We continue on with the oral history of the rulers of Santubong.

Pangiran Tuanku Mahkuta Indra Lewang ~1303-1332

Indra Lewang was married to Dang Janak who is also a cousin from his mother’s side. He had two children, Dang Tana and Tang Lana.

During his rule, the kingdom expanded and trade continued to grow. The settlements and kampongs were Kalaka, Kola Nyadong (Sadong) and Seri Abas (Seribas). In the area near Santubong, Kampong Pasey Pandak (formerly Kampong Pasey Ngemas) was opened. 

The trade items in Santubong had increased. The items included iron, gold, serak (antimony), intan (diamonds), garam (salt), cuka apong (palm vinegar) and gula apong (palm sugar). Jungle produce brought forth herbs, and these herbs were made up of akar (roots)from a wood called “Pokok “by the locals.

Lewang also allowed trading, on a small scale in Tanjong Kembang, Kalaka, Seri Abas, and Kola Nyadong. Modest docks for trading activities were erected at Kabong in Kalaka, Sebangan in Kola Nyadong, Meladin (now Baladin) at Seri Abas Tanah Itam at Semat Rotan and also Telaga Aik in Tanjong Kembang. The Patinggi ruled these modest ports.

Tax Collection

Mupu was a tax collection system devised by the ruler. This was the first time the mupu system was ever imposed and practised by the government of Sri Indera Purik. Before this, the people sent agricultural and dried sea products to Santubong. Lewang also ordered that each trading area have an army for safety. The force was under the Datu/Datuk Kepalak Seri Paduka Indra Temenggong.

Lewang sent officers on behalf of the government to collect taxes. He appointed tax collectors who used the title “Datuk”. This was a title used by lower officers. This was the first time the title had been used and continues until today. Datu/Datuk  Amar Setia (title for tax officer) collected revenue from five Petinggi’s every five months, from the trading items that were gathered and sold by the people.

Spiritual and Supernatural knowledge

Lewang expanded his spiritual knowledge. He became pasek (an expert) in spiritual knowledge (Ilmu semengat) and Ilmu Jagat (supernatural philosophy). The disaster that occurred, when his father was ruling, had made him more prepared in case it happened again. Because of the disaster, he had meditated for 99 days. He met with the Semengat Rona (Semangat Alam) and the Semengat Rona had promised to help him and his descendants when in trouble or when danger appeared from either the land or sea. During his meditation, he composed one mantra to be introduced to the royal descendants of Santubong to the semangat-semangat Alam. This was the introduction of Santubong royal lineage to the Semangat Alam (spirit of nature), the mantra of “Tuca Kerabat”.

Tuca Kerabat was a declaration of his descendants, menuntut janji (demand of fulfilment) so that in the future they could contact the Semengat Rona (Spirit of Colour). Tuca Kerabat has become the Tuca Rasmi (official mantra) of the descendants of the Santubong royal family and has been taught to all descendants. He had called out the Tuca Kerabat and had buried the keris on the top of the mountain as the second mark of Indera Ponik, the first being the kris of Yang Gi. 

For him to obtain an heir to his rule, he married again to Dang Cahaya Intan daughter of Seri Paduka Indra Wangsa Diraja who was also his cousin from his father’s side. They had a son named Pangiran Seri Tuan Indra Daha. He was born with a crook on his neck that resulted in involuntary motions with his head. Despite this affliction, he was good-looking and that is why he was called  “Raja Leok Elok”.

Indra Daha (Raja Leok /Raja Elok) ~ 1332-1376

Raja Leok became the ruler and was called Raja Daha. Even though he had a crooked neck, he was a very able administrator of his country. He was a very just leader. Raja Daha had five wives but did not have any offspring. His sixth wife bore him a son. Because he had problems having an heir, his son was named  Pangiran Tuan Indrana Jak Kiana which means “Hanya Dia Indra Satu Satunya” (the one and only Indra).

Santubong, under the rule of Raja Daha, was warned that an attack from the forces of Gajah Mada was imminent. He fled to Tanah Berlidah (now Lidah Tanah). Santubong was evacuated and left empty. He spent some time in Tanah Berlidah; however, there was no attack. He did learn that Barunah (Brunei) wanted to expand their territory along the coastal waterways. Furthermore, he was urged by the rulers of Tanjungpura to return to Santubong.

During his rule, the coastal areas were often attacked by Bajak Laut Lanun (pirates). He succeeded in stopping the activity that was centred around Pulo Sarasan. He attacked Pulo Sarasan and chased the Bajak Laut out of the area. 

Rebellion

Raja Daha also executed his uncle (Pangiran Tuan Indra Rajo) and Rajo’s son. He had appointed Rajo to hold the post of Menteri Sri Amar di Raja to take care of the Patinggi in the area of Sari Abas. However, together with his sons, Rajo had planned a coup at Sari Abas against Pangiran Tuan Madang and the Pantiggi at Kola Mora Nyadong, Pangeran Seri Tuan Tulat. Rajo was assisted by the Bajak Pulo Ma’kasa. (pirates of the coastal area of Makassar Island and migrants from the former Kingdom Biak yapura (Vijayapura). Many of the followers and the family members of Datu Petinggi (old Sarawak Malay spelling) Seri Abas and Datu Petinggi Kola/Mora Nyadong were killed. Pangiran Seri Tuan Tulat was also killed. Rajo put his sons in power at Kola Mora Nadong and at Sari Abas. Rojo had plans that these two areas would be separated from Santubong. This made Raja Daha very upset and angry.

Daha ordered Menteri Seri Paduka Indra Temenggong to attack and capture Rojo and his sons. He also chased away the pirates of Makassar from Indera Purik. In the attack, Rojo and one of his sons were captured, while the other son was killed.

The attack against the Bajak Laut was also successful. The Bajak Laut were captured, tied up on their ship and burned. The execution of Rojo and his son was called Hukum Bunoh Batu Berukir (execution on the carved rock) and was performed at Batu Berukir at Sungey Jaong. His followers were beheaded, and the remains were thrown into the sea, while the remains of Rojo and his sons were cut into seven pieces and  were thrown into seven different lubok. (deep pools of water in the river).

Gajah Mada and Majapahit

In the middle of his rule, Negara Tanjungpura had declined and became a new nation called Bukaklapura (Bakulapura). He also heard  the news that the army of Majapahit (Majapahit) led by Bentaro Raja Mada (Gajah Mada) wanted to attack Indera Purik. He ordered the administration be shifted to Tanah Berlidah. A palace was build at Tanah Berlidah and the administration of Indera Purik was conducted from there.

He also ordered three forts to be built along the river to Tanah Berlidah. The areas were Mungguk Angus, Mungguk Serak (where the Astanna stands now) and Lubok Pedada. They were to block the army of Gajah Mada and other enemies. He also ordered that the people to move to Tanah Berlidah to leave Santubong and bring their clothes, valuables and animals. It was a major transfer from Santubong to Tanah Berlidah. With that, Santubong was left empty. The settlement at Tanah Berlidah was erected. A defence perimeter was also erected around Tanah Berlidah.

A team of spies was placed at Kampong Sungey Buntak and Kampong Pasey Pandak to monitor the situation at Mungguk Maras and Santubong. Messengers were also sent to Bukaklapura (Bakulapura) to investigate the news of an attack by Mujopahit (Gajah Mada) on Santubong. Approximately six months passed but the attack they thought was to occur did not materialize.

According to the reports from the people who checked on Santubong, they stated the area had been invaded by the Bajak Laut or Lanun (pirates) and the houses in the kampong were broken into. However, ships continued to stop for fresh water and to be repaired.

After listening to the reports from these people, he ordered the Menteri Sri Darma Wangsa Indra Setia Raja and Menteri Sri Paduka Indra Temenggong to return to Mungguk Maras together with the followers to manage Santubong. He stayed in Tanah Berlidah for another year.

During that time, a messenger from Bukak Lapora (Baku Lapura) returned and reported that the Mujopahit (Majahapit) attack on Sri Indera Purik was not true. Daha was so glad. He then ordered the people who had moved with him to return to their homes around Santubong.  Some villagers elected to stay in Tanah Berlidah. Raja Daha still administered Sri Indera Purik from Tanah Berlidah before transferring it back to Santubong two years later.  While he was in Tanah Berlidah, the Astana at Minggu Maras in Santubong was managed by Menteri Sri Darma Wangsa Indra Setia Raja and Menteri Sri Paduka Indra Temenggong.

Daha rebuilt relationships with the Kingdom of Bukak La Pura/ Baku Lapura. (Tanjungpura II) Raja of Bukak La Pura met with Raja Daha in Santubong and Sri Indera Purik gathered with Bukak La Pura to pay tribute to Majapahit (Majahapit)

Raja Bukak Lapura asked for help from Santubong to help pay the tributes demanded by Majapahit. Because Raja Daha did not want his kingdom to be ruled by Mujopahit (Majahapit), he agreed to give a contribution to Raja Bukak La Pura to help pay the taxes to Majapahit (Majahapit). It was his idea that by paying tribute to Raja Bukak La Pura, the Majahapit rulers would think he was under Raja Bukak La Pura rule, and he wouldn’t possibly fight against Majahapit. However, later, the taxes Majahapit had asked from Raja Bukak La Pura increased. This caused considerable problems for  Raja Daha.

China comes a calling

Unexpectedly, a messenger from the Chinese emperor came to Indera Purik. He requested that the country come under the Chinese tributary system and asked  Santubong to pay a tax to China every year.

Raja Daha said he wanted Sri Indra Purik to come under their rule, but they could not afford to pay the tribute to China. He wanted to be given a break from the taxes because he was paying a high tribute to the Kingdom of Majapahit. Furthermore, he also said his kingdom was just too small to pay such a tribute. The messenger could not give an answer and promised to forward his request to the Chinese Emperor. They will come again to Sri Indera Purik to convey the decision regarding the matter. Raja Daha stepped down and was replaced by his son Pangiran Tuan Indrana Jak Kiana.

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NOTE

Chang  states that in 1365 the Javanese court poet Rakawi Prapanca listed Sarawak as one of the dependencies of the Majahapit empire. He also states that in 1368, Sarawak came under the dominance of Johor. Then, there was a marriage between him and a princess of the Sultan of Johor. The Sultan of Johor then ceded Kalaka, Saribas, Sadong and Sarawak to Brunei. Chang also stated that the Pehin Orang Kaya Haji Muhammad Jamil of Brunei stated that the Sultan Tengah brought along 1,000 Sakai who were descendants of Kedayan and the people of Pulu Bunut. He then established his capital at Santubong, and they built a palace for him there. He then appointed Datu Patinggi Seri Setia, Datu Shahbandar Indera Wangsa, Datu Amar Seri Diraja as ministers. Furthermore, he also appointed Datu Temenggong Lalia Wangsa as the State Minister. (Chang 2008 p. 5)

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