Batek living on the upper Lebir River in 2004 still hunt with blowpipes and poisoned darts. Here a man rubs resin on the shafts of some darts to increase their weight and therefore their stability in flight and penetrating power.
Women still use charcoal, lime paste, and colorful flowers, leaves, and stems to decorate themselves, even though they now wear manufactured clothing and trinkets.
Batek still visit other groups frequently, but now some people use motorbikes instead of walking or rafting. A few have become skilled mechanics, though without formal training. This man is fixing the back wheel of his motorbike, while his wife looks on.
Some families still prefer to live in thatched lean-tos in the forest because they are cooler than the Malay-style houses typically used at base camps.
Batek living near Taman Negara park headquarters now make miniature blowpipes and dart quivers and darts to sell to tourists. Both men and women engage in this business.
Men, women, and children living near Taman Negara park headquarters make blowpipe darts to sell, together with quivers and miniature blowpipes, to tourists.
