Part of the Keruing extraction process
Traditional extraction of the resin from the Keruing tree is a rare sight there days. Keruing (Dipterocarpus kerrii) is an important tree to many cultures because of its many uses resin. The Keruing name is used by the Semelais of Peninsula Malaysia. It is known as Eng in Burma, Apitong in the Phillipines and Yang among the Thais.
The Keruing oil has many applications. In the olden days, it is used to make a light torch, as sealants for making musical instruments, caulking boats and as a varnish (see pic below). Orang Asli has also been known to use the oils for medicinal purposes and the more recent application is in perfume making.
I was fortunate to be with the Semelai (Orang Asal/ indigenous people) during a work trip back in May 09. Our local guide agreed to demonstrate to us how his people have been harvesting this precious oil for generations. In some other Orang Asal communities in Malaysia, such Keruing trees are considered a family heirloom and trespassers can expect a nasty poison dart from a blowpipe if they are not careful.
With development and cheaper alternatives, many Orang Asal have opted to use their hard earned money to purchase alternatives to the Keruing oil. Traditional torches made of Keruing oil is rapidly being replaced by modern, instant alternatives like kerosene lamp and other instant fixes from the hard ware shop.
The Keruing tree spots a rather big ‘man made’ hole in the tree trunk. This is where the oil is harvested.
This hole in the tree is used to harvest Keruing oil
With whatever oil is left in the hole, our guide lit a fire in there, starting off a small flame which within seconds grew into huge fire in the tree!
What started as a small fire…
Within seconds the flame turns really big!
I have never seen anything like this before. The flame, lit in a hole in a live tree was growing bigger by the seconds! The fire acted like a stimulant that encourages the tree to secrete its precious oil. I can literally hear crackling sounds as the oil starts to burn. To extinguish the fire, our guide used some fronds of Palas palm, covering the hole and beating it at the same time. The action somehow created a suction-vacuum that puts out the fire
The Palas frond is used to help extinguish the fire
Fire extinguished…smoldering hole in the Keruing tree
With the fire out, our guide when on to collect Keruing oil into a container. According to him, the tree will continue to secrete the oil for days. With the oil he collected, he went on to demonstrate to us how his people lit their nights in the jungle using a torch made with this very useful Keruing resin
Very interesting, knowing how black the nights are in the jungle i can understand how precious this resource is, thanks for sharing :>)
Interesting..but I feel sympathy to the tree..is there any other way to get the resin..instead of burning it like that..
Hi Pokokkayu…l know the feeling. But the Semelais have been living in tandem with the forest around Lake Bera for more than 600 years. The Keruing oil is an important part of their survival back then. The techniques they use as demonstrated does not harm the tree. A tree ‘belongs’ to a family for generations. The burning is controlled and merely to ’stimulate’ the excretion of the Keruing oil.