This bamboo vessel with traces of lime residue would have once formed part of a larger set of paraphernalia for the preparation and consumption of betel. The slaked lime contained within would have been combined with areca nut (‘pinang’) and other desired ingredients before being wrapped in betel (‘sirih’) leaves to form chewing quads. As well as producing a mild
stimulative effect, betel was believed to possess medicinal and magical properties, and to facilitate contact with the supernatural world. Throughout Borneo even the most utilitarian items were embellished with elaborate designs alluding to plants and creatures from the natural world as well as those from the upper and lower realms. One of the most prominent designs is the mythical dragon–dog (‘aso’) motif, a fierce creature of the underworld associated with fertility and believed to provide great protection from malevolent spirits. In this container, a design of entwined ‘aso’ motifs has been carved into the surface of the bamboo tube. The designs have been abstracted to create a stylised yet identifiable reference to the large jaws and curling fangs of the composite beast.