Page 56 - The Guide To Sarawak

54
THE PEOPLE
The Iban
By YB Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing
ORIGIN AND HISTORY
The Iban are Sarawak’s largest ethnic group, with
a population of 714,000, or 27.5% of the total population. Formerly known as ‘Sea Dayaks’, they migrated
to Sarawak from West Kalimantan, Indonesia, beginning around the 15th Century. The first area into which they settled was
the Batang Ai region in Sarawak’s Sri Aman Division. From there they spread eastward over the upper reaches of the Katibas, a tributary of the mighty Rejang river, and deep into the interior of Kapit Division. Later they also settled
in Kuching, Lundu, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Limbang and Lawas. Today the Iban are found throughout the length and breadth of Sarawak, but mostly around the lower and river valleys of the State.
The Rejang Iban clashed
An Iban family from Skrang, photographed in the early 20th Century.
with the original inhabitants - the Kayan, the Melanau and other smaller sub- tribes. Hostilities only ended with elaborate peace-making ceremonies, including the slaughter of
pigs, witnessed by Rajah Charles Vyner Brooke in 1924 in Kapit town. The Iban predilection to head hunting and piracy also caused constant problems for the Brooke dynasty. However,
The ruai (inner gallery) of an Iban Longhouse on the A young Iban warrior displays his dancing skills to his Skrang River, circa 1910. friends, Skrang River, 1910.