This song was translated by the Right Reverend Galvin from the Kenyah people. It was published in the The Sarawak Museum Journal July-December 1962. He states the song is only part of a longer dirge. Head-Hunting Song Up with you! Shout along the length of the house Away and summon everyone. Call the young warriors […]
The Tortoise and Mouse DeerTranslated by A.C. HaddonThe tortoise and the mouse deer agreed to steal from a neighbouring garden the fruit known as ‘buah mah”(rambutan in Malay). The mouse deer suggested that the tortoise should climb the tree whilst he would pick up the fruit. The tortoise did so and threw down showers of
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Along the coast of Sarawak there were dugong or sea cows. In Malay, they were called sea women. They are extinct or nearly extinct. These animals were thought to be the source of mermaid stories among the Malay fishermen. The Tears of the Mermaid or Minyak Senyongyong are considered to be a strong love potion
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The Chinese in Borneo and SarawakThis long article tells of the Chinese migrations into Borneo and examines the historians positions. I will chronicle highlights some of the major events.The history begins with the Chou Dynasty in 300 B.C. where a historian noted the similarities between the designs on the Dayak shields and the art work
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Baketan, Bisayah, Siteng There are two papers in the Journal written by Benedict Sandin describing some of the people of north Sarawak. Another history by Tuton Kaboy reports on the Siteng People. The Bisayah of Limbang A quarrel over the fathers estate caused one man to leave the Philippines. He then married a Tenggara woman
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ilI know it’s hard to imagine, but imagine oil seeping out of the ground. Also imagine there are many places where this occurs in the Miri area. This was how Shell Oil Company found the oil to recover in Sarawak. Of course, Shell did not “find ” it. The people of Sarawak did. The people
The Bisayah, Tabun, Tagal and MurutThe Bisayah“The Bisayah are the indigenous people in Sarawak’s Fifth Division. Living side by side with them are the Kedayan and Pa Balat people. The Kedayan settled along the coast while the Pa Balat people fished in the sea and lower parts of the rivers in the area.”Earlier, the Limbang
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The Seven Omen Birds of the Iban Lang Sengalang Burong (Lang) is considered as the Chief all bird deities and appears on earth as the Brahminy kite. The Ketupong or Entis The authoritive or deliberate leader. He is Raja Ngaka of the many head trophies who dwells in the great tree full of bee’s nests
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Punan Hunting BlowpipesThe blowpipes came to the Punan from other tribes crossing from Indonesia. They are not the invention of the Punan and, in fact, nobody in Punan Busong knows how to make one. The dart is composed of two parts. One is the long sharp stick which is usually 3 mm wide and 23
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The second oldest temple in Kuching is the one on Carpenter Street erected by the TeoChew community. It was built in 1896(?) in honour of Hian Tien Shian Tee, God of Heaven who was born on the third day of the third moon and died on the ninth day of the ninth moon. On earth
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