My favourite piece of oral history about Sarawak. Kuching, Sarawak, is dominated by a mountain called Santubong. This article is attributed to the reign of Sagenta Galam by the Dukun who told us these oral histories. Because of the details in the story, we believe the account to be true.

Before it was called Santubong, the area was titled Ponik. The Chinese must have had a settlement at Ponik because Sagenta Galam talks about conversations with them. Following this occurrence, the locals named the mountains and the name Santubong became synonymous with the area. … Life is good Tom and Suriani

Sagenta Galam (Indra Galam real name) ~1011-1053

The Legend of Tsan/San Tu Bong and Tse /Se Jinjang

Early in the reign of Indra Galam, an agreement was made with the Chinese. The people of China were in the midst of a civil war, and they needed a safe and secure place to keep their women and children (girls only). The leader also asked that they were not to mix with the local population. They were to be kept isolated. In exchange, Galam was given nine cannons and a ship.

The refugees arrived in two groups, the Tsan/Shan and the Tse. One group was placed on Mt. Santubong and the other on Mt. Sejinjang. After four months in the mountains building huts and planting gardens for food, the male members went back to China to continue the war. Indra Galam forbade his people from visiting the mountains.

Indra Galam had a fine strapping son in the prime of adolescence bursting with sexual energy. Indra Sarik loved to hunt the many deer in the area. He led a group of similar youths on a hunting expedition. It was late afternoon and their spears had not pierced an animal. Suddenly, a deer appeared while they were at the foot of the forbidden mountain. With a mighty thrust, the deer was hit and ran up the slopes. The other youths refused to follow, remembering Indra Galam’s edict.

Indra Sarik, being the son of the ruler, figured he would give chase. Besides, he had heard strange rumours of beautiful women living there, and he wanted to investigate. He lost track of the deer but came across the settlement. The women were beautiful! They had nearly white skin and new moon eyes. Indra Sarik became awestruck. The ladies were also intrigued because this was the first time they had seen a male in his prime with deep bronze skin and rippling muscles.

Some older ladies invited him in. He was told the place was the abode of the Tsan family. Hormones flaring on both sides of the compound, he stayed for three days. His favourite was a girl named Tsan Tu Bong, the daughter of the female leader. She could weave and carve. Sarik was surprised that she could also speak rudimentary Malay, taught to her by the elderly Chinese women. He had fallen in teenage love, and she with him. He descended the mountain and told his parents that he wanted to arrange a marriage.

Meanwhile, rumours flew to the Tse who were living on another mountain. Jing Jang, daughter of the ruler, also wanted to see this magnificent specimen of a Malay male in his prime. Jing Jang positioned her maid with a group of other ladies to intercept and invite Indra Siak as he came down from the Tsan people.

Indra Siak accepted the invitation of the Tse people and was brought to Jing Jang. He discovered the Tse people were an agricultural group with strong muscles and darker skin as they worked out in the sun. He was treated very well and stayed there for four days, enjoying the nightly visits of the young girls. Jing Jang fell in love with him, but despite the ministrations of her body, he told her he was still in love with Tsan Tu Bong. Female jealousy raged, and Jing Jang said she wanted to take Tsan Tu Bong away from him.

Indra Sarik left the compound and went home and told his father about his experiences in the mountains. He also told him he wanted to marry Tsan Tu Bong. His father became furious and forbade Indra Sarik from going back to the mountains to satisfy his lust. He placed a guard over Sarik to ensure this did not happen.

Meanwhile, rumours flew between the people of the two mountains. They said that Indra Sarik will marry Jing Jang. She claimed that Indra Sarik loved her more because he had spent four nights at her place and only three at Tsan Tsu Bong. 

The two girls met, and a catfight broke out. Tsan Tu Bong whacked Jing Jang in the head with a Kayo Belidak. (a piece of wood used in weaving).

Tsan Tu Bong remembered that Indra Sarik had promised he would take her to meet the King and to tell him his intentions about them getting married. She waited for two months and Indra Sarik did not show. Tsan Tu Bong was determined to find Indra Sarik and meet Raja Galam. When she reached Indera Ponik, she went to the palace and wanted to meet the king. She told him that she wished to marry Indra Sarik. He informed her that, unfortunately, he could not grant the wish because of the agreement made with the Tse and Tsan. It was clear that the two groups could not intermarry. Indra Sarik and Tsan Tu Bong were made very sad by the decision. They were allowed to meet for the last time, and they promised to love each other for all eternity. Tsan Tu Bong returned to the mountain broken-hearted. She missed Indra Sarik so much that she carved an image of her lover on a huge rock. It took her over a month and the image is visible today. Not long after that, the Chinese returned and brought the Tsan and Tse families back to China.

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