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Headhunters, ship-cloths in the Alexaner literature

Articles

• Schonegger, Dimitra

The Abung-Lampung, one of the three Lampung tribes, are inhabitantsof the southern part of Sumatra. They have been named mountain dwellersand they are divided into three groups. Anthropologists consider them asthe autochthonous population of this region.Among the Abung-Lampung we encounter many characteristics of themegalithic culture of Southeast Asia enriched with elements of the bronzeage, known as the Dongson-Culture. These are: Stone monuments, headhunting, circumcision, transition rites, ancestor worship, worship of spirits.This heritage is manifested in the geometric ornamentation of their artifacts,on textiles, bamboo-containers, wood carvings, baskets and mats, jewelry,etc. Special attention has been given to the ship-cloths, which were used asvaluable presents at the transition rites indicating at the same time the socialposition of the individuals involved.Despite the influence of Hinduism and later of Islam, the perseveranceof the above mentioned cultural traits has led anthropologists to believe thatthe influence of Islam was rather superficial and did not deeply affect theiroriginal, pre-Hinduistic beliefs. However, the absorption of the rather complicatedlegend of Alexander the Great into their creation myth proves thattheir contact with Islam was not incidental or temporary, but rather continuousand intensive. This myth was recorded in 1852 and can be ascribed•—according to our opinion—to the groups inhabiting the northern territoryof Lampung adjacent to the region of Palembang. It has coexisted with allother previous cultural influences and can be seen as the witness of the abstract (non-figurative), intellectual dominance of Islam in this region.

• Languages and Literature

• Λογοτεχνία