Technology

The houses are all handmade by the people.  There are three different  types of houses of the Bajau.  One of the types is the Bajau who live on the coast.  Their houses are built on stilts approximately three meters above the water with a single room and kitchen.  The other houses are connected by small bridges and planks.  Another type of of house is by the Bajau who live on land which is just regular houses. the last type of house by the Bajau is houseboats.  These houseboats vary but are most typically double dugout canoes.  Each boat has the core family and sometimes a few other people.  There have been houseboats with engines in them as introduced by technology from trading with others in the region.  The term tumpuk means clusters which is used to describe households grouped together.

Technological advances have slowly changed the Bajau community since the 1950's.  The introduction of explosives, nylon netting and motorized boats have helped to improve the Bajau ways of getting food.  The actually technology used is still pretty primitve since the fishing is still done with lanterns, spears and handlines.  Diving for food is done with goggles and a handmade spear. Fish is preserved with salting or drying.

The Industrial Arts are a big factor in the Bajau community  Trade and craft production include boat building, pottery making, weaving, blacksmithing, kajang mats, roofing, pandanus mats, sunhats, shell bracelets, woodcarving, carpentry, etc.

Human Planet Series

     2011  Bajau-the real waterworld people.  BBC.  Video.  http://youtu.be/r_FUlHngPqQ, accessed April 21, 2013.

Clifford, Sather
      1996  Bajau. Electronic Document,
              http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3458000757.html#, accessed April 21, 2013.