Portrait of two Iban women

Fotograaf: niet bekend / unknown

Mongolian and Javanese type of Dajak women'. From the original caption of the photo quoted here, it appears that the photographer was not interested in the fantastic dress of these women, but in their facial types. Incidentally, it is quite possible that there were Dajaks with Chinese and Javanese ancestors. Both Chinese and Javanese had been coming to Borneo for centuries and had exerted great influence in various sultanates. In the self-governing landscape of Sambas, located in Borneo's Western Division, the Chinese presence was of great importance. The rattan 'belt' is the most striking item of clothing in the photograph. (P. Boomgaard, 2001)