Munying, a Dayak traditional healer

Munying, a Dayak traditional healer

Munying is not much different from everybody else in his
village. Living in a four meter-by-five meter wooden house in
Tanjung village, Jalai Hulu district, he makes a living as a
farmer.

But he is also known as a healer, or baliatn. Since childhood
he has never been much interested in religion. "I can't
comprehend religion," he says.

"Once I had an illness that was hard to cure and I almost went
mad," he recalls.

He suffered for a long time, but Hangiq, a baliatn from Air
Dua, healed him. Since then, he has studied the arts of the
healer so he too can help others.

As a baliatn, Munying leads a different life than people of
other Dayak subtribes. He must, for example, be able to fast for
seven days. There is also a period in which he can eat only
certain foods. And he must be able to stir-fry seven grains until
each forms something like a cracker.

A baliatn can eat only three grains, and must dump the rest on
the ground. In a barayah rite (Dayak Jalai-Ketapang), refraining
from eating certain foods and fasting are compulsory. Without
this process, one cannot be a legitimate baliatn.

Payment for the services of a baliatn are large earthen jugs,
plates, bowls and so forth, suitable to the disease cured. If
someone is cured of an illness, then he must give the baliatn six
plates, a machete and a chicken, plus some rice. Sometimes, the
healer will not take this gift. So, a healer is in essence a
volunteer worker, and cannot be blamed if his healing powers fail
him.

Munying says he does not regret becoming a healer, because it
was his destiny. To be a healer, a person must suffer.
Understandably, only a few people are able to qualify.

Healers from Dayak Ketungau Sesat also have their own
superstitions. They must not walk through a cemetery. They may
not divulge their supernatural partner. And after healing
someone, they can't go home alone.

Then the healers -- also called manang -- must not eat certain
foods. They also are not allowed to refuse a request to heal
someone.

"Even if there are hurricanes or rainstorms, I must go to a
patient's house even though I have to walk," Munying said.

To be a healer is to assume a heavy social responsibility
indeed. There is little economic gain. Almost all Dayak tribes
allow a healer to receive their fees only in the form of goods. A
healer cannot set his fees. The sick person gives something to
his healer voluntarily. If he can afford to give a healer only
some plates, the healer must accept this gift.

It is a social profession, as such a Dayak healer lives a
modest life. As being a healer entails heavy consequences, not
many Dayak youngsters are interested in this profession.

--Erma S. Ranik