Friday, June 5, 2009

Kayan Burial Hut



About 150 years ago, the Kayans of Sarawak used to inter ( bury ) their dead ones in big burial huts called "Salong" .  Though the custom is not practised now,  the 'totem pole' in which the bones are kept ( in special jars) can be seen around the Sarawak Museum gardens in Kuching.  They can come in single trunk or double-trunk poles.  The picture above shows one that is double-trunk.  Standing about 10 meters from the ground the "Salong" can last for hundreds of years due to the enduring 'belian' wood that is used to carve the designs.  

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