construction materials, Rumah Sambau Mengkak, Ulu Engakri, Lubok Antu is increasingly an outlier.
For many visitors, stepping into the longhouse for the first time will seem like taking a step into a different time, when the traditional tribal lifestyles of the Iban and natives of Sarawak are still very much alive.
That is because spanning the whole stretch of the longhouse’s communal area from one end to the other is a unique wall made of tree bark.
At first glance, the wall appears to be discoloured as is common with wooden walls due to fungus. However, taking a closer look will reveal natural patterns and colouration with neutral white, grey and dark brown colours. No two sections of the wall are alike.
According to longhouse elder Buda Majang, the tree bark used to make the wall is from ‘Puduh’ trees and sourced from the jungle near their longhouse.
“These days, the tree is not easy to find, but it is available if you know where to find it. The bark is easy to peel from the cut timber. Initially, the freshly peeled bark is moist and soft. Once dried, the texture is hard and suitable for making the walls of a house,” he explained to DayakDaily recently.
“Initially, the walls of the longhouse are nothing like this. We used the white laminated veneer wood board. It was clean and modern.
“For tourism and to share how our longhouse ambience was in the past, we decided to have traditional-style decorations and a facelift using the tree bark.”
Buda disclosed that tourism is a part of the residents’ livelihood as it creates revenue for the longhouse.
“We want visitors who come to see and experience our culture so by being a little different and giving them that tribal feeling, it gives our visitors more memorable stay,” he explained.
“This tribal ambience in our longhouse has made it a popular destination, as visitors wanted to see a traditional longhouse, and we made this for them. It is also beautiful as I prefer the design,” he added.
Buda revealed that the tree bark is a strong material, needs no maintenance and can last for a while.
“Many young Iban from the city never see such longhouse design. It has made them proud of their ancestral dwelling style.
“I like to pat the shoulders of our longhouse craftsmen and their ability to show the world that their skills are appreciated. Who knows, they can influence the use of such tribal design in contemporary settings and get people to consult them for their expertise,” he said.
Rumah Sambau Mengkak is a riverine longhouse comprising 31 doors. It has about 300 residents, most of whom engage in farming and agricultural activities.
The longhouse is situated along the Engkari River in Lubok Antu and is a 30-minute boat ride from the Nanga Sapaya longhouse. It is also accessible by logging road or an hour’s boat ride from the Batang Ai hydro dam main jetty. — DayakDaily
