Sorry this late but the U.S. elections were a real bummer for me. I have finally dug myself out of a dark hole and am so blessed I live in Sarawak, Kuching Borneo….Life is good
Dragon Fly
Here we describe the adult male and describe and illustrate the adult female of Kribiodorum belalong for the first time, both based on specimens recently collected in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia. CHIRONOMUS Journal of Chironomidae Research No. 38, 2024: 25-30
Mushrooms
Globally mushroom poisoning remains a significant health concern, with fatalities reported annually, particularly in parts of Asia where foraging is common. Globally, the most dangerous mushrooms include the Amanita species, such as Amanita phalloides (death cap), and Amanita virosa (destroying angel), both of which contain lethal toxins that cause organ failure. Other harmful species like Gyromitra esculenta (false morel) and various Cortinarius species also contribute to mushroom poisoning. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.108133
Biodiversity
Indonesia is extremely rich in biodiversity and was ranked as the second most biodiverse country in the world. Despite its unique biodiversity, this country has among the highest number of threatened species globally with habitat loss from severe deforestation as the primary threat. My dissertation reports on the status of research on Artiodactyla,(pigs, deer) an underrepresented mammalian order in Indonesia. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/etd/4067
Kapuas River Kingdoms
Initially, Malays and Dayaks, traded and they lived temporarily on lanting (rafts). When the trade center changed, its center also changed, triggered by the fall of the Malay trade center of Malacca to the Portuguese in 1511. The new kingdom of Pontianak emerged due to increased trade and profit, which brought prosperity to this area. This condition affected the upstream area of the Kapuas River. Then, new kingdoms (centers of power) emerged on a smaller scale. The new kingdoms also indicated the increasing growth of trade activities. So, the desire to be independent of the influence of more prominent kingdoms triggered relationships of mutual suppression to acquire more profit. ESIC | Vol. 8 | No. 3 | Fall 2024
Seahorses
The global seahorse trade is driven by their perceived medicinal and cultural importance. For example, seahorses are valued as key ingredients in traditional medicine used to support the well-being of millions of people. Dried forms of seahorses are consumed in traditional Chinese medicine. Seahorses reportedly increase and balance energy flow and cure conditions such as impotence and infertility, high cholesterol, kidney disorders, goitres, asthma and skin conditions such as acne and allergies. Consumers also believe that medicines derived from seahorses act as a genital tonic. Malay communities also use seahorse extracts in ointments for external medicinal application, and they believe in keeping dried seahorses to repel evil spirits. In summary, we found that most of the general public and fisher respondents in Malaysia do not use seahorses in any way. A minority reported using seahorses as traditional medicine, ornaments, pets, for spiritual purposes and for research and in educational display materials. doi:10.1017/S0030605324000425
Nasopharnyx Cancer
I have always been interested in this cancer because of its prevalence among the Serian Bidayuh people which have the highest incidence of this cancer in the world. The availability of certain molecules, damage to the DNA and mitochondrial membrane degeneration all contribute to this cancer. However, caspase which causes cell death may lead to this cancer. International Medical Journal Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 141 – 143 , October 2024
Buddhism and Burma
Although not specifically having to do with Borneo, this essay traces the ancient relationship between India, Burma and Java. Indic Heritage & Culture Vol. II, Issue I, 2023
Makassar and Chinese Trade
This essay describes the trade between Makassar and China from the beginning of the 17th century to 1669 when the Dutch conquered Makassar. doi:10.1017/S0165115324000159
Malaysia and Singapore
Why did Singapore develop into a secular country while Malaysia embraced Islam? The study concludes that ethnic politics and elite decision-making during critical moments of nation formation led to the current divergence between the secularism of Singapore and the religious orientation of Malaysia. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13938925 or I have a copy. Just ask
Preserving longhouses
This paper argues for the preservation and inclusion of old parts of the longhouse such as belian wood into the new longhouses being constructed with modern materials. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.13938925
Whopping Cough among Infants
The average annual incidence of laboratory-confirmed pertussis in Sarawak, Malaysia, was extremely high at 482 per 100,000 infants aged < 12 months. Severe disease was present in a third of infants, and nearly one-quarter overall needed intensive care. Infants aged < 3 months accounted for over 75% of cases, and nearly all cases of severe disease or those that required invasive ventilation or intensive care had received ≤ 1 dose of pertussis vaccination. J Infect Dev Ctries 2024; 18(9):1394-1403. doi:10.3855/jidc.18837
Negroids
There are three areas where negroids are present in Southeast Asia. The first are on the Andaman Islands, the second on the north Malay peninsula, the third in the south Philippines while the fourth are remains of a negroid population on Taiwan. The reason for the lack of negroids on Borneo Island: “No evidence has yet been discovered in Indonesia for culturally or sociopolitically separate populations distinguished by a negrito phenotype. This is surprising, especially for Borneo, where on ecological and geographical grounds one might expect to find them. Nevertheless, some historical evidence (for example, Earl 1978 [1853]: 114–149) gives reason to believe that negritos may once have lived on Borneo but have since disappeared as distinct populations—either through replacement by or admixture with later arrivals (Malayo-Polynesian-speakers again).1 So it would not be entirely unexpected if traces of Bornean negritos were someday brought to light through paleoanthropological investigation”. Dr George Forth in Ancient Taiwanese Negritos and Mystery Hominoids in Indonesia in Seeking the Koko’ta’ay Brill 2024. I have a copy.
Green Sea Turtles
Green sea turtles, known scientifically as Chelonia mydas, prefer to nest on specific sandy beaches in Sarawak, particularly within the Sarawak Turtle Islands (STI). The number of turtles landing is an important element in assessing the population size in Sarawak. The math models suggest that the current conditions will likely increase turtle landings. doi.org/10.55230/mabjournal.v53i4.3050
Chinese Interpreters
This paper delves into the position of Chinese interpreters in 19th century Dutch East Indies. It explains their training in Leiden, their work representing the Dutch government and other cultural aspects. “References to Pontianak and other Borneo areas.” They made an important contribution to Chinese- Dutch relations” DOI: 10.4324/9781032687766-4 An interesting read.
New Species
A new one-leaf plant species from Western Sarawak, Malaysia, is described and illustrated. Monophyllaea kazuea Nur Athirah Nabihah & Meekiong was found exclusively on Mount Stulang in Sarawak suggesting that it may be endemic to this region. https://doi.org/10.18942/apg.202418
Japanese and Sabah
This study seeks to examine the recognition that should have been given to Sabah’s indigenous fighters against the Japanese occupation in Sabah, exploring the cooperation between Sabah’s indigenous community and the KGDF in the anti-Japanese movement between 1942 and 1945. https://doi.org/10.21315/kajh2024.31.2.1
Japanese Invasion of Indonesia
Rampok means the looting and chaos that followed the Japanese invasion of Indonesia including Borneo. This essay documents the social disorder that occurred after 1942. I have a copy.
Mushrooms
The Malaysian Nature Journal has three articles on mushrooms. The first describes mushrooms in four caves in Sabah. The second describes three different mushrooms from three different districts in Sabah. The third tells of a medicinal mushroom thought only found on Hainan Island in China but now made known to science from Sabah. 10.62613/mnj.24763.03
New Species
This study presents the discovery of a new intertidal species of marine worm of the family Onuphidae, Onuphis eremita Audouin and Milne- Edwards 1833 in the Buntal Beach, the eastern coast of East Malaysia. The identification is based on the analysis of 19 specimens collected from Buntal Beach, Santubong, Sarawak. 10.13057/biodiv/d251039
BorneoHistory.net
