Diagnostic Procedures of the Iban Manang

Diagnostic Procedures of the Iban Manang is a Part II of the Multi-Disciplinary and Comparative Studies of the Iban Healer in the ABORIGINES and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Culture of Healing Series: Volume IV by Roland Werner. This part deals with diagnostic procedures of body/soul and predictions. Soul-wandering and soul-catching within the longhouse are demonstrated by various illustrations, involving the concepts of the spiritual transformation of longhouse structures into various physical counterparts/ mortars/bolders, pillars/nibong palm, ruai/seashore and finally the “waterfall, as the last barrier before the “Bridge of Fright” which leads to “the world of the dead”.

The native concept of the soul and soul-wandering is combined with an overview of the history of the soul-concept of different cultures. Principles and procedures of the “seeing-stone”/batu karas/ilau/quartz are followed by experiments of the optic partition of the quartz-crystal. The diagnostic ritual of mayang pinang, analyzing the flower bud of areca catechu, is one way to disclose the prospects of healing.

Planting a pentik (betanam pentik) is divining the fate of a sick. Another procedure of divining the fate of a sick person is bebayan (making a bayan/ monitor lizard). Pig’s liver reading is the final stage of the traditional pig-killing ritual which is demonstrated step by step.

A comparative study of traditional and modern pig-killing reveals the conceptional, anatomical, pathohistological, technical and diagnostic differences of tradition and modernity.

Palpation and massage-procedures are presented with numerous detailed illustrations.

Finally, attention is drawn to the traditional procedure by which so-called “tiny stones” are massaged to the surface of the skin. A scientific study dealing with various forms of calcification of the skin (calcinosis cutis) explains the topographical realities of such “tiny skin stones”.