The Jah Hut of Kampung Kol

My first and only encounter with the Jah Hut Orang Asli, a Senoi sub-tribe, was in Kampung Kol, Jerantut (Pahang) way back in 1976. We were on our way to Taman Negara and stopped by to visit a Universiti Sains Malaysia researcher there and also to donate clothes and food to the villagers.

Marie-Andree Couillard was living with the Jah Hut to study their culture and traditions. She later published her Master's research as "Tradition in Tension; Carving in a Jah Hut Community".

Marie-Andree lived in her own hut there, built by the villagers of Kampung Kol. We noted her very primitive temporary home and kitchen, a reflection of all the other homes there. She kindly invited some of the villagers to show us their wood art - carvings, which we inevitably bought*. Three men also showed us their skill in making their traditional music using flutes. The children were curious and came around to view their visitors. Some of the children were naked and had protruding bellies, signs of undernourishment. But they seemed blissfully happy, like all children should be.

Among the Orang Asli, the Mah Meri and the Jah Hut are well-known for their wood art. Marie-Andree noted that the Jah Hut's modern carvings are based on their traditional beliefs related to the invisible world, more particularly to the bes or illness-causing spirits. She concluded that "the modern carvings illustrate the changes going on in Kampung Kol. They are representations of bes which are intrinsic to Jah Hut's conception of the invisible world, but they are produced so that they can be sold to outsiders. As 'exotic' objects the carvings bring money to the Jah Hut and give them access to the outside world. By the same process it allows this outside world to permeate the Jah Hut community and modify it".

(This post is in progress as I try to learn more about the Jah Hut.)

(Pic)

References:
1. Tradition in Tension; Carving in a Jah Hut Community/Marie-Andree Couillard. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 1980. Ex Libris CNB 0155
2. Peoples and Traditions (The Encyclopedia of Malaysia, vol.12). 2006 Ex Libris CNB 2081
3. Orang Asli and their Wood Art/Anthony Ratos. 2006. Ex Libris CNB 1921

* Note: Sad to say my collection of three bes carvings were 'given away' by my family while I was overseas for some time. So I do not have any beautiful Jah Hut memorabilia from my visit to Kampung Kol except for some slides, courtesy of Dr Afendras. The above pictures (except the last) were developed from these slides.