- Sabah’s Kadazan Dusun tribe believe the mountain houses the spirits of their dead ancestors
- The name Kinabalu is derived from the tribe’s phrase “Aki Nabalu”, which means resting place of the dead
- Climbers are told by guides, many of whom are Kadazan Dusun, to treat the mountain with respect and to refrain from shouting, screaming or cursing at it
- Every December the tribe conducts a ritual called the Monolob to appease the spirits and allow climbers to continue visiting the mountain
- A priestess, called a Bobolian, makes an offering of seven white chickens accompanied by seven chicken eggs, betel nuts, tobacco, limestone powder, and betel plant leaves. The Bobolian leads a chant and the chickens are then slaughtered, cooked, and given to the ceremony participants
- In the past, this ceremony was conducted before every ascent, and climbers used the cooked meat as rations for their journey
(Source: BBC.com)
