ABSTRACT
Ethnography is an interpretive discipline which aims at the understanding and translation of culture, that is, the rendering of the unintelligible intelligible. Throughout Temiar thoughts and practices people shall see that there are cross-cutting categories of expected behaviour that establish the boundaries of the human body, the domestic house, social groups and the wider community. There is some variation between geographical areas and not all Temiars necessarily agree on the finer detail of prohibitions. Families lay claim to the harvest from their own family orchards while the fruit is still on the trees. Once it has fallen on to the ground anyone can claim it. There is a similarity between the effect the blood of the slaughtered animals may have on women and children, and the effect of menstrual blood on men. Misik also applies to certain other obvious acts carried on outside which should be done in the house.
