Who was the pawang?
In Koster's account, the pawang was a ritual specialist believed to mediate between the human world and unseen forces. In traditional tin mining, the pawang's role included overseeing prohibitions, conducting ceremonies and seeking to avert misfortune at a mine.
Koster drew on an earlier report by A. Hale, “On mines and miners in Kinta, Perak”, published in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 16 (Singapore, December 1885). The account reflects historical observers' interpretations of local practices rather than an account written by the miners themselves.
Seventeen prohibitions recorded in the article
The following is an English summary of the numbered rules printed by Koster, rather than a literal translation. The rules concern objects, clothing, language, behavior and fines within a mining site. The original text should be consulted for exact wording and penalties.
| No. | Practice or prohibition | Historical detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bringing a rough-coated cat into a mine | Prohibited, including cat fur used in headrests. |
| 2 | Wearing a black coat | Reserved for the pawang; the text also regulates how the garment is carried. |
| 3 | Bringing certain glassware and utensils | Includes gourds, glass bottles, glass items and particular earthenware vessels. |
| 4 | Using rhyming couplets | Reciting pantun or similar verse at the mine is prohibited. |
| 5 | Cutting timber at the mine | Woodcutting is forbidden; chopping wood is said to disturb the spirits. |
| 6 | Breaking the taboo vocabulary | The bahasa pantang rules apply to speech at the mine. |
| 7 | Dropping charcoal into drainage channels | Coal or charcoal must not fall into mine ditches. |
| 8 | Visiting another worker's mining place | Entry is restricted; the rule also mentions a bag of tin ore. |
| 9 | Leaving a broken tupak unreplaced | A broken mine tool must be replaced within three days; Koster defines tupak as a wooden measure for ore. |
| 10 | Carrying weapons near the smelting house | Weapons are restricted within a specified area around the smelting house. |
| 11 | Wearing a coat in the same room | A rule restricts wearing a coat within the same room or space. |
| 12 | Cooking or chopping in the designated place | Cooking and chopping are forbidden in a particular area. |
| 13 | Taking cold rice from a miner | If someone notices that a miner has brought cold rice from home, a claim involving tin ore is described. |
| 14 | Failing to replace a washcloth | A washcloth must be replaced within three days. |
| 15 | Pouring water upstream of a working miner | Water must not be poured into the stream above someone working there; the rule describes a penalty involving ore. |
| 16 | Improperly carrying a kris or spear | Rules govern how these weapons are carried and sheathed. |
| 17 | Death of a miner | Relatives are required to bring the pawang one tupak of tin ore. |
Koster records various fines, often in money or tin ore. Many of the numbered items specify 12.50 dollars, while others state different amounts or quantities. The list above deliberately avoids applying one standard penalty to every item.
Bahasa pantang: words that were avoided
Koster describes a special vocabulary used in place of everyday names for certain animals, plants and materials. The examples below follow the Dutch transcription as closely as practical; historical spellings and readings should not be silently modernized.
| Ordinary expression | Taboo expression in the article | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| gadjah | berolak tinggi | Elephant |
| katjang | berolak dapur | Beans / legumes |
| kerbau | nial | Water buffalo |
| limau nipis | salah nama | Lime |
| bidjih (tinerts) | bungu rumput | Tin ore |
| ular | akar hidup | Snake |
| duizendpoot | kunjit | Centipede |
Some terms may reflect the transcription conventions of the original Dutch article. Their precise local pronunciations and meanings require further linguistic comparison.
Ceremonies and offerings
According to Koster's summary, the pawang could perform a ceremony called genggulang at the opening of a mine. The purpose was to seek favorable relations with unseen forces through offerings and ritual action. The article also describes ceremonial occasions when production fell unexpectedly or when work resumed after a break.
These observations tell us about beliefs surrounding mining labor in a particular historical setting. They do not establish that the same ceremonies were universally performed in Belitung.
Why include this under Culture?
Mining was more than a technical activity. The language, rituals and social rules associated with it were part of the lived culture of mining communities. This account is therefore best placed in Culture, with a cross-reference from Mining History.
For a separate description of Belitung's inhabitants, see The People of Belitung in 1851, based on John F. Loudon's account of Orang Darat and Orang Sekah.
Sources and editorial note
Primary article: J. H. Koster, “De Pawang,” Erts: Maandblad der Billiton Bedrijven, January 1955, printed pp. 219–221.
Earlier work cited by Koster: A. Hale, “On mines and miners in Kinta, Perak,” Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 16, Singapore, December 1885.
Editorial note: The 17 rules and taboo words are summarized from Koster's article, which quotes or adapts an earlier account from Malaya. The article is a historical source for beliefs and colonial-era representations of mining practices; it is not direct evidence of Indigenous Belitung customs.