Native Civilizations

Abstract

Ladang Region: Native civilizations based on ladang-culture will generally never attain the level of those based on sedentary agriculture. if there are no navigable rivers of importance it is impossible to cultivate fields at a great distance from the settlement. The settlement (= kampong) therefore has to shift frequently and can only contain so many people as can be fed from the small action radius. They can consist of a few families only, maybe up to 30–50 people. De Haan (45, I, p. 31) tells us of the people of the Priangan that their huts were made of branches and leaves and that even fruittrees were not planted as the people did not stay long enough to enjoy the fruits. It is symptomatic of their way of cultivation that the Sundanese did not know surface measures till well into the 19th century (De Haan, 45, III, p. 178), something which would be inconceivable in case of a sawah-cultivating population. The organization of these tribes is very simple. Cutting and burning as well as the making of a fence against wild pigs are collectively done. Then each “pater familias” gets his parcel which he subdivides among his families.