Jukung are small yachts. They used to have significant practical functions. Now, Cocos Malays race them. They also are important symbols.
 |
| Jukung in the old copra processing shed. |
Cocos Jukung are whaleboats, not outriggers
Cocos Malays have their own kind of yacht called jukung (also rendered "jukong"). Although its practical uses are limited, it still possesses, I think, an important symbolic role.On the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the jukung used to be the preferred mode of transport across the atoll. Unlike in Indonesia, where the term "jukung" usually refers to a sailing boat with outrigger/s, on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the "jukung" has no outrigger. Indeed, its design could be equated with what, in the European tradition, is called a "whaleboat".
Viewed from the outside, the jukung has a white bottom (hull), over that are blue and yellow stripes, and then the top of the side (gunwale) has a varnished wood finish. It has a single and a detachable steering plank (rudder) at the back. It also possesses only one upright pole (mast) to hold up the sails. Jukung are of varying lengths.
Sizes of jukung
 |
| Preparing for race 2014 |
 |
| Deteriorating jukung and the shed to house them. |
Additionally, many jukung are lying around Home Island, gradually disintegrating. I think this a matter of consternation for many, so the safe storage of jukung has become an important issue for locals. Indeed, when I write this in August 2014, a large shed was being constructed to house them, as depicted on the right.
Like boats in other traditions, each jukung has its own name.
3 uses for jukung
1. Transport
Jukung have had three main uses. First, the jukung used to be used for transport (people, coconuts, etc.) around the atoll. The image on the right, for example appears to depict a coconut collector ("nutter") taking a sack of nuts from his jukung to be processed on Home Island.2. Hunting and fishing
Second, the jukung was used for hunting (spearing fish; sailing to Keeling Island to catch booby birds, catching turtles) and fishing (both line and net fishing). It was not uncommon, for example, for men to sail a jukung, alone, to Keeling Island and sail back navigating by the stars. Haji Wahiib, for example, remembers waiting at night for his dad to return from Keeling Island. The photo below seems to depict fishermen returning with a haul. |
| Plenty of fish in a jukung. Photo courtesy of John Clunies Ross |
3. Jukung racing
Spectators watch the 1st day of racing
The third use of jukung continues to the present; namely racing after Hari Raya. In 2014 There were five days of racing using progressively larger sails and boats. The races lasted from about 9am-10am. I have written about the races in my blog on Hari Raya .
A small amount of prize money was available for each race. Some of this had been donated by the shire. Some had been raised by the jukung club. The races were competitive, keenly fought affairs. I've put up my shonky recording of a tight finish on YouTube.
These races hold a special place for the community on Home Island. They could be compared to the The Boat Race for Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Nevertheless, according to local residents, the number of competing boats declines as the years go by.
Fundraising for the jukung club
 |
| Market under cyclone shelter |
As stated, some of the prize money for the racing had been raised through the jukung club. They put on a market on Saturday, June 7, under the cyclone shelter.
 |
| The till, manned by Nek Fifi and Nek Sofia |
 |
| Fish'n'chips tastes better when fried on a wood fire |
Symbolism of jukung
 |
| Yellow and blue stripes |
I'm not sure if this is something that Cocos Malays explicitly dwell upon, but it seems that the jukung symbolism encapsulates much of what is important.
Yellow and blue strips are painted below the gunwale on every jukung I have seen, exactly as in the photo on the right.
 |
| Circumcised boy in yellow and blue |
Cocos Malays identify yellow and blue as the colors worn by the bride and groom at marriage.
 |
| School colors |
The boy who is circumcised wears these clothes too. As I described in a blog on circumcision ceremonies, the ritual 'officially' states that the boy is ready to marry (although in practice this is delayed for several years at least).
Yellow, or more specifically gold, is an auspicious colour in many Malay cultures.
Yellow and blue are also the colors of the school and its students' uniforms.
Aside from the yellow and blue, it's possible, as my blog on symbolism speculates, that the jukung symbolizes the phalus or fertility. The back part (stern) of the boat, where the steering plank (rudder) connects, is called the konek (foreskin).
The boat is thus connected with with getting married and producing offspring. I think these two goals remain central to Cocos Malay culture, even as the place of the jukung changes.
 |
| Returning to shore after the jukung race, part of 2014 Hari Raya celebrations |
History of Jukung
Van der Jagt visited the islands in 1829 and wrote:
Kaijoe Korongang . is not so plentiful, is hard and is used by Mr. Ross in the construction of light open boats, a purpose for which it is most suitable (Gibson-Hill, "Documents", 1952, p. 152).
Perhaps these "light open boats" are the forerunners of Cocos Malay jukung.
FitzRoy, about his 1836 visit with Charles Darwin, wrote "A party of men go in a light boat and look for a fine turtle in some shallow place". About this of the boats, John Clunies-Ross I complained in the "Preface" about the " the tear and wear of the boat upon the sharp and jagged coral". I assume that they are talking about jukung here, but we can't be sure.
