Dalat

The small Melanau township of Dalat makes an interesting half-day outing from Mukah, or a stopover if you are traveling by speedboat to or from Sibu.

Outside the district office, directly opposite the speedboat wharf and the Chinese temple, is one of the finest Melanau kelidieng (sacrificial burial pole) still in existence.  The kelidieng, a hollow belian (borneo ironwood) tree trunk decorated with ornate carvings, was used in ancient rituals to ward off disasters. Should the community be threatened, a young maiden was placed inside the pole and given only drinking water until she finally passed away.  This sacrifice would appease malicious or angry spirits and thus avoid disaster.  Interestingly, the cross in the altar of nearby St Bernard’s RC church (500m walk upriver, visitors welcome) is also made in the form of a kelidieng, to give the concept of Christ’s sacrifice a Melanau cultural context.

拉叻

拉叻是沐胶境内一个马兰诺族的小镇，值得安排一趟小镇半日游。或者乘搭快艇往返诗巫，中途也会在此停靠。在快艇码头和华族庙宇对面，也就是当地的县公署外，您可以看见一支保存完好而且极为精致的马兰诺祭祀柱。