Samosir

Ronggur Nihuta, Indonesia

Samosir, or Samosir Island, is a large volcanic island in Lake Toba, located in the north of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Administratively, Samosir Island is governed as six of the nine districts within Samosir Regency. Ritual cannibalism was well documented among pre-colonial Batak people, being performed in order to strengthen the eater’s tendi (life-soul). In particular, the blood, heart, palms and soles of the feet were seen as rich in tendi. In Marco Polo’s memoirs of his stay on the east coast of Sumatra (then called Java Minor) from April to September 1292, he mentions an encounter with hill folk whom he refers to as “man-eaters”. From secondary sources, Marco Polo recorded stories of ritual cannibalism among the “Battas”. Marco Polo’s stay was restricted to the coastal areas, and he never ventured inland to directly verify such claims. Our guide showed us some large granite stones in a village which was apparently used to decapitate the victims.