hampatongs in front of the longhouse
One of the oldest longhouses in the Mahakam area
An hour’s drive from Melak is Benung, a Dayak villages with a longhouse reputedly dating from the 1940’s. Unlike Mancong, the longhouse here is still being used by several resident families.
A short walk from the longhouse is the sanding, a mausoleum for the village eldest, with a number of decorated coffins resting on poles.
A similar village, next on the Virtual Tour, is Eheng (or jump to Tering, back along the river).
the longhouse, adapted to modern times, including motorbikes and satellite dishes
Benung longhouse
inside the longhouse, the communal space
buffalo horn decorations comes in handy
some of the poles inside have also been decorated
and inside, the individual rooms, clearly in use
a hampatong of some very real-looking person
spirit hampatong
the mausoleum
with coffins stacked inside
dragon-head front decoration of one of the coffins
