11Story

23 December 2008

The Sar Luk villagers

"We have eaten the forest"

Contents:  "We have eaten the forest"  - Introduction  - Aim of the exhibition  - Synopsis        * Ethnology as an art of living        * The Sar Luk villagers        * A poetic and oral tradition        * Burning the forest of the stone spirit Goo        * Works and days        * Buffalo sacrifice        * Sickness and death         * Sar Luk today  - The purpose of ethnography: an interview with Georges Condominas with Yves Goudineau  - Biography of Georges Condominas  - Main publications

 

The Sar Luk villagers

 

A portrait gallery

 

“Kroong-the-Brief is a complete man, a ‘man of quality’. He always makes me think of Swann when I play the equivalence game. I was struck by the richness of his personality the first time I met him, but it was only later, and thanks to my integration in their society, that I was able to grasp the full qualities of the man. A mutual regard, which led him to propose the tâm bôh, alliance by exchange of sacrifices.” Here, Kröng-Jôong, of the Jaa clan, performing an agrarian rite. The "holy man of the village," Kröng-Jôong is the husband of Jôong-the-Healer by whom he has a daughter, Mang-of-the-Crooked-Mouth.

© Georges Condominas

 

Sraang, a member of the Rjee clan, lives in the same long house as her mother, Brôong-the-Widow, her grandmother, Troo, and her "little mother" (maternal aunt), Laang-Mhoo; she is married to the son of Bbaang-the-Pregnant-Man, by whomshe had a daughter, Poong. © Georges Condominas	Old Troo, widow of Taang, midwife              and renowned potter, doyenne of the Rjee clan.               © Georges Condominas

 

Every day clothing and adornments

 

"I observe a group of young men: Kraang-the-Bladder brandishes a hairpin that he's just taken from the beautiful Jôong-the-Hernia. Two of his close friends had confided to me that he is deeply in love with the young girl. But in this game he shows no delicacy and seems harsh because he's had too much to drink. Dloong-the-Black, who sees me watching the scene, blurts out: "They are future spouses."

 

Woman's clothing

 

		Woman’s cotton tunic, ao uur rddei (“Ede-woman-garment”) exchanged against 24 feet of calico and a red terry towel, to a value of twenty piastres. Worn next to the skin, especially at such ceremonies as funerals and marriages.
Woman’s cotton tunic 71.1951.3.169 © musée du quai Branly / P. Gries

 

Man's clothing

 

		Man’s apron-belt (detail), suu troany tiek, for everyday wear. Exchanged against 36 feet of calico and a khaki jacket belonging to the ethnologist.
Man’s apron-belt Cotton, brass. Extra warp, picked, twisted weft, appliqué. 71.1951.3.171 © musée du quai Branly / P. Gries

 

Adornments

 

Men's necklace, koong naak rjai, worth 100 piastres. Brass hoop and spiral, glass beads, cotton. 71.1951.3.204 © musée du quai Branly, photo Patrick Gries	Men's necklace, Ede style, mae rödêe ("bead - Ede"), exchanged with Caang-Sing for a cigarette lighter. Caang-Sing is in the habit of buying large glass beads from Vietnamese merchants for 10 piastres. He gets his other beads from Mnong girls. Glass beads, porcelain, cotton. 71.1951.3.215 © musée du quai Branly, photo Patrick Gries

 

Hair ornament

 

		Women's hair ornament, mae pan bôok nyjai nduum ("bead –rolled up – on the head – decorated with thread – frayed red wool"). Exchanged, just as any other necklace, with Mbieng-Jôong of the village of Paang Döng, for a brasse of black calico.  Glass beads, mother-of-pearl button, frayed tassels, Vietnamese wool.
Women's hair ornament 71.1951.3.186.1 © musée du quai Branly, photo Patrick Gries

 

Ear lobe plugs

 

Women's ear lobe plugs, nâu tôor ("adornment – ear"), exchanged for a packet of cigarettes. Wood. 71.1950.24.35.1-2 © musée du quai Branly, photo Patrick Gries	Ear lobe plugs, nâu tôor ("adornment – ear"). Wood, metal, seed. 62.117.13.1-2 © musée du quai Branly, photo Patrick Gries

 

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