Why Do Dayak People Have Long Ears?

 

City Walk, Jakarta, 2018.

The sun that heats up the earth of Jakarta seems to be an illusion. Because we in the air-conditioned room didn't feel it. A corner. There are still numbers of Jalan Sudirman. In Star Buck. While sipping coffee. The afternoon chat led to a book. Which perpetuates the story of the long-eared Dayak man.

Read Pampang Cultural House, East Kalimantan

My best friend is not a real Dayak. His name: Ati Bachtiar. She showed me the drat of her. "How is this, brother?"

"Go ahead!" I said.

"About the content?"

"If it is the result of your research, just confident!"

If there are no more long-eared Dayak humans. What are the physical characteristics that distinguish it from monkeys and orangutans?

Thus came the book of luxury. Titled Long Ear Step Trail. Full color. Lux paper. Pure white. Which visually narrates how Dayak people could have long ears, in the past.

It is called "the past", because now the sight has been very rare. One or two more long-eared Dayak humans. Young people, it's not anymore.

***

One of those long-eared Dayak humans: Samson.

He was a Kenyah. He is now 71 years old. Arguably, the guard of the betang / lamin house in Pampang, Samrinda, East Kalimantan.

"This hollow ear has meaning," he explained.

"If it's a man, it's not long dangling. Just short. For he went to the forest. If it is long, get stuck in a wooden branch or roots, or shrub," he explained.

Dayak people with long ears are becoming rarer.

The author of this feature together with the long-eared Dayak man who is now increasingly rare: Samson.

I heard it intently. In front of the lamin of Pampang village (21/05-2021), Samson softened. 

"The female one, because of staying at home, the length of the ears."

Then what is the philosophy of long-eared Dayak man?

"To distinguish it from orangutans or monkeys," explained Samson.

I admire his answer. In addition to mannerisms and attitudes. It turns out that many Dayak ideas distinguish themselves from orangutans and monkeys.

One of them, through: long ears.

Well, later. Going forward. If there are no more long-eared Dayak humans. What are the physical characteristics that distinguish it from monkeys and orangutans?