Name: Tony Stark

ID: 7E8A8888
Group: 2E8
ECS062: Individual Oral Presentation
Presentation Outline (4%)
Introduction
1. Attention-getter (Opening Line):
Show images of the head hunters of Borneo/ collections of preserved heads to audience. Another
alternative: Show clip of The Headhunters of Borneo available on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8UZnJSERlw

2. Topic of presentation:
The Head Hunters of Borneo

3. Brief introduction of the topic/ Preview of main points:

Definition of head hunting: The practice of taking and preserving a persons head after killing a
person. Practiced in ancient times in parts of Ocenia, Southeast Asia, West and Central Africa. It
was also an accepted practice among the Vikings and to the end of the Middle Ages in Ireland and
the Anglo-Scottish regions.

Body Paragraph

There are various reasons why headhunting was accepted among

the Dayak community. Obviously it doesnt happen now or we would
have tons of head hanging around the state!

Thesis statement: The tradition of head hunting is often perceived

as cruel or uncivilized, however there are some strong reasons for
permitting this practice among the Dayak community. These
include:

To add supernatural powers

To avenge revenge for murders

For territorial expansion

Point 1:
For supernatural strength to be granted to a person.

2. Supporting details:
Dayaks believe that supernatural strength is centered in the soul and head of humans. They believe
that fresh heads can give magical powers for communal protection, bountiful paddy harvesting and
disease curing.

Point 2:
To avenge the death for a murder committed to a family member or members of the tribe.
2. Supporting details:
Sometimes head hunting are based on "blood credit" principle unless "adat pati nyawa" (customary
compensation token) is paid.

Point 3:
For territorial expansion.
2. Supporting details:
Some brave Dayaks intentionally migrated into new areas. One example is Mujah "Buah Raya" who
migrated from Skrang to Paku to Kanowit while infighting among Ibans themselves in Batang Ai
region. This caused the Ulu Ai Ibans to migrate to Batang Kanyau River in Kapuas, Kalimantan and
then proceeded to Katibas and later on Ulu Rajang in Sarawak.

Conclusion
1. Summary
The head hunting custom among the Ibans are well known and documented and these traditions
are closely related to survival, especially to protect a tribe from being attacked. Chillingly, it is also
based some paganistic beliefs of a community.
2. Final remarks/appealing closure:
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without rootsMarcus Garvey
Therefore it is important for us to acknowledge our past, and our culture, try to understand the ways and
beliefs of our forefathers and learn from the ancient traditions of their past.