Kitchen knives used by the Bidayuh women in Semban
I was equally astounded by the traditional blades used by the Bidayuh women in Semban. While the shapes of the blades are quite the same to their ‘bigger’ parang cousins, the method in which they are used is artistic. But the biggest surprise to me had to be the use of bamboo as a cutting tool.
Shaped similar to the Bidayuh Parang , even the Bidayuh women’s kitchen knives or ‘Sinark’ (in Bidayuh) has similar shape and characteristics. The blade, long and bent towards the handle, it requires some practice and getting use to master using it. Watching Sagen’s wife, I can’t help but realize how similar it is to how the Penan’s use their small knife (Penat). The end of the handle is tucked close to the body, often in elbow bent.
Sagen’s wife working on a pumpkin using a traditional Bidayuh knife
It comes as no surprise when we were introduced to the ‘Lonok’ or chewing kit. Most women in the village can be seen carrying or at the very least using a ‘Lonok’, consisting of a knife, betel leaves, tobacco and other sorts of ingredients to chew. Attached to the kit is also a knife with a similar shape but often decorated with colors and sometimes carvings.
Note the knife attached to this Bidayuh ‘chewing’ kit (Lonok)
But the biggest surprise for me personally was the use of bamboo pieces as a cutting tool. It was by chance that we stumbled upon a Bidayuh lady, seated comfortably with her granddaughter on her lap slicing tobacco leaves. The tobacco leaves, harvested from the nearby farm was folded carefully and sliced finely for drying. The lady had many pieces of the bamboo by her, ready for use.
A bamboo piece being used to thinly slice folded tobacco leaves for drying- Pic by Meun
A Bidayuh lady working with her bamboo blades while the granddaughter looks on
Well, it is no surprise that she used bamboo for this purpose. Bamboo has many uses, from building materials to cooking pots but this is the first time ever I have ever seen in real life it being used as a cutting tool. I have also heard of bamboo pieces being used as spears, with certain bamboo ‘species’ having the ability to puncture and pierce through animal bones. As the Bidayuh lady continued working on her tobacco, she finally worked through the pile of bamboo pieces she had with her. I was expecting her to start cutting up new pieces of bamboo, instead, she removed a small blade, very similar to the one attached to a ‘Lonok’ and started sharpening her bamboo blades. Happy with the new ‘sharpness’ on the bamboo blade, she continued on with her work.
The Bidayuh lady sharpening her bamboo blade using a metal knife
I wondered by she didn’t just use the metal knife to slice the tobacco leaves. Our guide wasn’t really sure of the real reason but one reason could be the fact that the bamboo blades are free and easy to sharpen. They have been used for such a long time and back then, metal blades would probably be expensive and difficult to obtain.
Bamboo blades…I never thought I’d see one in use ever. It was a real honor watching it being used. We are putting together a video on the blades and will be putting it up really soon.
Other posts/ videos on Semban:
- Part I- A visit to Semban, the village above the clouds
- Part II- The hanging bamboo bridges of Semban
- Part III- The long walk up to Semban
- Part IV- The waterfalls at Semban
- Part V1- The Bidayuh’s traditional cutting tools
- Part V2- The kitchen and bamboo blades of the Bidayuhs in Semban
- Part VI- Traditional bamboo smoking pipe and great food
- Part VII- Sunrise and morning walk around Semban
- Part VIII- Old tools used by the Bidayuhs in Semban
- Part IX- Ladies of the rings in Semban
- Video- The bidayuh’s hill paddy
- Video- The home made wooden pack that carries EVERTHING up Semban!
- Video- Bidayuh’s traditional furnace
- Video- Bidayuh’s traditional blades
Click here and here for more on parangs (and its related subjects) on our blogsite.