A Sebob Saga

The Saga of the Child of Padan Sigau

(A Sebob Saga)

Padan Sigau lived at Tebau Na-a

A man of great renown

He married a lady called Bungan from Alo Mara

They had a child, the child of Bungan

who was born at Tebau Na-A

A very brave lad he proved to be

an expert at the blowpipe

all the folks at Tebau Na-a and Alo Mara

were in admiration of him

the child of Padan Sigau

 All the people of that kampong had rays coming out

from their bodies down to the little son of Padan Sigau

They all praised and flattered him

The people of Tebau Na-a

But they said to him: On no account

must you go bathing

They stood on the steps of the house

to sing a song of praise

To this child of Padan Sigau

A very brave fellow Balun Ngareng

Sang the praises of Padan Sigau

As he stood with his child

A fine fellow from Leppo Tebau Na-a

Here we begin to sing the praises

Of Padan Sigau

Padan Sigau had a very good child

Who grew up at Tebau Na-a

Come all of you to come and praise the child

From his arm emerge rays

Leppo Batong

even from the very marrow

of the child of Padan Sigau

The people of Leppo Alo Mars

were very surprised to see him

“What? You have not seen him until now?”

they exclaimed

When the people of Tebau Na-a

first saw his tears rolled down their cheeks

He went down to the river to bathe

At the bathing place near the house

The people of Tebau Na-a did not want him to leave them

and advised that he wait till the end of the month

before going for a bath

They did want him to go bathing

lest he lose his strength

but he was unwilling to obey them

the famous child of Padan Sigau

The child started to cry

and all the people of Leppo Tebau Na-a

came to comfort him because

he was crying so bitterly

He kept on crying not wanting to

following their advice and made off

to the water’s edge

The people in the house became quite upset

and rushed down to the riverbank

but he was gone

“What can be helped” they cried

His mother set out to search for him

to bring him back

but as soon as she reached him

away he darted, not wanting to obey her

So his father caught up with him

as the child strode boldly from rock to rock

His father did not want to walk to the ground

and felt very sorry for him

All relations followed after

the runaway child

And to comfort the father and mother

But the little lad said to them

“Don’t you people fuss yourselves

I can use my eyes”

Up everyone sprang in the village

of Leppo Tebau Na-a

But the child escaped and

dashed along the river as though

he was walking on steps

After him, they ran over logs

one after the other

until they came to rock with steps cut in it

He used this as a landing place

and then came to a long rapid stream

Over scrambled, over these rocks

the rocks were carved by a dragon “Bali Sunggei !”

He had to make a long detour over

the rocks, the precious rocks of gold

One rock he saw was a big diamond

and now he got onto the firm ground again

and came to a bridge

he put his hands over his eyes

and all the people watched the child of

Padan Sigau in consternation

and with one heart and mind

they wondered at their child prodigy

They all came together

and what a huge crown they were!

The father got hold of the lad and

hoisted him his back afraid he might get hurt

He carried him safely over the bridge

By Bali Matang !

“Don’t think of anything else; only take care of the child”

said the spirit

“Whoever hurts this child does wrong to all mankind”

“Don’t worry” said the father” I won’t think of aught else”

“That’s right,” said the spirit “Keep your mouth shut:

only take care of the child”

So they all watched as the father carried

him safely back home

“Wait a bit,” said the father “I want to wash him now” which he did

Quickly they hurried him to the house

Afraid lest he disappears again into the river

They all stood guard on the steps

of the house and at the riverbank

They all went home after this

People say you can see his grave (because his father gave him a bath)

To this day at Leppo Taban Na-a

The grave of the beloved child of Padan Sigau

Fr: Japat Tempurong translated by the Very Rev A.D. Galvin The Child of Padan Sigau in The Sarawak Museum Journal December, 1965

Our book Sarawak River Valley Early Days to 1840 can be purchased as an e-book from Amazon.Com