Human images among the Orang Mantong
This short note by Dr. W.L. Abbott reports the discovery of two wooden human images in a cave on Pulo Sanglar, Rhio Archipelago, in July 1903, and offers a preliminary interpretation of their likely ritual function.
Summary
Abbott describes two wooden female figures, each about 3½ feet high, found lying face-down in a cave near Kampong Telok Lanun. The more carefully carved figure, made of harder wood, had three serrated wooden horns projecting from the head, rudely carved arms of softer wood, teeth represented by broken shell, and a blackish diagonal line across the chest meeting a horizontal line above the nipple, with a blackish spot over the heart. The second figure was more crudely carved from soft white wood and lacked arms. Both showed signs of long neglect, with roots growing over them and the wood beginning to decay (p. 128).
Abbott notes that the local Orang Mantong inhabitants denied any knowledge of the images and that no information regarding their use could be obtained. He argues they cannot be regarded as true berhala (idols) but are more likely a form of Sakkat huang used in sickness, analogous to the practice among the Orang Laut of driving a hantu (devil) into a carved figure and then discarding it at sea. He suggests the human figures were probably carried into the jungle rather than to sea, and draws a comparison with the adu adu of Pulo Nias (p. 129).