THE SUBAK
The rugged, mountainous nature of the island, closely furrowed
by deep ravines, makes irrigation extremely difficult. Water
is led from the mountains to the various levels of cultivated
land by an elaborate system of canals, dams, bamboo pipes, and
even long tunnels cix-it t4ough solid rock, to the dikes that
permit the sawa to be flooded or drained at will. Solid matter
is filtered off and pools are made for sand deposits to prevent
the clogging of the ricefields.
It is obvious that small landowners could not carry out, alone,
the tremendous task of attending to the work of irrigation.
It became necessary for them to organize into subaks, agricultural
cooperative societies, " water boards " that control
the equitable distribution of water to their members, all those
who take water from a cammon source. The objectives of the subak
are to give the small agriculturist the assurance that he will
not lack water, to police the dams effectively so that strangers
will not divert the water supply, to settle disputes, and to
attend to the communal rice festivals. In the village the. society
assumes full social, technical, and, administrative authority
in all matters concerning irrigation and agriculture .
Like the village and ward associations, the subak is presided
over by elected headmen, the klian and penyarikan subak, with
their assistants (pangliman). The subak leaders open and preside
over the meetings, see that the decisions and rules are carried
out, impose fines and penalties, and act as treasurers of the
organization. They keep written records of the names of the
members and of all transactions and proceedings. The offices
of the subak leaders are un rewarded, except, as in the case
of other societies, for certain privileges such as extra shares
of water and a small percentage of the fines collected. Every
man who owns ricefields is compelled to join the subak and to
carry out orders. Members may be allowed to buy off their services,
but they must be present when important repairs are made, even
though they may pay others to do their share of the work.
Once a month, or oftener if necessary, a general meeting is
held in the little temple of the subak, a small shrine dedicated
to the agricultural deities, built out in the middle of the
ricefields. Attendance is compulsory and an absentee who is
not properly justified is fined. When the members have gathered,
the headman reads the roll, communicates the improvements and
repairs to be carried out, reports on the relations of the society
with higher officials " and with other subaks, and accounts
for money received in fines and fees as well as what has been
spent in materials, offerings, and so forth. Important decisions
are reached by majority vote. When all business is settled,
the headman adjourns the meeting and an informal social gathering
follows in which tobacco, sirih, and refreshments are served
by appointed attendants. If the subak is a prosperous one, there
may even be a banquet.
Like other Balinese associations, the spirit of the subak is
essentially communal; all members abide by the same rules, each
one being allotted work in relation to the amount of water he
receives. Certain stipulations are made to prevent individuals
from holding more land than would be convenient to the community.
A man who has more land than be can work is compelled to share
the produce with people appointed to help him.
