IDNO

D.46297.SKT

Description

A documentary pencil and ink drawing by Skeat of a clay mound which was thrown up during a marriage ceremony at Ayer Itam, Kuala Langat. The mound is "about the height of a man's waist and in the shape of a truncated cone, surmounted by a small globe and knob, so that it was not unlike a gigantic bell and bell-handle" (Skeat and Blagden 1906, Vol. 1, p. 72).
There are dotted lines showing the height of the mound at 3 1/2 Feet. [LC 21/3/2007]

Place

SE Asia; Malaysia; Selangor State; Kuala Langat; Ayer Itam

Cultural Affliation

Orang Asli [historically Besisi]

Named Person

Photographer

Skeat, Walter William [Artist]

Collector / Expedition

Skeat, Walter William

Date

circa 1891 - 1910

Collection Name

Skeat Collection

Source

Skeat, Walter William

Format

Artwork

Primary Documentation

Other Information

Group: The generic contemporary Malaysian term for indigenous inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula, Orang Asli, is used here. The historical group name ‘Besisi’ as used by Skeat for this photograph is in square brackets. [Liana Chua 23/4/2007]

Bibliographical Reference: Further details of the Besisi marriage ceremony can be found in Skeat, W.W. and Blagden, C.O. 1906. Pagan Races of the Malay Peninsula (London: Macmillan), Vol. 2, pp. 69-79. By Skeat’s time, the “mound” ceremony appeared to be nearly obsolete among the Besisi - although he was able to witness one in Ayer Itam, Kuala Langat, Selangor, for which this mound was created. During the ceremony, the bridegroom and bride are processed round the mound. [Liana Chua 21/3/2007]

This print was kept in a box now numbered C153/ by the cataloguer. This box was formerly numbered 160.

P.46282.SKT-P.46360.SKT were found in the envelope now numbered C153/8/.

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Liana Chua 21/3/2007]