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Location In the modern Indonesian state, Enggano [7] has the status of a kecamantan - a subdistrict - and the island is part of the Bengkulu province. It is situated some 170 km south of Bengkulu town.
Even today Enggano Island can only be reached by boat. Boat services run between Jakarta and Bengkulu. From the latter town there is a more-or-less regular service twice a month. Approaching the island by boat one sees immediately that Enggano is a low island, with hills not higher than 250 metres. The interior is covered with heavy vegetation and it is very difficult to get through.
In the past villages were located in the hills in the interior, but nowadays the villages can only be found on the north-east coast. From the north-west to the south-east one finds Banjarsari, Meok, Apoho, Malakoni, Kaana and Kayapu. The south-west coast of Enggano is difficult to reach. The Indian Ocean falls on the coast with full force, and the former paths connecting the villages of the interior with those on the coast are now overgrown by forest. From the hills to the sea flow narrow rivers, which are only accessible by boat for a few kilometres: they do not take a traveller very far inland.
The natural environment on Enggano is rather poor . Probably due to a long period of isolation, the variety of plants and animals is small. Deers and monkeys, for example, are not found on the island. Therefore the important role these animals play in the ritual life of the nearby and culturally related island of Mentawai cannot be found on Enggano. The few mammals that do occur in the forest are wild pig, the luak (polecat), and the rat. Domesticated pigs are also kept, as are dogs, cats, kerbau (water buffalo) and sapi (cows). Reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes are present on the island in large numbers. | | ||||||||||
