| Handicrafts
 Handicrafts
represent the ethnic background of the people who make them. It
provides an insight into their cultural ethnicity and history. One
of the most widely produced handicraft in Sabah is basketry as these
are used by nearly all ethnic groups. The Kadazandusun is well known
for this particular handicraft as well as musical instruments made
of bamboo. Miniature representations of these items have been produced
for the commercial market although some of these articles still
maintain their original shape and style.
The Rungus have long been known to produce beautiful beaded necklaces.
Patterns on the strands tell of ancient fables and human figures
are picked out in bright hues in the beadwork. Also of particular
interest are the trays and containers made from coils of the lias
plant bound together with lingkong, a kind of grass.
 Handicrafts of the Bajau add a burst of colour
in any souvenir shop or open market. One is instantly attracted
to the bright colours of the tudung saji, the local name for a food
cover. These as well as the equally brightly coloured mats are made
of pandanus leaves. The Bajaus are also known for their superb skills
in forging parang or machetes from iron. The hilt and sheath are
carved from wood. In the past, the parang was used as a weapon as
well as a work tool but these days it is mainly a decorative item
for display. Parang used for work is still made today but does not
have the any decorative features.
 Native
hats reveal their native origin based on the shapes and patterns
on it. The natives of Papar make hats that are steeply conical and
have nature-derived patterns on them. Murut hats woven from strips
of bamboo are hexagonal in shape with three bands of pattern weaving.
Hats from Penampang and Tuaran have wider circular bases with geometrical
designs. All these hats are crafted from bamboo and rattan strips,
and the red and black colours of the patterns are usually natural
dyes.
One particular handicraft of the Murut that will surely capture
the imagination is the blowpipe. These were used widely in the past
for hunting in the wild jungles of Sabah. They are made of either
bamboo or hardwood in which case the central duct has to drilled
through. Decorative blowpipes are shorter and not as efficient a
tool as ones made in days of old.
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