Abing Kasuang - Session 01, 17 February 2024

OH-008-29-1a During a visit to his grove, Abing Kasuang shows a cluster on the side of a trail. The name of the variety, he says, is Machyong. The name is given to the Palm clusters that grow in the forest by themselves without having been planted. He can identify the variety from his experience of making sago from a stem of this cluster. The sago is the same as the other varieties, but from memory and experience, he knows this cluster is Machyong. He maintains this cluster along with his own planted Palms in the grove, right across the trail. So, for years he has known this particular cluster and which variety it belongs to. OH-008-29-1b Inside his grove, Abing Kasaung has planted two varieties together, Misa and Matchisik. He describes an individual of Misa variety in this recording. He says it is distinct in appearance – the leaves are bigger and the girth of the stem is greater. It is also visible in the trunk. Misa variety is marked by the opening and shedding of leaf sheaths, a character never seen in Matchisik or Machyong. The sago of both varieties is about the same. However, the yield in Misa is variable, roughly one load, sometimes more or less. Machyong has more fibre in the trunk, while Matchisik has less fibre. Misa doesn’t have much fibre either. When it’s grown, it yields more sago. The sago of all varieties is the same, according to him. He prefers the other two varieties over Machyong because Machyong has more fibre. Misa, when newly planted, one piece of a mature stem is also extremely difficult to carry (due to starch content), that is why he likes the variety. He had neglected his Palms and not maintained them for a long time. Just a few days ago, he cleared the undergrowth in his grove. There are too many Palms to maintain. A bird was seen flying to a Palm in the grove. Time-stamped section headings OH-008-29-1a (00:00:07) Characteristics of Machyong variety, the variety that grows in the forest and is not raised. Discussion about its appearance and identification, and starch quality. OH-008-29-1b (00:00:00) Characteristics of Misa variety, its appearance and starch quality. Comparison with other varieties raised.