Islam comes to Borneo The Arab traders came from India and began commerce in various ports.  Settling in the trade ceners, they intermarried with the people of the land, and these heathen wives and the slaves of their households thus formed the nucleus of a Muslim community. The traders and

A Sarawak Book While living here, I noticed a lack of books about the history of the Sarawak area pre-1840. I searched all the local libraries and museums, and none were to be found. I began my search by visiting kampong houses searching for people who may have copies of

A swashbuckling sailor who turned priest and tried to free the slaves on Borneo Don Carlos Cuarteron Coming from a prosperous family, Don Carlos Cuarteron went to sea at the age of 13 in 1829 boarding a ship for the Philippines, Spain’s most prosperous colony at the time. While on

Spain and North Borneo Spain’s desire to colonise the Philippines became clear  when it named the islands after Prince Philip in 1543. The inauguration of the Manila Galleon  route in 1564 between Manila and the Americas consolidated  Spanish power. Spain then dispatched its authorities to colonise other areas of the

Riddles of the Dusuns While engaged in husking rice, the Dusun of North Borneo will enliven their work by proposing riddles to each other: 1. It creeps and its path is invisible. (a boat) 2. Digging all day and it digs nothing out. (a paddle) 3. Planted in the morning

All Creatures #81 Betta on Banka A study on three species of Siamese Fighting Fish on the island of Banka in Indonesia indicates they grow longer faster than they gain weight. They also are also genetically very closely related. This information will provide a basis for further studies on the