It is unknown when the toraja people began to maker the erong grave (big wooden coffin). But it is sure that this pactice is much older than stone graves. Its remains may still be seen in various cave in toraja.An erong is wooden coffin whish is shaped like a rice stamping block. Its walls are adorned with carvings called pa'erong, which are intended to attract more blessings from the ancestors. It is hollowed out of jack fruit wood or other hard wood and its cover is removeable. Its forms and shape vary, some of them look like buffaloes and pigs, the others resemble boats. These forms may indicate the voyage of the soul to the next world.After the corpse is placed in the erong, it is carried to a cave. Some are hung, the others are just scattered at the foot of the mountain. Each erong belongs to one family.

Many erong-types are at Cakke, Duri, 50 km to the south of Rantepao. According to informant Ne' Ruding (80 years old) these wooden coffin are made of different wood depending upon the social status of the dead. Erong which are made from cendana tree (sandal wood) belong to the noble class and its form is like boat, erong hoolloed out of jack fruit wood belong to the middle class and for commoners their erong are rectanguler and the wood is a simple one. In Duri complex this coffin is called mandu' and unlike the erong in toraja, it belongs to only one person. This coffin which is placed very high in the mountain can be seen at Tontonan cave, 1 km off the main road.

 

Source: LIFE AND DEATH IN toraja by STANISLAUS SANDARUPA