Jungle vines & rattan for cordage; Lessons from a Sarawak

A coil of wild rattan put aside ready for use

Natural jungle vines and rattan has long been used by people as cordage to tie and lash things together. And I got a first hand experience it’s application during a trip into the interior jungles of Sarawak. The ability to utilize these jungle produce demonstrate exceptional adaptability and confidence.

Before the introduction of raffia strings and other types of synthetic ropes, jungle vines, rattan, some tree barks and roots probably made up most of the cordage for use by the rainforest people. It may be obvious how they discovered it but the knowledge of how to identify the right one for the job never ceases to amaze me.

It is a shame I was not able to record how the local guides choose, harvest and prep the items for use. I was too busy setting up my little ‘hammock’ paradise as the day was already getting dark and I prefer not to fiddle around in darkness.

All the shelters and structures were built ready the following morning. It is amazing how strong the natural cordage hold the structures together. From shelter masts to hammock bed frames, everything was held together by plant fibers.

I manage to take some pictures of some of the cordages used at the camp site.

This piece of jungle vine was used to hold two pole bed frames (side by side) together

U 'guyline'. Not sure what knot being used though

The guides used almost 100% natural cordage

This is a piece of rattan used to tie a tarp down

The size of the pieces of wood held together by rattan

Another application of natural jungle cordage

In the pursue to learn bushcraft skills, especially native jungle skills such as this…I doubt if it will ever be possible to learn and document everything. There are far too many variety of natural resources available in the jungle. Too much to learn, identify and try out. Once gone, these skills would probably be lost forever.


Continue reading other parts of this adventure below:

• First time in Miri Town, Sarawak
• Wild durian & Kolok mee at Miri.
• 5 hours on a 4WD into interior off Miri.
• Unique local houses in Sarawak interior.
• Smoked wild boar…nice!
• Loooong hike to look for an elusive waterfall.
• Sarawak river boats and a raging river.
• Jungle vines and rattan used in the jungles of Sarawak.
• Umbut or heart of palm tasting, first experience.
• Harvesting of the umbut by the Penan.
• Malat & Penat; the Penan’s blades.
• Kitchen in a traditional house.
• Video on jungle kitchen & feather stick making.

Click here to read about another rainforest adventure in Semban, Sarawak.