The Penan are a shy tribe of nomadic people who live in the dense jungles of Central Borneo. There are around 10,000 people in the Penan tribe. The Penan live in longhouses where many Penan people live together. This longhouses are constructed quickly and only lasts for a few weeks or months. After the house has been used the family will move on. Their diet includes jungle fruits and vegetables, and hunted prey such as wild boar and mousedeer.

Most hunters in the Penan community still prefer to use the blowpipe rather than guns. This is a Penan specialty, the manufacturing and accurate use of blowpipes. The blowpipe ammunition is a softwood plug that is tipped with a hard dart. The blowpipe poison is dosed to suit the size and weight of the prey.

Penan women weave the finest rattan mats and baskets in Borneo, where as the men are superior blacksmiths and make excellent blowpipes. These blowpipes are much wanted by the other tribes, so the Penan trade their crafts and also other jungle products for salt, metal, clothing and cooking utensils.

 

Asian Rainforests