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 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. Continue reading Jungle vines & rattan for cordage; Lessons from a Sarawak  Terap tree fibers makes excellent jungle cordage There are many types of natural jungle cordage available if one knows where to look. Besides the usual vines and rattan, another good source of cordage is from the Terap (Artocarpus) tree. The method of stripping the Terap tree bark for cordage is something I have heard of many times but never had the opportunity to witness in real life…that is until recently.  There's 'em water in the bamboo grass “Bamboo is another sure source of drinking water in the jungle”…well, that’s what people say anyway. So, we decided to give it a go to see how true it is during a recent walk in the jungle.  Our Orang Asal guide proudly showing off his Keruing torch It was an amazing experience watching an Orang Asal makes a jungle torch using the resin of a Keruing tree. The Semelais may have relied on this jungle torch for hundreds of years to ensure their safety and comfort during the nights of the rainforest jungle. Watching him take his time making the torch makes me wonder how long this jungle skill will continue to be practice among his people. Continue reading Making a traditional jungle torch from Keruing tree oil  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. Continue reading Traditional Keruing tree resin extraction by the Orang Asal of Malaysia  The fibers from a Terap tree has many uses and applications During a trip into the jungles of Pahang, I was fortunate to have Pak Abu demonstrate to me how the fibers of a Terap tree are harvested. Terap tree is from the Artocarpus genus covering more than 60 trees is commonly found in South East Asia. Some of its members includes the Nangka (Jack fruit), durian Belanda (Breadfruit) and Cempedak. I am fascinated with this plant because the fibers are the very ones used to make the seals (or ‘O’ rings) of the fire pistons. Unlike my ‘Birch bark‘ box that I made, completing my carved wooden spoon was not an easy task. The guava wood is really hard. Thank God I have my absolutely sharp carbon steel Mora knife. But then again, with a super sharp knife my internal ‘alarm’ senses becomes extra sensitive each time I slice pieces of shavings from the wood. A sharp knife however is said to be much a much safer tool because a dull knife would require more energy and force hence increasing the risk of accidents.  Guava wood is quite a hard wood This is my first attempt at a hand carved wooden spoon from scratch. I decided to give it a go at after seeing someone doing it on youtube. It did not look easy but I decided to give it a go anyway. I needed a piece of wood to make my wooden spoon. It so happen that we (me, Moon & Sox) were back in my hometown in Kedah when I noticed the big piece of guava tree wood I picked up a couple of months earlier was still sitting at the corner of the yard. Lucky me. The guy on youtube was using a Mora viking (carbon steel) knife to do his carving. The way he handles the knife was like second nature. I have a similar knife but my skills are nowhere near that guy (hobbexp on YouTube). Part of my interest for adventures in Malaysia is also to learn traditional skills and indigenous knowledge. This interest has been fueled further by knowledgeable Pak Abu (Bod) who has shared many things with me. One of the things that he has taught me before is making fire by friction more specifically…the bow drill. So, recently Meun helped to record my practicing this skill of making fire using a bow drill. And the best thing is that I got it on my first try, which is great compared to the numerous times it took me the last time. I have set my next challenge. I am thinking of walking into the jungle one day and attempt to make fire using exactly this method but utilizing materials from that jungle only. I think this would be a great challenge as it will be in a real rainforest environment, with high humidity and rain. Anyway, would appreciate comments, suggestions and ideas about how to improve my methods.  A fire piston from Malaysia This is a Malaysia fire piston I purchased from a local indigenous maker in Pahang. Also known as a fire syringe or ‘Api Lantak’ (hitting fire), this piece was made by order as a souvenir. Obviously this piece has been shellacked to make it look nicer but the wood itself is a natural yellowish color. The maker has also ‘creatively’ added a small storage area attached to the cylinder to hold some tinder. Continue reading Fire Piston Malaysia; An indigenous fire making tool |
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