APPENDICES

 APPENDIX 1: THE ORIGIN OF PEOPLE

Long ago, Pageta Sabbou had two sons[216]. One was called Malapapui and the other Betuogbuk. Malapapui worked in the jungle all day using rattan, bananas, durian and sago. Betuogbuk worked in the house, he made things out of iron; knives, axes, chain saws, nails and the like.

One day Malapapui returned home from the jungle exhausted. He wanted to sleep, but that was impossible because Betuogbuk was chopping iron, making a lot of noise. Malapapui became very angry, he took the iron and threw it away, out of the house where it could not be found again. Betuogbok became angry as well and they started to fight. Pageta Sabbou heard the noise and separated his sons. From that time on they lived in three houses. Pageta Sabbou and his wife continued to live in the old house, but each of his sons had to build himself a house of his own. Before they left they both had to make a promise. Malapapui had to sell jungle products to Betuogbuk and Betuogbuk had to sell iron products to Malapapui.

They lived on in this way, father and mother died. What happened to Betuogbuk is unknown, but he became the ancestor of the Western people, probably some of them know what happened him.

Malapapui had two sons. One was the ancestor of all the Indonesian peoples, the other was the ancestor of the Mentawaians. The ancestor of the Mentawaians was called Butekleleu and the ancestor of the Indonesian peoples Tuan Allah.

One day Butekleleu was eating pork, his brother was not home and so Butekleleu set a dish of meat apart for his brother in a cupboard. When Tuan Allah arrived home he saw that Butekleleu had been eating pork and he asked if there was any left for him. Butekleleu told him that his share was in the cupboard. But the pork had gone bad. Tuan Allah became very angry and while he cut in two a piece of rattan he spoke a magical formula, saying: "If ever I eat pork again, I will die from it!" Pork became a taboo for him and he became Muslim.

Butekleleu was enraged over all this and he heated the pointed end of an axe blade in the fire and trusted it in Tuan Allah’s arse when he was praying. They fought ferociously and decided to split up. Their parents had been dead for a long time already. At the time they were living on Sumatra, and they decided that Tuan Allah would stay there while Butekleleu left for Siberut.

Meanwhile the children of Betuogbuk had become rich. They had industry, planes, and lots of knowledge. The children of Tuan Allah maintained contact with them because they liked to buy things from the children of Betuogbuk. One day they quarrelled about the ownership of a mountain. In the following fight the children of Betuogbuk were victorious. The children of Tuan allah wanted to become just as strong and powerful and rich as the children of Betuogbuk were and wanted to go and study at their schools, but the children of Betuogbuk did not allow them to. One child of Tuan Allah continued his pleas so long that he was admitted. At the schools he learned everything about industry, about bombs, doctors and operations. He also became a kerei while staying in that rich country. When he had learned everything there was to learn he wanted to return to his own country, but he was forbidden to leave because he had all the knowledge of the children of Betuogbuk and they did not want his country to become as rich and powerful as their own.

The child of Tuan Allah made a plan and said: "If I die before I have returned to my own country, your country will be destroyed". Then he ate all of his study books and he died. He was returned to his country very quickly and there he returned to life again. He could do so because he was a kerei and had magical powers. He learned his people how to operate and they operated on him and obtained the study books. He became a teacher at the new schools and soon his country was as rich and developed as the country of the children of Betuogbuk. When they were that far developed a war between the two countries broke out. The children of Tuan Allah wanted the people of the Mentawai islands to aid them in the fight but the Mentawaians refused, they did not want to get involved in the war. Since that time there frequently have been wars between the children of Tuan allah and those of Betuogbuk and both groups have forgotten sabulungan. One group became muslim and the other became christians. Only the Mentawaians still know what sabulungan is. Perhaps that is the reason why so many Western tourists visit Siberut; they want to learn again about sabulungan.

Told by Tarazon Sakaliou on the 9th of november 1996

 APPENDIX 2: PRICES ASKED FOR SERVICES AND OBJECTS[217].

APPENDIX 3: MENTAWAIAN PERCEPTIONS OF OTHER GROUPS

Findings not mentioned by Asmawi (1996) are printed in italics. Other findings are shared, except those marked with *, found by Asmawi only.

APPENDIX 4: DEMONSTRATION PRICE ACCORDING TO AMAKEREI

APPENDIX 5: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A REAL PULIAIJAT AND A DEMONSTRATION.

APPENDIX SIX: BREAK-DOWN OF AVERAGE TOUR EXPENDITURES

This table is based on a similar one published by the Indonesian ministry of forestry (1195:92) in which I consider some changes necessary. These changes are printed in the column on the right.

An explanation of my numbers follows below:

Total sum: I took the price of $100.- because larger groups allow the price per head to drop. A group of eight is a common number. The sum of $800.- at the time equalled RP 1,760,000 ($1=RP 2,200).

Travel to Siberut: A hired minibus from Bukittinggi to Padang costs around RP 50,000. Nine returns by ferry cost (18 x RP 15,000=) RP 270,000. Together that makes RP 320,000: 18% of the total sum.

Food: Food (rice, noodles, coffee, tea) and other supplies (cigarettes, salt) are bought in Padang or Muara Siberut. The amount needed for a week is limited and a sum of RP 80,000 suffices.

Commissions paid on Sumatra: These are different for every guide, depending on the situation and his personal role. However, the harbour gang, ferry company, colleagues all expect a share. RP 176,000 is around the average of these expenses.

Overhead and hidden costs: cover all kinds of eventualities that may occur such as medical treatment, theft and incidental expensive gifts to Mentawaian uma.

Commissions paid on Siberut: These mainly consider the local police department. An average of RP 25,000 is reasonable.

Travel on the island: This means the hiring of speedboats which is necessary to arrive in the heartland and depart again. Two trips will cost around RP 150,000 in total.

Cook and porters: An estimated four days are spend on the move. Porters are hired to carry the supplies. Usually two suffice in addition to the cook who accompanies the group all the way. Wages of RP 5,000 per person per day account for (15 x 5,000) RP 75,000 in total.

Accommodation: Seven days mean between four and five days in the jungle, the other days are spend travelling to and fro the island. The rest of the money goes to arranged demonstrations. So: (4.5 x RP 10,000 for lodging) + (5 x RP 5,000 for demonstrations) is RP 70,000.

Benefits to the island's population: Commission and transport go to Minangkabau who live on Siberut, the cook and porters are Mentawaians in these calculations. Lodging and demonstrations are Mentawaian occasions as well.

Estimated operator profit: Quite a big difference between the two calculations: the difference is explained mostly by the smaller group size/higher price per person and some lower expenses in my calculation.

Total amount of tourism leakages: Interestingly enough this number has hardly changed. It follows that the Minangkabau guides are the ones who profit from the changes in group size and individual price.