The Brooke Attack on Lawas If you look at a map of the very northern part of Sarawak, you will notice two fingers dividing Brunei. This essay discusses the second finger, which borders Brunei on the western side and Sabah to the east. The threat to the Brooke regime began as a disagreement over customs […]
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PROBABLY one of the most bizarre and unbelievable stories ever to come out of Sarawak was the report the Royal Air Force parachuted cats into Bario in 1960. The story begins with the attempt to eradicate malaria in the Kelabit Highlands. A report in the Straits Times states F LaChance, a World Health Organisation (WHO)
The British Punjab Retreat from Kuching Toms Note: The Punjabis or Sikhi are from India and are known for their smart turbans. They were led by British commanders during the colonial period. The Germans entered Belgium, Holland and France in 1940. They were unable to take England because of the British Air superiority. They next
British Blunders lead to Punjabi Defeats in Kuching Retreats Read More »
Tom’s Note: This 630-page book tells the story of the third district of Sarawak. Unfortunately named “Anthropogenic Tropical Forests”, it is a compilation of research papers written by Japanese and Sarawak scholars. This magnificent and illustrated tome provides information not found elsewhere. From the people’s history to the fishes and the effects of oil plantations, this
A History of Sarawak’s Third Division Read More »
A History of Bidayuh Vegetable Marketing The Sekeduk Bidayuh adopted the idea of vegetable marketing from the Chinese living closer to Kuching in Beratok and Tapah. They at first used the trial and error method of growing vegetables. Later, the early Bidayuh adopters played as experts in the Bidayuh community. When the Bidayuh had problems
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Tom’s note: These stories are from the headman of the upper class of the Leppo Tan Kenyah in 1959. Improper Pregnancy In ancient times, whenever a Kenyah woman was found to be with a child without a responsible man, the woman was sent far away into the forest where she had to stay alone in
Punishments among the Kenyans Read More »
Pegu and Sarawak Pegu was a city-state located on the eastern side of Burma between Burma and Thailand. The country had easy access to ships from Malacca, India and Persia and their main exchange were rubies. There was a regular trade route from Yunnan to Pegu in the second century. The colony was established, according
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
Sarawak River Valley, Early Times to 1840: Santubong Kuching Brunei bySURAINI BINTI SAHARI and TOM MCLAUGHLIN, Kuching, Sarawak, SueJ’s Enterprises, 2020, ISBN 978-967-17890-0-1; 205 pp; maps, plates, bibliography.This is an unusual history book by Suraini Sahari and Tom McLaughlin. The scope of this study is overwhelming, more so for these new, and untrained, history writers.
Sarawak River Valley Book Review Read More »
The Batang Ai resettlement scheme moved 26 longhouses of Ibans to another area because of flooding due to the hydroelectric dam across the Batang Ai Wong Irup. The Iban received cash compensation and were given 11 acres of land consisting of five acres of rubber, three acres of cocoa, two acres of hill padi and
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