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Category: History

The Kingdom of Kutai

Kutai I have always wondered about Kutai and its history. I had visited there but never really intellectually explore it. Here are two condensed articles on the kingdom for your enjoyment. The oldest known inscriptions in the Archipelago were found in Kutailaman Kutai. These consist of four stone sacrificial poles

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March 19, 2023 No Comments

Non Moslem Kingdoms

Dayak Kings Among Malay Sultans The Kingdom of Ulu Are appears to have been the only non-Islam kingdom in West Kalimatan. Although the Sultan of the kingdom lacked taxing authority, his rule was recognized by many groups in the area. According to several elders, the King of Ulu Are was

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March 11, 2023 No Comments

Pirates

Pangeran Anom Pangeran Anom was born in 1767, the son of a royal concubine and half-brother of the Sultan of Sambas. The Sultan was considered weak and the Pangeran Anon tried to exert his influence. Pangeran Anom allied himself with the Chinese from Monterado, who, by then, paid little notice

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March 6, 2023 No Comments

House of Skulls

“Panggah” is a Bidayuh (a tribe of people who live in Sarawak) term which refers to the house where heads are usually kept. They range between 1.5 meters to about nine meters from the ground. The posts are from belian, (a type of very heavy hardwood tree) whereas the floors

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February 27, 2023 No Comments

Bau History 2

Bau from 1870 to 1978 After the rebellion  The shop houses were made of attap (palm leaves), kajang and other wooden materials that were burned down. Bushes and creepers took the place of a once prosperous town. Much later, more and more residents were built in and around the new

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February 12, 2023 No Comments

Bau History

Major events in the History of Bau by Chang Pat Foh Part 1 Bau Town, about 35 km from Kuching, is the trading centre of the district. Being an interior area in the First Division of Sarawak, its geographical features are composed of rugged terrain and dotted with sporadic limestone

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February 5, 2023 No Comments

Goodbye to the Kampongs

by Tom McLaughlin Across the river from where I live in Kuching, are several kampongs all to be torn down to make way for either high rises or a park where people can walk along the river. I am not sure which. The following is a report on a visit

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January 11, 2023 No Comments

Goddess of Mercy

Kuan Yin Goddess of Mercy by Chang Pat Foh The Chinese believe in the existence of many gods, spirits, devils and the souls of the departed human beings in the supernatural world. Thus, prayers to the god’s departed ancestors are offered by the Chinese community at specific times for specific

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December 4, 2022 No Comments

Javanese Immigrants to Sarawak

Tom’s note: Matang is located to the west of Kuching and has many Javanese Kampongs. This is the story of how the people got there. In the period before James Brooke came to Sarawak and became its ruler, there arrived in the bay between Santubong and Tanjong Datu a sailing-vessel

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November 27, 2022 No Comments

Battle of Mujong

Mujong Expedition A party of murderers and some followers were located at the tributary stream, the Tijau.  Three Malays had been killed, and a native force had failed to dislodge the rebels. His Royal Highness the Rajah resolved to take stronger measures. The Rajah decided to attack before the dry

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November 13, 2022 No Comments
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