Category FAQs Search : Sarawakiana
Question: Sarawak Gazette : The Sumpitan (or blow-pipe) and its Upas or Laja (Darts), 5th June 1907 (Volume Number : XXXVIL, Issue Number : 497)
Answer: The Sumpitan is made of Empata or Tapang woods, and is round in appearance, having a small hole bored through the center. The length is about one and a half depas long (9 feet). The weapon, fhas a spear head attached to one end, which can be used either for thrusting or shooting during hunting or to protect oneself against enemies. The Sumpitan shoots accurately at quite a long distance, about 40 yards.
Meanwhile, Upas or Laja (darts) are made of a wood called Kayu Apeng, and prepared from daun Mudor or Buloh Temiang or any Buloh. It is 10 inches long, very thin, light, and poisonous. The poison is made from collecting the sap of a tree-like Tapang, called Ipoh, and burnt to fine dust. Then they extract the fangs of some very poisonous snakes such as the ular Kendawang (often used) or ular Tedong bendar, and scrape the same to fine powder. Lastly, mixing all forming a black paste, each Upas is dipped with the paste and allowed to dry.
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(Source: www.pustaka-sarawak.com/gazette, 27 Dec 2022)
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