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Category: History

An Iban Tale

Menu Home Posts Gallery Keris (Gallery) Sarawak River Valley About Us An Iban Tale A Bizarre Iban Tale. This story was found in the Sarawak Gazette and included a mixture of Iban and English. I have edited and organized the tale, so it makes sense to the reader.  In the

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September 6, 2023 No Comments

Japan and Sarawak

The Japanese in Sarawak Three decades after Emperor Meiji had begun his industrialisation programme in the 1860s, there was a prolonged period of economic recession in Japan due to a worldwide recession. The new industries, especially textile manufacturing which was a mainstay of Japan’s port trade, were severely affected, resulting

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August 6, 2023 No Comments

Borneo and Japan Part two

Good Morning, This is part two, of a Japanese man’s history in Sabah during World War II. I never knew Japan had offered opportunities for Japanese peasants to come to Sabah and acquire land for farming. Here is the continuation of his story of a person who left Japan, tried

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July 30, 2023 No Comments

A Japanese Colony on Borneo

Good Morning, All: I never knew Japan had offered opportunities for Japanese peasants to come to Sabah and acquire land for farming. Here is the story of one person who left Japan, tried farming in Sabah and returned. Except for spelling and minor mistakes, the translation is from a Japanese

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July 23, 2023 No Comments

Opium Sales in SEA

Selling Opium to the Natives Part Two Conflict with the Americans: Captain Smith on the Adele Daniel Smith returned to Penang from Bengal early in January 1814 commanding the Adele. In May, he had a brush with another of Britain’s enemies of the period. The British were involved in the

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July 19, 2023 No Comments

A British Pirate

The Palace at Mempawah A British Pirate  This article describes the accusation of piracy made in 1806 by the Sultan of Sambas against Captain Anthony Burnside, an Irishman, who was then a trader based in Calcutta. The material gives new insight into the relations between the Supreme Government in Calcutta,

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July 2, 2023 No Comments

Adventures in Penang, Sambas and Pontianak

Palace at Sambas Captain John Smith and His Adventures: Penang, Sambas and Pontianak After the occupation of Prince of Wales Island (Penang) in 1786 by the East India Company (EIC), there soon arose a small community of merchants and traders whose activities complemented those of the EIC. Their “country vessels”

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June 25, 2023 No Comments

Wooden Figures of the Katangan River

Wooden Figures of the Katingan River The Dayaks of south-central Kalimatan practice a religion called kaharingan. It is practised by the people on the Katingan River.This essay deals with the sculptures called hamptaong.   The hampatongs are statutes that represent the souls of the departed. They distinguish themselves by their

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June 21, 2023 No Comments

Special Branch and Sarawak part #3

Sarawak and the Special Branch Part Three To counter the SUPP the Malayan government (pre–Malaysia days) more or less openly promised to bankroll any political party that would do its bidding in Sarawak.  Five brand-new parties registered in quick succession, each claiming to represent group interests, but each in truth

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June 13, 2023 No Comments

Special Branch and Sarawak

Special Branch and Sarawak Part Two of a three Part Series Konfrontasi Armed Konfrontasi began on 12 April 1963, when about 30 armed raiders from Indonesian Kalimantan overran the police post at Tebedu, a border post about 60 kilometres south of Kuching, murdering several constables and looting the place. Responding

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June 12, 2023 No Comments
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