RICE,
WORK, & WEALTH
THE
SUBAK
The rugged,
mountainous nature of the island, closely furrowed by deep ravines,
makes irrigation extremely difficult. Water is led from the mountains
to the various levels of cultivated land by an elaborate system
of canals, dams, bamboo pipes, and even long tunnels cix-it t4ough
solid rock, to the dikes that permit the sawa to be flooded or
drained at will. Solid matter is filtered off and pools are made
for sand deposits to prevent the clogging of the ricefields.
It is obvious that small
landowners could not carry out, alone, the tremendous task of
attending to the work of irrigation. It became necessary for them
to organize into subaks, agricultural cooperative societies, "
water boards " that control the equitable distribution of
water to their members, all those who take water from a cammon
source. The objectives of the subak are to give the small agriculturist
the assurance that he will not lack water, to police the dams
effectively so that strangers will not divert the water supply,
to settle disputes, and to attend to the communal rice festivals.
In the village the. society assumes full social, technical, and,
administrative authority in all matters concerning irrigation
and agriculture .
Like the village and ward
associations, the subak is presided over by elected headmen, the
klian and penyarikan subak, with their assistants (pangliman).
The subak leaders open and preside over the meetings, see that
the decisions and rules are carried out, impose fines and penalties,
and act as treasurers of the organization. They keep written records
of the names of the members and of all transactions and proceedings.
The offices of the subak leaders are un rewarded, except, as in
the case of other societies, for certain privileges such as extra
shares of water and a small percentage of the fines collected.
Every man who owns ricefields is compelled to join the subak and
to carry out orders. Members may be allowed to buy off their services,
but they must be present when important repairs are made, even
though they may pay others to do their share of the work.
Once a month, or oftener
if necessary, a general meeting is held in the little temple of
the subak, a small shrine dedicated to the agricultural deities,
built out in the middle of the ricefields. Attendance is compulsory
and an absentee who is not properly justified is fined. When the
members have gathered, the headman reads the roll, communicates
the improvements and repairs to be carried out, reports on the
relations of the society with higher officials " and with
other subaks, and accounts for money received in fines and fees
as well as what has been spent in materials, offerings, and so
forth. Important decisions are reached by majority vote. When
all business is settled, the headman adjourns the meeting and
an informal social gathering follows in which tobacco, sirih,
and refreshments are served by appointed attendants. If the subak
is a prosperous one, there may even be a banquet.
Like other Balinese associations,
the spirit of the subak is essentially communal; all members abide
by the same rules, each one being allotted work in relation to
the amount of water he receives. Certain stipulations are made
to prevent individuals from holding more land than would be convenient
to the community. A man who has more land than be can work is
compelled to share the produce with people appointed to help him.
Bali rice
1, 2, 3
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