The Batek of Malaysia

The Batek tribe lives in the warm and wet tropical rainforest of Malaysia. These native tribes have their own unique culture, language, traditions, beliefs and architecture. They have strong family ties that ensure their families are well taken care of. The Batek are a foraging society since their primary mode of subsistence is hunting and gathering and the trading of forest products. The Malaysian peninsula is ideal for survival because "tropical rain forests are the most productive terrestrial ecosystems on earth" (Bailey et la., 1989). They believe in the sharing of wealth as well. The main focus of this research paper is to give you an understanding of Batek culture and how their main form of subsistence affects their kinship, sickness and healing as well as their social organization. Regardless of the changing world around them they have stayed indigenous and kept to a simple lifestyle in the hot and humid rainforest of peninsular Malaysia. These forest people are truly fascinating to research.

The Batek are a Southeast Asian rainforest foraging society. Foraging is the oldest form of human society. Being a forager means living is small bands, small independent groups, which relocate frequently for the availability of animals, plants and fruit. A Batek band usually consists of five to six nuclear families. Nuclear families most commonly contain a father, mother and their children. The reason these bands are kept to a minimum number of people is because they can adapt well in various environments. This is a key factor in the survival of the whole foraging tribe since they recurrently move. With this being said, the exact location of their settlement is hard to pinpoint within the general areas they inhabit. Rivers and streams play a huge role in the Batek life. Water from the streams holds great purposes within the family unit for everyday uses such as drinking and bathing. The rivers support the tribe with fish which means that the Batek usually will relocate in areas close or near water.

The Batek are immediate-return foragers. This meaning that they consume the food that is procured in just a couple days. Every single person of the Batek band is expected to share any food obtained with the rest of the tribe. There is no keeping of food or wealth for personal gain. "Among foraging cultures, for example, high value is placed on working together and sharing, as opposed to competing with others to secure individual wealth" (Nowak & Laird, 2010, chap. 3.3). This type of reciprocity, commonly known as generalized, occurs between the Bateks family, kin and neighbors. The Bateks know that when they share they will receive something in return sooner or later. Whoever 'collects' the food is given the title of owner of it. For example, if a man hunts and kills an animal he is the owner of the meat which entitles him to share amongst his family and tribe. The food a person gains will be shared among their immediately family first and then will be dispersed among their extended family and finally the rest of the tribe. If a person collects only a small amount of food it is only expected to be shared within their immediate family, but if there is a mass amount of food collected it is assumed to be shared with the rest of the tribe. The sharing of recourses is not simply an act of kindness but a moral obligation to do so. "Food sharing is 'an absolute obligation to the Batek, not something that the giver has much discretion over" (Gomes). The term "no man is left without" would apply. Everyone takes care of each other and no one goes without. This form reciprocity builds stronger ties among each member of the band (Nowak & Laird, 2010, chap. 3).

Kinship systems are social relations in a specific culture. When anthropologists study kinship they pay close attention to descent. Descent is the connection between the parent and the child. Not every culture calculates kinship in the same way. There are two different ways of calculating descent. The first type is unilineal. Unilineal descent is where kin relations are traced through either the mother or the father, not both. The other way of determining descent is bilateral. Bilateral is where both the mother and the father are equally important in determining descent. So within the Batek culture, bilateral descent is how they would calculate their kin relations because kinship is equally important on both the mother and the father side.

The Batek kinship is very strongly connected. Their kinship is the bond formed from birth and the bond upon marriage. The Batek are not forced into marriage and can make their individual choices for themselves. "Among the Batek of Malaysia, a man and woman independently decide their marital fate" (Nowak & Laird, 2010, chap.3.7). Any offspring of the married couple will likewise be considered kin of both the husband and the wife. With that being said, most Batek can place their selves in some kind of kin relation with either a male or female line of any other Batek.

Kinship among foraging societies causes very strong ties. It is within the Batek culture to help each other out. "Thus anthropologists commonly note that kinship systems feature an ethic of altruism, in the sense that individuals are supposed to assist kin in need" (Jones, 2000). This does not mean that each member wants to but they may often feel obligated to do such tasks since it is within their foraging culture. "Most Batek share ungrudgingly with their parents and parents -in-law, but a few seem to resent the constant pressure to gather extra food which this obligation imposes" (Endicott, 1988). Being a part of a foraging society can weigh heavily on a number of members in the tribe. Regardless of how they feel they stay true to their culture and kinship and fulfill their duties in the food procurement.

Epidemic viral diseases and degenerative diseases are commonly rare among foraging societies. They worry more about skin diseases due from insect bites or infected injuries.

"The Batek believe that one of their diseases, ke'oy, consisting of fever, depression, shortness of breath, and weakness, is caused when someone is angry with another without justification" (Peaceful Societies, 2010). Aside from spells, they believe that one most overcome the feelings of anger to cure the diseases. The sickness and healing process affects the social and cultural aspects of foraging societies. The study of sickness and healing has sparked the interest of many anthropologists, historians and physicians. Sickness among a member of a foraging tribe can hinder the daily procurement of food. When one member of the community becomes sick it not only affects them but also the entire tribe. If disease or injury occurs it requires