Bakok (Jahai language) is a jungle trap made of rattan used by the Jahai people. I chance upon this trap while visiting an Orang Asal village in Perak. Curious, I got one of the villagers Mr Lan to explain to me how it works. This intricate [...]]]>

Mr Lan demonstrating the Bakok trap made of rattan

Bakok (Jahai language) is a jungle trap made of rattan used by the Jahai people. I chance upon this trap while visiting an Orang Asal village in Perak. Curious, I got one of the villagers Mr Lan to explain to me how it works. This intricate looking trap is used on small to large game, from squirrel to larger monkeys even.

Most Orang Asal uses trap to catch animals for their own consumption. This particular trap is designed for squirrels. According to Mr Lan, larger sized Bakok is made (same design) to catch larger animals.

The size of the Bakok trap at the village

What amazed me was the amount of detail that goes into making this trap. Rattan used was shaped carefully and finer rattan cordage was used to hold parts of it together. Like most traps, this trap is placed on a ‘moving’ path of an animal. In this case, this particular trap is meant for small animals like squirrel. So, Lan decided to show me how the trap works.

Using a piece of wood to simulate a tree branch that a squirrel uses to ‘walk’ on, the trap is set by tying it vertically to the wood

The trap being tied to the piece of 'animal path'

A natural branch or one that is cut and placed nearby is used as a ’spring’. Cordage is then tied to the ’stressed’ spring. From the end of the spring, there will be two working ends of the cordage, one functions as a noose while the other to hold the trigger and ’stress’ from the spring.

Both ends of the cordage being used on the trap

The trigger is then set-up to the trap’s own trigger mechanism, which consists of a fine cordage (in this case fishing line was used). The set-up is as shown in picture below:

The Bakok trap mechanism

When the animal moves along, it will squeeze through the trap, triggering the fine cordage (because it is in the middle of the ‘trap’ and cannot be avoided). This will result in the ‘release’ of the other ’stressed’ trigger piece. The pull from the spring’ will tighten the cordage, choking the animal as it is being pulled upwards of the trap.

The triggered Bakok trap.

According to Lan, for larger animals, the trap user will make a bigger sized trap (of the same shape) and set it up the same way except this time, they use leafs to ‘block’
the sides of the ‘path’. This will then force the animal to squeeze through the trap, triggering the mechanism.

Leafs being used to 'camouflage and 'force' the animal to walk through it

With larger animals, this trap usually catches on to the hand or head of the animal. Will post a video on how this rattan trap is used soon.

Other traditional traps on this blog:

• Ekop
• Tilong

A face net or face veil (some people call it Shemagh) can be used to make a simple trap for river prawns. There are several methods to catch river prawns with a net like this. During a trip to test out my minimum kit , I decided [...]]]>

Some of the river prawn caught and cooked

A face net or face veil (some people call it Shemagh) can be used to make a simple trap for river prawns. There are several methods to catch river prawns with a net like this. During a trip to test out my minimum kit , I decided to try making a prawn trap similar to the bigger ones used on rice field waterways.

The face net is something useful. I like them because they dry fast and very handy when walking out in the open. Use them to cover your head and face and you get a very effective shade and sun blocker. Not to mention, they can also be used to cover the face when sleeping in the jungle without a mosquito net.

I used all materials I can find around with me to make this trap. The face net was spread out on four corners using bamboo pieces. The tip of the bamboo pieces we tied to the corners of the face net with rubber bands and other cordage I found lying around.

Bamboo pieces tied to the corners of the face veil

River prawns are almost nocturnal (I think). During day time, it is almost impossible to see them roaming around on the river bed. At night however, I noticed there were many picking up on food bits  at the spot where I cleaned by billy.  To lure them into the trap, I used some pieces of bread wrapped in gauze from my First Aid Kit. The ‘bait sachets’ were then tied towards the middle of the trap.

I made the entire trap in the wee hours of the morning. Before sunrise. I wanted to try out the trap as well as have the prawns for breakfast. With a rock to weigh down the net in the middle, I gently place the trap inside the river.

The trap with a rock to weigh down the middle in the river

Less than 5 minutes later, I was already collecting enough prawns to fill my bamboo container. It worked better than I imagined! I could have caught more but factually, I am not in a survival situation, hence no need to deplete the river of the prawns. For a simple trap like that and the amount of prawns I caught, I’d day I am a happy camper.

One of the catches in the trap

Well, this river prawn trap worked but I doubt if I can ever get enough for a meal. Then again, in a survival situation…we can’t be choosers rite?

Stored on the roof of a hut on a farm in Semban are a pile of traps I have not seen before. It was my second visit to Semban village in Sarawak and local Semban guide Glen explains to me how Tilong, a trap made of [...]]]>

Glen, a local Semban explaining the use of Tilong

Stored on the roof of a hut on a farm in Semban are a pile of traps I have not seen before. It was my second visit to Semban village in Sarawak and local Semban guide Glen explains to me how Tilong, a trap made of bamboo is used for small game like jungle rats and squirrel. Best of all, this bamboo trap is a stand alone unit and lasts for a long time!

Bamboo traps like Tilong is important to villagers of Semban for two reasons. One…they help to control animals that raid farms and destroy crops. Two…they help to supplement protein, something that is rather hard to come by when one is living up in the high mountains.

The Tilong shapes like a small violin. With suitable bait securely fasten to the trigger bamboo pin inside the trap ‘hole’, numerous numbers of Tilong is placed (according to Glen, sometimes up to 20 pcs) scattered in areas around the farms.

Some of the Tilong traps that belongs to Glen

It is difficult for me to explain how the trap works, so I decided to capture Glen explaining how to set a Tilong on video. It will be posted in the next post.

If you want to read more about Semban, see the below:

• 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

Every wondered how jungle traps, when set are marked to warn others? There are a few Orang Asal villages I have visited that still uses traps as means to hunt game. While some traps like snares are less harmful to human beings, there are other traps that inflicts some serious injuries. [...]]]>

Spot the trap marker

Every wondered how jungle traps, when set are marked to warn others? There are a few Orang Asal villages I have visited that still uses traps as means to hunt game. While some traps like snares are less harmful to human beings, there are other traps that inflicts some serious injuries. In order to mark and warn others about the trap, some of the Semais in Perak fashions a ‘pointy marker’ to do the job.

It is important to mark the locations of animal traps for obvious reasons. In the jungle, it also serves as a reminder to the hunter where he/she has placed it. After a while walking in the jungle, one can easily miss a location. It is common when a hunter goes out to set traps, he/ she will set up numorous sets.

By using two pieces of stick, a Semai will mark the whereabouts of his/ her trap similar to how we would normally use a road sign. The only difference is that the signs used in the jungle does not have wordings on it and one would have to know the local ‘language’ to read the markers.

A marker placed by a Semai, pointing to the direction of the trap

The above is one of the many markers placed by a Semai hunter along a trail in the jungles of Perak. We initially thought it was a marker telling others the direction to follow, instead, our local guide explained that it is actually a marker telling others there is a deadly tap inside. The sharpened end of the short piece of stick tells the use of a ’stabbing’ type of trap, probably armed with a spear like tip.

I wondered what would have happened if me and Jan treaded this trail without a local guide. What would have happened if we followed the direction of the marker, following the faint trail it was pointing to. I am curious to as how ‘deadly’ this trap is. Our guide however insisted that it is not safe to go in and explore as some of the traps laid are highly concealed. Okay…we decided that perhaps getting stabbed by sharpened bamboos meant for game is the last thing we wanna get ourselves into.

Further down the trail, we came to yet another marker. Near to a small creek and clearing, this marker consists of two pieces of sharpen bamboo. One of the pieces pointing slightly upwards. It turns out that this indicates that there are two traps within the vicinity and both are deadly. One of the other traps however is located further inside, hence the slight point upwards.

This trap marker indicates that there are two deadly traps within the vicinity

Another deadly jungle trap marker along the trail

There are also markers to mark non-deadly traps. The Semais in the area normally uses green leaves  in replacement or with the bamboo arrow.

Green leaves used to mark jungle traps that are not so lethal

I have seen this sort of markers elsewhere but they are normally used to indicate travel directions. Here in Perak, some of the Semais actually uses them to mark and identify their jungle traps. This is a reminder that whenever one treads on unfamiliar jungle areas, it is best to have a local guide to walk with.

The start of the trail leading to Kenip waterfall begins just behind one of the Kampung Kenip huts, covered with low shrubs and foliage. Just a few minutes of walking later, the landscape changed. The green blanket we walked through at the beginning slowly changed to gold. Surrounding us was [...]]]>

The Semais main staple…hill padi

The start of the trail leading to Kenip waterfall begins just behind one of the Kampung Kenip huts, covered with low shrubs and foliage. Just a few minutes of walking later, the landscape changed. The green blanket we walked through at the beginning slowly changed to gold. Surrounding us was a sea of hill padi. The stroll turned out to be a very educational jungle walk.

Big areas, just behind the village have been cultivated with hill padi. We were practically walking through their rice bowl!

The hill padi planted by the Semais

Hill padi being dried under the sun

Rows and rows of hill padi

We soon entered the ‘jungle’ backyard of the village. One thing for sure, there’s lots of bamboos here. Not surprising that bamboo was the villager’s main building material. Very evident in the huts they build.

The useful bamboo everywhere

Rahim made prior arrangements with Pak Dollah to guide us into the waterfalls. A village elder, I had a long chat with Pak Dollah in my car as we drove to Kampung Kenip. Already a grandfather, this fit looking gentleman is told me he used to stay in an area very remote in the jungle, until the government encourage them to move out. I asked him if he feels that life is better now. No is his answer. He feels that it is more difficult to feed himself and his children. Hunting is bad and everything is expensive. But he does however appreciate the fact that medical help is much more accessible now. Pak Dollah still hunts with his blowpipe and I asked him to tell me more about the jungle during our walk, whenever there’s opportunity.

All Pak Dollah was carrying is his parang. Nothing fancy as well. Not long into our walk, he stopped to the side of the trail and stared at some bamboo shrubs. I assume he saw a snake or something but said to me…”Inilah buluh temiang…buat sumpit” (this is the Temiang bamboo, use to make blowpipe). He went on to describe the bamboo and the blowpipe to me.

What’ amazing about this bamboo is that it is small in diameter, light (thin wall), relatively straight and has a good length inter-nodes. Normal bamboos I have seen have inter-nodes about 30cm in length but this particular Buloh Temiang is at least a meter in length! I believe the scientific name for this bamboo is Poaceae Schizostachyum jaculans, also known as ‘buloh sumpitan’ in other communities.

Long internodes on the Temian bamboo. Pak Dollah hands are at the nodes of the bamboo

Me holding the nodes on a piece of Temiang bamboo. No wonder they use this bamboo for blowpipes- pic by Jan

The hike was mostly gradual uphill climb. For a person about 60 years old ( though he claims he is older than that!), Pak Dollah seems much fitter than any of us!. Later along the trail, Pak Dollah stopped and pointed at a tree. “Pokok Ipoh…racun sumpit”. This is the tree where the poisons for the blowpipes darts are obtained. The cut marks on the tree trunk is evident that the tree is being harvested

Pak Dollah beside the Ipoh tree

The sap from Pokok Ipoh

This is an interesting jungle walk no doubt. It was becoming more of a bushcraft jungle walk to me. Closer to the waterfall, we walked pass a trapped (unfortunately dead) porcupine. It looks like a snare, made out off thick fishing line caught the left rear leg of the animal. Could this would be a young Himalayan Porcupine (Hystrix brachyura)?

The porcupine size, compare to my parang

The snare still attached to the animal leg

We left the animal as it is. The Orang Asal will surely come back to check the trap later on. We continued walking and not long after, we arrived at the Kenip Waterfall No. 2.

Continue reading…

Part I – A visit to Semai’s village at Pos Betau

Part II – The remote Kampung Kenip

Part IV – The waterfalls at Kenip

Final part – Hill rice, blow pipe & traditional fire starter of the Semais

Having watched it once done by Les Stroud, I can’t say that I really know what mechanism that really ‘makes’ the trap. All [...]]]> This is my first attempt making a figure 4 deadfall trap. The idea has been lingering in my head for quite some time after watching one of Les Stroud’s Survivorman series on Youtube.

Having watched it once done by Les Stroud, I can’t say that I really know what mechanism that really ‘makes’ the trap. All I know for sure is that it looks like a figure 4. I found a few more clips on youtube on the same trap, so…based on my memory, I attempted to make my first set at Sox’s Island.

Unfortunately, me and Meun brought Sox along (after all, it is her island). So, while I try to concentrate on making the trap, my mind was even more pre-occupied with Sox’s endless running exploring the place.

20 minutes into making the trap in the jungle, I had to give up. Me and Meun are just too worried that Sox may wander off, never to be found. Sox we love and not willing to loose.

So, many hours later, while watching TV, I picked up my Carbon Steel Mora and begin carving a set of figure ‘4’ deadfall trap from some leftover processed wood I got a few months back from the hardware shop for a home DIY project.

The pieces of wood and my Mora knife

The wood that I am using isn’t all that easy to work with. They are rather hard. But I was determined and my sharp carbon steel Mora really helped to make work faster and safer. There are 3 main pieces. Two that’s generally of the same length and the other is the longest that makes the horizontal piece of the ‘figure 4’ and is also the trigger for the whole trap. Below are pictures of the trap’s assembly.

Note the batteries at the end of the horizontal piece. Bait goes there

Note that there is a notch made, somewhat in the middle of the horizontal piece. I initially missed this part and scratched my head how to get the whole trap to work. See below for a clearer picture of the ‘notch’. The notch is not too deep though. It helps to make the ‘trap’ extra sensitive.

Don’t forget this notch!

Well, a little bit of fine tuning here and there and I finally manage to test out my deadfall trap. Below is a picture of the set-up.

So…what’s next? I would really like to try this trap out in the jungle. Curios to what kind of jungle animal I may catch. In the videos on Youtube, most uses a big heavy rock with a flat underside (to flatten the catch). Not so easy to find such rocks in the jungle (probably a good chance in Tioman’s jungle), so perhaps improvisation is the modus operandi. I am thinking of building a simple cage of bamboo or wood which is heavy enough to keep the catch inside.

Yup…can’t wait to go back into the jungle to try out my figure ‘4’ deadfall trap. But of course, the next time around, I will be using natural wood from the jungle and not wood from the hardware shop. Can’t wait….