 A group of the Orang Darat inRempang, 1930. | |
| Total population | |
| 5 (2023; only pure descendants)[1] 50–60 (2024; pure and mixed descendants)[2] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Indonesia (Riau Islands) | |
| Languages | |
| Orang Darat (extinct)[3] Riau Malay andIndonesian (lingua franca) | |
| Religion | |
| Sunni Islam; previouslynative religion (until the 1960s)[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Orang Laut • Malays • Jakun |
TheOrang Darat (lit. 'People of the Land') or theOrang Hutan (lit. 'People of the Forest')[4] are anindigenous ethnic group that inhabits the interior forests of theRiau Islands, specifically in the island ofRempang which is administratively part of the city ofBatam. The village they currently live in is only Kampung Sadap.[1] Their tendency to migrate after marrying into other ethnic groups, most of whom call themselvesMalays, reluctant to acknowledge their roots as Orang Darat, hastened the extinction of the population.[5]
They are one of three indigenous peoples classified as Rempang Malays, the others are the Galang Malays (descendants of Malays fromGalang Island) and theOrang Laut (sea nomads who live on the coast of the island or offshore).[6][7] Some others who are less well known are the Sabimba people (ofBugis descent) who live in the forests around Senimba Bay.[8] They have been influenced bySunni Islam, the roots of which date back to the time of theRiau-Lingga Sultanate.[9]
The name "Orang Darat" (lit. 'People of the Land') itself comes from the name given to them because they live on land, unlike the "Orang Laut" (lit. 'People of the Sea') who spend their lives at sea. The outsiders, especiallyMalays, prefer to call them "Orang Hutan" (lit. 'People of the Forest'),[10] because they live in the interior of the forest and depend on natural resources.[4]
In the Dutch documentation,Tijdschrift voor Indische Taal, Land en Volkenkunde, Deel LXX Aflevering I (Journal of Language, Land and Ethnology of the Dutch East Indies, Volume LXX Issue I), 1930, using the term "Orang Darat" or "Orang Oetan (Hutan)" for the native inhabitants of the island of Rempang.[11] However, the name "Orang Hutan" has negative connotations for them, because the term is similar to theorangutan species and they prefer the term "Orang Darat".[12]
According to the book entitledOrang Darat di Pulau Rempang Tersisih Dampak Pembangunan Kota Batam (2023) written by Dedi Arman, summarized in several literatures, the Orang Darat comes from three different regions. It is suspected that the Orang Darat originated fromLingga,Terengganu in Malaysia, and from Siantan Island, which is now part of theAnambas Islands.[2]
Different in linguistic observations, Wink in 1930, said that the Orang Darat were similar to theindigenous people in Malaysia, namely, theOrang Jakun inJohor andPahang.[13] Meanwhile, German linguist, Hans Kähler, believes that the Orang Darat are related to the indigenous people of Malaysia, namely theOrang Senoi. He processed Dutch colonial data from theTijdschrift voor Nederlandsch-Indië (1939).[2]
In that 1939 report, the Orang Darat represented the nomadic pre-Malay population. The Orang Darat live a nomadic life, exchanging forest products for food and bartering used goods withChinese traders. They live from hunting and fishing as well. Some of Kähler's findings indicate that the Orang Darat had a weapon similar to ablowpipe (sumpit). Likewise, their only pet is a dog. The Orang Darat live a monogamous life and have no official tribal chief.[2]
Dedi Arman, a researcher at theNational Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional; BRIN), said that there has been no research confirming the origin of the Orang Darat in Rempang. But they represent anProto-Malay heritage population. From time to time, several pieces of literature also mention that the Orang Darat is in a state of threatened extinction.[2] Ahmad Dahlan, in his book entitledSejarah Melayu (2014), actually explains that the Orang Darat in Rempang came fromSri Lanka.[14]
Batam, which is known as adeveloping city, has an inland area in the forests of the islands ofRempang andGalang. Here live the native people of Batam, both from theOrang Laut and the Orang Darat, or what were previously also known as the Orang Hutan.[15] It is known that since the opening of the island of Rempang through the presence of theBarelang Bridge, the lives of the Orang Darat have become increasingly marginalized. Those who usually live nomadically in the Rempang forests are being pushed out by the settlements and businesses of the newcomers there.[1]
The Orang Darat are distinct from the Orang Laut. Although they are considered indigenous to theRiau Islands, their lifestyles are distinct. As the name suggests. The Orang Darat live on land, inhabiting the forests of the islands ofBatam and Rempang. Meanwhile, the Orang Laut live at sea, living around the islands ofLingga andBintan. However, they are known to be related based on the same ancestry from theProto-Malay.[2]
Archives from theDutch colonial era written by P. Wink on 4 February 1930, mention that there was an indigenous people on the island of Rempang from the writings of J.G. Shchot published inDe Indische Gids in 1882. Legend has it that they originated from the island of Lingga. However, there is no clear information about this origin. These Orang Darat are similar to the indigenous people ofJohor andPahang, theOrang Jakun.[1] Apart from that, the Orang Darat are also known to be closely related to the Orang Barok on Lipan Island (Lingga) and theOrang Kuala on Tanjung Batu (Karimun).[3]
The Orang Darat on Rempang live in huts without walls and only roofs. Apart from living in Rempang, there are also they who live on the island of Batam. According to P. Wink, in that year the number of Orang Darat there was around 36 people. This consisted of 8 men, 12 women, and 16 children. They make their living by farming and gathering forest products. When the tide is high, they search for crabs andsea cucumbers. These are then traded withChinese people who own gambier plantations in the area. They also enjoyed drinking alcoholic beverages and smokingtobacco, which they obtained from the Chinese traders using a barter system, in exchange for rattan that they collected from the forest.[5]
It is generally known that civilization in Rempang and its surroundings only existed in the 19th century, or around 1834. If we look deeper, life on Rempang, Galang, and its surroundings has existed since the time of theMalacca Sultanate, a Malay kingdom centered in the city ofMalacca. This was revealed by Dedi Arman, a History Researcher at the Regional Research Center,National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). In the 19th century, said Dedi, there were many reports or files stating that the Dutch official, Elisha Netscher, had visited Rempang around 1946. At that time, Rempang was already inhabited by many people, who came from the Galang Malays, Orang Darat, and Orang Laut.[7]
Around 1973, the central government, through theDepartment of Social Affairs, made a policy to settle the Orang Darat, Through the Isolated Community Welfare Development (Pembinaan Kesejahteraan Masyarakat Terasing; PKMT) program, the Orang Darat were resettled in one location, Kampung Sadap in the district of Galang. Kampung Sadap was chosen because the forest is still well-maintained and close to the sea and river. This village is also close to Kampung Cate, one of the areas that was inhabited by theMalay people in 1973. Administratively, in 1973, Kampung Sadap was included in the district of South Bintan.[1]
The establishment of the island ofBatam as an industrial development area by the Batam Island Industrial Area Development Authority has undoubtedly impact on the lives and population of the Orang Darat. The presence of theBarelang Bridge has made people from the city of Batam flock to open businesses in Rempang and Galang. Plantation and agricultural businesses emerged in Rempang and Galang. Then there were livestock, coal, and charcoal kilns.[1]
The impact of land clearing has been felt by a small population of Orang Darat. Those who traditionally move from one forest to another are increasingly marginalized in Kampung Sadap. According toNational Research and Innovation Agency (Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional; BRIN) research, as of August 2021, the Orang Darat only occupy two hectares of land in Kampung Sadap. Apart from their habitat becoming smaller, their numbers are also decreasing.[1]
The population of the Orang Darat is known to be steadily declining. According to Kähler's research, published inBerlin in 1960, there were 30 individuals. 13 of them were in Batu Aji, Batam and 17 others were in Rempang. Then in 1975, in an article inTempo published in June 1975, it was stated that there were 19 Orang Darat people. They settled in Kampung Sadap. The article stated that the condition of the Orang Darat was worrying because only three women remained. Since Rempang began to be visited by many immigrants, they have married people from outside the Orang Darat, for example,Malays,Sundanese, and evenFlores.[2]
In 2008,Tempo wrote a release stating that the number of land people in Kampung Sadap in 1995 was 12 families. The BRIN research stated that in 2014 the number of Orang Darat remained at only 8 families. Then this number shrank again in 2021, the number of Orang Darat was reduced to 4 families with 9 people in Kampung Sadap. Besides in Kampung Sadap, there is 1 family living in Kampung Cate.[4]
The shrinking population of the Orang Darat is due to some deciding to migrate to other islands and no longer recognizing themselves as Orang Darat, and also due to many dying from illness. Another reason is the limited number of Orang Darat, making it difficult for them to find partners. A number of Orang Darat men aged between 30 and 40 years were found to be unmarried. In Kampung Sadap, only one Orang Darat man has children and that is because he married a woman fromWest Java.[1]
A report released byKompas on 18 February 2023, revealed that the number of Orang Darat on Rempang was only 5 people. This number was revealed by the Head of RT 003/RW 001, Rempang Cate Urban Village. It's said, that the Orang Darat still live in wooden houses in the forest. The difference is that they no longer live a nomadic lifestyle, as their forests have dwindled and they've also adapted to food availability. This number has even decreased rapidly compared to the 1970s, according to BRIN research, namely 30 families.[4]
The five Orang Darat remaining in 2023 were Lamat, Senah (Lamat's father-in-law), Opo (Lamat's younger brother), Tongku, and Baru (Lamat's nephew). Meanwhile, Lamat's wife had died from an illness. Of the five remaining Orang Darat, only Tongku had children. He married a Sundanese woman from West Java and had three children.[1] According toMongabay in 2024, the population of Orang Darat of mixed and pure descent was estimated at 50–60 people with an estimated 15 families.[2] However, other sources state that in January 2024 the number was less than 10 families.[14]
In Wink's notes in 1930, although the Orang Darat were considered adherents ofnative religion, they recognized the concept of "Allah". They are also said to have a tradition of ancestor reverence, based on fear of revenge from the deceased. However, since the 1960s, they have embracedIslam.[2]
The Orang Darat usually live under large trees in makeshift buildings made of plywood and wood. They who have long lived in forests are susceptible to various diseases, such asberiberi, andmalaria. When the forests on Rempang were still vast, they lived nomadically or moved around to adapt to the availability of food in the area. However, nowadays they are no longer nomadic because food supplies are dwindling, considering that the forests they inhabit are getting smaller.[1]
Because the forests in Rempang are almost gone, the Orang Darat finally try to survive by looking for food in the sea. However, they are only skilled at catching crabs and fish with traps (bubu) on the coast. This is because their lifestyle differs from that of theOrang Laut.[1] Due to changes in their place of residence, many Orang Darat no longer follow their traditional lifestyle and mix with other immigrant communities.[16]
They are also known to like drinkingpalm wine (tuak), which causes them to fall ill and die. Because they limit their contact with the outside world, they end up having difficulty accessing health services. Many members of the Orang Darat died without proper medical attention. This also led to their dwindling population. Because their habit of living in the forest also makes it difficult for them to interact with people outside their group.[16] Even so, the Orang Darat is known to be shy. It takes time to make sure they are comfortable talking to outsiders.[2]
According to Kähler's (1960) report, the physical characteristics of the Orang Darat range from their faces to their bodies. These include round faces and snub noses. The men have medium-length beards, dark brown eyes, and smaller lips than the averageMalays. While the female features haveChinese influences mixed with Malays, hair color varies from dark brown to jet black. Their hair is usually cut evenly around the head at ear level. But in general it is not much different from other Malays.[5]
German linguist, Hans Kähler, in his research entitledEthnographische und linguistische Studien über die Orang Darat, Orang Akit, Orang Laut, Orang Utan im Riau-Archipel und auf den Inseln an der Ostküste von Sumatra (1960), stated that the Orang Darat have a different language and culture from theOrang Laut who inhabit the area. It was emphasized that the language used by the Orang Darat in Rempang was different from theOrang Laut language in Lingga, the Orang Akit language inRupat, and Orang Hutan language in theMeranti Islands.[3]
Linguistically, according to Kähler, the Orang Darat language is similar to the language of theindigenous people of Malaysia, namely theJakun language inJohor andPahang. This is based on the monitoring ofDutch people who have interacted with the Orang Darat since the 19th century. Elisha Netscher made a visit, and his notes were published in theBeschrijving Van Een Gedeelte Der Residentie Riouw (1849).[3]
In addition to Hans Kähler, two linguists from theIndonesian Institute of Sciences (Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia; LIPI), Harimurti Kridalaksana and Zulkarnain, in the 1970s, to the island of Rempang to explore the language spoken by the Orang Darat, whom they called Orang Hutan because they lived in the Rempang forest. Found in the kinship system, the greetings used by the Orang Darat in everyday life are quite different from the Galang dialect ofRiau Malay.[3]
Examples of kinship greeting vocabulary in the Orang Darat language are as follows:
According to Suarman & Galba (1993), the Orang Darat language is grouped intoOld Malay. Their language has no levels, with everyone speaking the same language so they understand each other. However, to communicate with theMalays and outside their group, the Orang Darat usually use the Galang dialect ofRiau Malay andIndonesian language. Their native language is even said to be almost or even extinct.[3] Their language is not even understood by the average outsider.[17]
The Orang Darat language is less understandable to people outside their community. However, according to them, the language is not very different from the Galang dialect ofRiau Malay, considering the high assimilation of the Orang Darat into Malay people, also absorb Malay vocabulary into their language into it. Most the Orang Darat can no longer speak theirnative language because of the lack of their numbers to meet makes it difficult for them to communicate using the their native language.[18]
Several coconut leaves are depicted floating in the middle of the forest on the island of Rempang. If you look closely, this roof is made from coconut leaves supported by small pieces of wood, which provided shelter in the middle of the Rempang forest at that time. There are no walls or floors like a normal house.
That is a portrait of the house of the Orang Darat as written by P. Wink, a Dutch national. He wrote this testimony in a travelogue entitledVerslag van een bezoek aan de Orang Darat van Rempang on 4 February 1930. This is a report of a visit to the Orang Darat on the island of Rempang at that time.[2]
The traditional settlement of the Orang Darat can be reached by traveling by boat through a small river in the mangrove forest south of Rempang. After arriving on land, there is immediately a path leading to the Orang Darat village, which consists of around 7 settlements calledpoendoeng 'village', known askampung 'village' inMalay language. This is the report of P. Wink who visited Rempang, summarized in a book entitledVerslag van een bezoek aan de Orang Darat van Rempang on 4 February 1930.[19]
From P. Wink's visit in 1930, several Orang Darat were met, including 8 men named Sarip, Rotjoh, Alam, Timoer, Lentok, Otah, Sindah, and Tjano. Then also, 12 women named Oengkai, Timah, Okam, Djelima, Soeleh, Tjétjé, Piai, Ia, Panéh, Perak, Soebang, and Lengah (the last four are widows), and 16 children named Benang, Boelan, Bintang, Oetjik, Adik, Monggoh, Kèdah, Gibang, Bidik, Abak, Dadik, and other girls, and Boental, Kanting, Toenggal, Oetoel, Akin, and other boys.[19]
From their names, the influence ofMalay names can be seen. Among them are Timah (Fatimah), Perak, Kedah, Abak, Toenggal, Boental, Boelan, Bintang, Ocik, and Lengah which are common terms for Malay. While other names represent their own unique naming etymology which is less common among other Malay people.[19] Because their names aremononymous, their given names will be supplemented with their parents' names, for example Lamat anak Kosot. The wordanak 'son' in the middle is an addition which can be interpreted as 'Lamat son of Kosot', similar to the pre-Islamic Malay name. However, after the arrival of Islam, it was changed tobin 'son', for example, Lamat bin Kosot.[20]
In Wink's notes, the Orang Darat is also said to not recognize years, dates, or even days. In harmony with the words of the elders of the Orang Darat, "I don't know what year, because I didn't go to school". Even the Orang Darat usually can't remember important times in their history. Usually remembering by describing life stories in the form of time based on personal development.[2]
Socially, the Orang Darat did not yet consume rice (beras). They eat sago and small fish caught by the parents off the coast of Rempang. They obtained their sago through a barter system with theChinese people who were already present around Rempang. For example, the harvest of merawan bark was exchanged for sago.
The Orang Darat used to depend on the forest for their livelihood. They gathered everything from the forest to survive. From gathering bark to sell to harvesting stingless bee honey for consumption. They also hunted when the forests were still extensive in Rempang. They consumed almost all the animals. In Wink's travel notes in 1930, the Orang Darat did not recognize any prohibitions on eating certain meats, including pork, monkeys, and even snakes, except for venomous snakes.[2]
Some sources mention that they moved residence when a member of the Orang Darat family died. They believe that the spirits of deceased family members will disturb them if they don't move. This habit has finally changed since they embracedIslam in the 1960s.
They are said to have a tradition of respect for ancestors, based on the fear of revenge from the deceased. The tradition is passed down from generation to generation through 7, 40, and 100 days of offering food at the grave of the deceased, while shouting,"hoen makan!".[2]
The marriage tradition of the Orang Darat, written by Wink, is based on the agreement between the man and woman with a dowry of two heaps of rice. However, now marriages in the Orang Darat are gradually becoming like otherMalay people, with prayers for safety and warding off disaster.[2]
In the Orang Darat's wedding customs, the groom must chase the bride around a large tree chosen for the purpose. If he gets the woman, then the marriage is over, but if he is too slow, then it will be fruitless.[19]