John was walking down the street, the sun was shining and for the first time in his life John didn’t had to worry about money or had to worry about anything. Because everything was alright, there was nothing wrong. So John walked happy down the street with a big smile on his face. A smile so big that even people around him felt happy because of his smile. 

So John kept walking until he saw 2 guys robbing a lady and John couldn’t believe it, those 2 guys were hitting the lady and were torchering her to get her purse, to steal her money. But this womand didn’t let go of the purse without a fight, but she was loosing and she was loosing big time. So John ran directly towards the woman, trying to save her. He started to fight against the 2 guys who had attacked the lady, during this fight the poor and injured lady took off, and ran away from the fight. While John was dealing mean punches to those guys, to make sure they would never attack or rob someone again. 

So when he had won the fight and had defeated those 2 guys he walked away and he felt that his legs were to heavy to walk on, he had no more power in his body and he couldn’t move anymore. So he felt down on the street and there he was laying on the street with nobody near him and nobody to help him. 

But he was so tired from the fight that he closed his eyes and fell asleep. The last thing on his mined was the lady he had saved and the good thing he had done today. He didn’t know that he had been stabbed by those guys and that he had a big cut in his back, he was laying there on the ground, nobody around him, nobody knew he was there so nobody could help him. 

But the next thing he knew was he opened his eyes in a nice warm hospital, his bag had been healed by the docters and there was nothing wrong with him. 

But how did he get to the hospital? Who took him there? You think you know or is it just another secret of John?

LANUGAGE

The Korowai language belongs to Awyu-Dumut family which is the language of South East Papua. An English linguistic expert has now prepared its grammar and dictionary.

HABITATATION

The majority of Korowai people lives on houses prepared on the trees. There residential area is totally separate from the rest of the village. They do not like to go any where from their residential area. But, when they related to the civilized world and especially the European people established many villages from the residence where they provided all the possible facilities, even then they did not move from their place. But from 1980s few Korawai people started shifting to these new villages in Yaniruma. But there number was very less. These villages are been established at the shores “Mu” and “Mbasman” of River Becking, which is not very far away from their own area.

In 1987 a village was established at Manggel, in 1988 second village was established at Yafufla, in 1989 a village named Mabul was established at the shores of River Eilanden and in 1998 another village was established at Khaiflambolup. In short these villages were prepared for Korowai people but in response they did not show the enthusiasm that was expected. This is due to this indifferent attitude that many villages are still shown empty.

The basic reason for that may be that these colonies are situated far away from the resources of food (Sago). In the local language the word “Sago” is used for food.

ECONOMY

The Korowai people are basically hunters and fulfill their appetite by hunting. They also do gardening and now gradually diverting towards yielding crop. The Korowai people are conscious of the importance of protein from the beginning and therefore they hunt animals and are very expert in fishing. They fulfill their requirements of proteins from the above-mentioned food.

What business Korowai people do? And what they sell or buy? The information regarding this is very little and not enough. There are special ways in Korowai tribe to carry out the daily chores of life for instance “Sago” means the responsibility of preparing food is of adult youngsters. They not only collect food but also prepare it. Likewise whatever religious ceremonies they celebrate according to their beliefs, youngsters also play their role in these ceremonies. There is no role of women in these types of ceremonies.

Some Korowai people started works which provided them little cash income. But this income was so-called. Such local inhabitants started work with tourist companies. They guided the tourists and serve them in every way. It means they can get both financial and materialistic benefits from their touring industry. These opportunities are on very limited scale for now. Local guides makes the tourists visit these villages and host them quite well. They also organize local “Sago” invitations for tourists, take their wares from one place to another and simultaneously show them traditional and ancient shows, which they perform themselves.

In the history of Korowai tribe, once for limited time (from around 1996 to 1999) anarchy prevails there. The basic reason was that the very precious wood (Agarwood) of this village, which is also called (gaharu) in the local language was started moving outside illegally. Actually the thing was that some outsiders or smugglers, who were aware of the value of this wood, started cutting the valuable wood of this jungle. Innocent Korowai people could not do anything against them and silently watched their valuable natural resource looting by looters. The value of this wood can be guessed by the fact that any buyer used to pay around 4 dollars for one kilogram of gaharu wood. Likewise this valuable “gaharu” wood reached the markets of Europe and Middle East, where one thousand dollars per kilogram of this valuable wood were also sought. The smuggling of this wood was also carried out by way of Southern shore “Agats” and also from “Jayapura” at the Northern shore.  Help from missionary planes was also sought for this purpose which used to arrive and depart from “Yaniruma” and “Boma”. The control of “Gaharu” trading was under the army and army was running this business.

The valuable wood of Papua jungles was sent outside. Along with this loss, there was greater loss that the trading of “body selling” increased to greater extents, which played an important role in prevailing Aids in the whole Papua.

MARRIAGES

Here also like other civilized nations of the world, a parental system is established, in which father is the leader of the house and he runs the entire social, economical and political affairs.  The polygamy tradition is also established in this tribe but normally they do not marry with the blood relations. Now they started preferring marriage with cousins from maternal side.

SOCIAL LIFE

Here the leadership structure based on ancient times i.e. any powerful person becomes the leader of the tribe with respect to his personal traits and capabilities. There is no role of any organization in this leadership. The fighting among tribes starts specifically due to disputes related to casting magical spells.

RELIGIOUS LIFE

The belief of Korowai tribe is that this whole universe is full of every type of spirits, in which some spirits are more special and harmonious to each other as compared to other spirits. Especially homage is paid to spirits of forefathers. According to Korowai tribe belief, the “Ginol Silamtena” is the spirit of the creator of this universe. But Korowai people neither give any importance to it in their daily lives nor do they accept that there is any role of it in their daily lives. It is essential for each and every person of Korowai tribe to arrange a special dinner once in his life time. According to their faith prosperity and growth occurs due to this dinner party.

In order to evade the difficult time these people altar the pet pig for their forefather’s spirits.

Korowai people are keepers of extraordinary and valuable customs, which includes their ghostly stories, folk tales, magical sayings and spells and ancient customs of natural feats.

In respect to death and life after death, Korowai people believe that in return of the acts of a person, he has to come again in this world. The people, who have gone from their tribes after death and now living in the world of spirits, any one of those spirits can sent his relative again in this world and that person will rebirth in the shape of any new born in their tribe.

COORDINATION WITH EUROPE

In the end of the 1970 decade, few Christian (Protestants Missionaries) started living with Korowai people. In the decade of 1980 an Indonesian human expert Dea Sudarman prepared many documentaries for Japanese Television.

In 1993 a film crew had arranged a research study in the “Dio Village”. The main theme of this study was “The houses made on trees and man-eating”. The Korowai people were presented negatively in this case study, which led to the creation of film “Lords of Garden”.

In 1996 a local Christian Community was established, which consists of members from the neighborhood tribe “Kombai”. For the long time it has been thought that Korowai people are fundamentalists in their beliefs and will never divert to any other religion and will resist against such efforts. Hence many people accepted Christianity in the end of 1990 decade and formally entered in this religion.

In the autumn of 2003 a small team of Bible Translators reached in Yaniruma and started their work.

In May 2006 a tour guide Paul Riffle led the crew team of Australian T.V. Show “60 Minutes” in order to prepare a special report on this tribe and their people. After few days of filming a man reached the crew team and claimed that his six year nephew “Wa-Wa” had been accused of becoming a sorcerer (Kakua). He was in great danger, since he could be killed and eaten. But the crew team of “60 Minutes” refused to help that person. But afterward Paul Riffle contacted his opponent “Seven Network”, who agreed to send a “Today Tonight” crew in order to take “Wa-Wa” out of this area.

But, before these people could reach this area, the Indonesian higher authorities deported all the officials from “Jayapura” on the issue of Visa.

MAN-EATING

One of the reports about Korowai people was received that they still eat human flesh. But human experts say that it does not happen now, since these people are in constant coordination with outer people and it is also revealed in the latest reports that false stories has been spread in order to proliferate tourism.

In 2006 a T.V. show “60 Minutes” claimed that when anybody is accused of becoming a sorcerer “Khakhua” in the Korowai society and on proving the crime he was beaten harshly, hanged and afterwards eaten. In this regard many uncertified claims were also made that the brain of a person is eaten immediately while the corpse is still hot and that pregnant women and children are not involved in this eating.

WAY OF CONTSTRUCTION

Korowai houses are made on height, for which higher wood pillars are fixed on the land initially. This way has been going on since past, in order to keep the houses safe from water and flood. Secondly these houses remain away from the reach of the invaders. This step is specifically taken for the safety of children and women; otherwise the conqueror tribe either makes women and children their slave or kills and eats them.

The thick, high and strong pillars of iron wood in one way keep the houses safe from fire too, otherwise the strategy of invader is to fire the houses made of wood, grass and straw, which compels the residents to come out of their houses due to smoke and suffocation and thus invaders arrest them. Iron wood is that hard and solid wood, which does not catch fire easily.

These people are living in the ancient past in spite of living in the present and are not ready to change themselves. But efforts are going on and it is hopeful that soon these people will change their present state by entering in the present.

By Muhammad Irfan Zafar

Content Writer

Government, and society, to supervise the practice of illegal logging in the area, by installing the portal on multiple lines carrying the loot timber. Noerewan Kerinci community leaders, said it remains consistent with ongoing programs in the area.
Illegal logging is very disturbing the flow of development, and this is the traditional assignment. Because Kerinci has a heavy burden, especially Kerinci Seblat National Park to be maintained.
Maximum doing the best for Kerinci. Both in addressing illegal logging, drugs, and keep the conflict area.
The problems facing the nation is the era of reform, decentralization and globalization. Even the Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) increasingly dominate developments in various sectors.
Public awareness, government officials, and private parties in establishing a benchmark that must be observed. Market competition and rapid technological progress must be carefully by all elements.
Enforcement, Law no. 22, 1999, on regional autonomy, and Law. 25 of 1999, regarding finance between central and local government, resulting in a significant influence.
The ability of local governments in regional development depends on the revenue (PAD), the General Allocation Fund (DAU), as well as community support.

In customary reminded “Do not let us be the one to cut in the crease, throwing stones hidden hand, duplicity, and clever bet back”. Manner contrary to religious values, and customs.
Surely if you think rationally, no tangles that can not be resolved, there is no problem that can not be cleared up.
Minimal deliberation, and open with each other. When reached by way of blasphemy, not solve the problem, it is increasingly muddy conditions, in turn, impact, directly or indirectly, impede the implementation process of development.
The role of the community means so much to Fauzi, in support of regional programs. Fauzi even paying attention to the construction of four types of building, centrally located capital of Kerinci. The building functioned in carrying out various activities.
The architecture of the building with characteristic carving Kerinci, and various shades taken from the culture of the region. Even the combination of art displayed Kerinci, increasingly make magnificent building.
The custom has a strategic role, and participated directly in the success of the development agenda.
Together Fauzi, Kerinci traditional leaders resolved to address logging in areas that are considered vulnerable, let alone have to maintain ecosystems Kerinci Seblat national park.
Like the District BatangMerangin region, and DanauKerinci, spontaneously perform the customary forest conservation movement in the environment is.
Besides, it invites all levels of society to collectively combat the practice of illegal logging occurs. As stipulated by local leaders, then the customs act, against people involved in forest encroachment.

Strong relationship has been established, between nature conservation, and the importance of water for human life.
Two sides of it, can not be denied the existence of a dense forest would produce more water resources are adequate.
Conditions that reflect the Kerinci-backed with the location, and strategic natural resource conditions that must be neat analysis.
Apparently Kerinci major contribution in the water sector, because this area has a large quantity of water resources for communities of central and southern Sumatra.
Given adequate natural conditions, and can contribute water to the path of central and southern Sumatra, of duties and responsibilities will be greater Kerinci.
Especially in conducting the balance of natural ecosystems and water.

Kerinci has many attractions waterfalls, waterfalls Telun Berasap SungaiPenuh 60 kilometers from the city, which lies on the border Kerinci District, and Solok, West Sumatra.
The source of this waterfall, flowing from Lake Mountain Seven past sheer cliffs, with a height of 50 meters.
The nature lovers can go on to the waterfall of seven levels, 16 kilometers from the city of Full River.
To get to that location, through cinnamon productive forests, and protected forests. This waterfall is as much as 7 levels, first level of approximately 6 feet tall, which is a river of water that falls on a steep cliff.
Tracing this river toward the upstream, you will find waterfalls second level, with a height of 500 meters, the colored beads of water vapor.
So the climb can be continued until the level of the seventh, through a lot of protected forest, overgrown with rattan.
Besides the waterfall there is Pancaro Rayo, which altitude 150 meters of rain dew created by height, as well as unique natural bathing pool and attractive.
Conditions surrounding unspoiled forest, a habitat for plants and rattan, which is used as raw material moubel, and other crafts.

Mount Kerinci, the highest peak on the island of Sumatra, and is the heart of the mountain range mountain chain, which looks elegant.

The mountain is still active, and became a symbol of the beauty of the Kerinci area attractions, and stretches up to the Mountain Kingdom. Mount Kerinci much visited as 17 August and holidays.

Kerinci has an undulating topography, and steep, That’s the whole, the captivating charm of nature is influenced by the undulating topography. Like many waterfalls, rapids, lakes, hot springs, caves, canyons, and upland swamps.

Most of the people of Kerinci, working in the agricultural sector, and plantations. Farmland, and farm produce diverse products, such as vegetables, pulses, avocado, banana, mangosteen, durian and other citrus.

In addition to farms, rice paddies that characterize the condition of the area, and an agro-tourism. There is also cinnamon, coffee, tea and cloves which are export products, which includes the countries of Europe, America, Arabs, East Asia.

In addition, the type of soil that contained Kerinci region, divided into six types, namely andosol, latosol, podzolic, alluvial, podzolic-latosol complex and litosol, and other types of complex soil-litosol latosol.
According to historical research, the interest derived from the Proto Malay Kerinci, they come from southeast Asia (the Indian rear), at the time of transfer of the nations 3000-2000 BC.
These are the lower stem Kerinci tribes. Evidence of prehistoric relics in Kerinci, many of the tools that originate from the Neolithic era, and bronze.
While that is derived from the Palaeolithic era, yet there is, possibly in the future can be found, through archaeological investigation.
These tools form the noelitikum artifacts, which are found in Kerinci from the stone age, such as axes, pickaxes, discs, belincung, mortar, mortar and fragmentary pottery clay. Other tools, is included in the time of obsidian flakes mesolitikum.
Posil about human prehistory, until now not been found, the possibility of these materials contained on megalithic stones (stones silindrik), called by the people of Kerinci Gong stone.

Hasani also active in the political world since 1987 and joined the election a success. In 1988, he received an award in the success of a business orientation, joint-venture company (PPU) Jambi Ventura.
In addition, also served as secretary, board of commissioners of PT. SaranaJambiVentura. This condition, affecting insight, and mindset in running the government.
In 1999, returned to Kerinci, Kerinci District served as Secretary, with the rank of Major Associate coach.
Economics Alumni Unand Padang, and the Graduate University Surapati, has contributed quite a hit for his career.
Understanding of the apparatus, and is famous for its economic pattern, thereby becoming an important event for the region.
In fact, a visit to Malaysia, Singapore, as well as seminars, and training in development planning, environmental, legal, agro-industries, agribusiness, performance accountability of government agencies, as well as other sectors, adding to the potential perfection.
It has been proven ability, performance, and tough, with Fauzi Si’in in building Kerinci, Kerinci the evidence is believed to lead the 2004-2009 period.
In 2003, received an award as an exemplary employee, from the minister.
Good family, with his wife HawaniHasani, born 24 April 1956, had a child PutiEkaHandayani.