(Source: https://www.merdeka.com/peristiwa/melihat-ciri-ciri-suku-mante-lewat-kacamata-arkeolog-aceh.html)
Lately, the trending news preached by Indonesian media social, particularly in Aceh is about a tribe which Acehnese name it as Mante or Bante tribe has been viral. That tribe is believed as the first tribe who found Aceh region centuries ago and is already extinct. Nevertheless, a group of Acehnese motor cross found that tribe in Aceh inland when they were performing a training at the area in May 2017, suddenly a tribe which called mante show up in front of them and ran away right after he saw a group of riders. Below I provide a video as the fact which I took from a rider who uploaded in to youtube:
(Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzWVwE1ed1RnwngwvoRUErw)
History of Mante/Bante Tribe
(Source: http://aceh.tribunnews.com/2017/04/04/ini-ciri-ciri-orang-mante-dari-kisah-pencari-getah-gaharu)
A Dutch historian, K F H van Langen on his book titled Inrichting van Het Atjehsche Staatsbestuur Onder Het Sultanaat stated that a tribe which called Mante, Bante, that in some other words is also named as Mantra or Bantir is an old Malaya tribe who first time found Sumatera island including Aceh and inhabited the island. Besides, an Acehnese historian Ali Abdullah, added that the tribes were before come from Batak tribe and after that moved and lived in the coastal of Aceh. However, when Aceh new comers landed in Aceh, those tribes decided to leave the coastal and headed to the Aceh wilderness forest. On contrary, An Acehnese historian, Rusdi Sufi claimed that those tribes (Mante) whose posture are like Hobbit in The Lord of The Rings are already extinct. They inhabited Aceh at 12 century. In addition, he stated the reason why those tribes are already extinct is because Aceh wilderness forest are now easily touched, that is why he believed that the tribes have already extinct.
The Characteristic of Mante Tribe
(Illustration. Source: http://harianriau.co/mobile/detailberita/9708/menguak-keberadaan-mante-suku-hobbit-aceh-yang-dianggap-punah-namun-dipercaya-masih-ada)
Based on an Acehnese explanation about his experience meeting Mante tribes when he was looking for gum in Aceh forest, he describes that the tribes are always in groups or gangs. They consumed fish or shells. Moreover, He also stated that their movement are so agile and that they will ran away together with groups when they see normal human. In addition, he told to the interviewers that the feet of Mante tribes are sideways form, so when the way they ran when they noticed normal human is by straddling. Besides, they don't wear any clothes.
Another statement about the characteristics of Mante tribes is discussed by an Acehnese archaeologist. He perceived that the tribes still exist and currently live in the wilderness of Aceh forest. Besides, he describes that the Mante characteristics are easy to recognize since they are quite different from normal people. What makes Mante tribes different from normal people is that the height of Mante tribes is only 60 centimeters compared to normal human which height is 160 centimeters or more than that. In addition, he also added that their character is so Malaya with the straight hair and long to the back. That is why Mante tribe is called The Hobbit of Aceh since their height only 60 centimeters.
Furthermore, he explained that Mante tribes are not able to speak Acehnese language although they inhabit in Aceh forest, they have their own language to produce in daily conversation toward each other (toward Mante groups). In addition, He stated that mante tribes make caves in forest as places for them to stay and nomadic which means they move from one cave to other cave. Besides, their daily food to consume is what nature provided. For instance, they consume fish, shells, leaves, fruit and other else.
So what do you think Steemian? Do you believe that The Hobbit really exist after reading this story along with its video as a proof or not?
Thank you for reading.