The nomadic Togutil people

The island of Halmahera, on the Maluku Islands

In the inland regions of the Maluku Islands live the Togutil people, on the interior sections of Halmahera Island. Many of them still live a nomadic lifestyle, and follow the old traditions. They make their homes along river banks, where they build simple shanties from bamboo and reeds, and periodically shift the location of their settlement. The other people who live on Halmahera Island refer to the Togutils as being 'primitive'.

The clothes and household possessions of the Togutil are very ordinary. People say that the Togutils who live deep in the forest still preserve the tradition of wearing only a loincloth. When I visited this Togutil village, the menfolk were all away from the village on a hunting expedition – and were only expected back by nightfall. There were only women and children left in the village that day – and so most of them flatly refused to communicate with a foreign man, or allow me to take pictures. Later on, one of the men came. My guide was rather afraid of the Togutils – saying they have a reputation for being aggressive, especially those who live in the jungle. Hunting expeditions are arranged by the whole village, and can take a whole day. They usually allow guests to come in advance of their return, and this is arranged by one of the villagers who lives a more sedentary life. You can see birds and animals in the village which have been caught in the forest. Togutils are skilled hunters, and bring much back from the forest.