The following are two abridged versions of the murder of Fox and Steele, the English rulers in Kanowit, in 1859 as reported by the people of Sarawak. The complete accounts are in the Sarawak Museum Journal July-December 1965 p. 207-227.
Kanowit Versionas told by Jaro bin Lamit, ex Chief of Kampong Bedil, Kanowit
In the old days, many tribes lived at Kanowit. They lived in longhouses. The chief of the Kanowit people were Saweng and Sekali. There was a beautiful girl named Nyalade who Saweng wished to marry. She refused and said “If you really are a brave man and invulnerable, you go and cut off the heads of the two white fowls (Steele and Fox) on the other side of the river. If you can, you are a brave man”.
Saweng, Sakali and two or three others went to the Fort where Steele and Fox were staying. When they approached the fort, Saweng said” When I began to chew betel nut, you will kill the Europeans.” Saweng began to chew betel nut and Sakali and his friends took their parangs and killed them. Saweng and his followers went home.
A long time later, Johnson (Charles Brooke before he changed his name) and his forces arrived at Kanowit and took the fort. They made it a stronghold and destroyed villages within range of the guns. Saweng escaped to his stronghold at Kabah.
Most of Sawengs followers were Iban people but when the Rajahs forces began to pursue, many changed sides. The Rajahs forces continued their pursuit and when they reached the Kabah River a bloody battle ensued. The stronghold was defeated and Saweng escaped to the Iran River.
Another battle was fought but Saweng and his forces could not hold out against the guns. Saweng further escaped to Belaga. He then made the Kejaman ( longhouse) his stronghold. Another battle ensued and many people were killed on both sides.
Saweng then stayed at Tuju Metahap and then moved onward to Anap. The Rajah arrested his son and daughter and threatened them with harm. Saweng surrendered to the Rajah at Kuching.
The Chiefs of the Oya, Mukah, Igan, Sehalang and Rejang asked the Rajah to spare his life but the Malays and Ibans thought him dangerous and that he should be killed. The Rajah agreed with the Malays and Ibans and the Rajah took his daggar and killed Saweng.
Statement by Sereib Masahur
Sherib Masahor of Sarikei has been pictured as the arch villain behind the troubles which beset Sarawak in 1859-1860 by the white rulers. This statement was recorded by the British Consulate in Brunei on June 27 and 28, 1860. It remained buried in an obscure file in London until unearthed by a researcher, R. Pringle, in 1959. The following is an abridged version.
Two boats came down from Kanowit, one with Kanowit Dyaks and one with Seebo (sic) people. They brought the information of the deaths of Messers. Fox and Steel and a letter from Haji Mohammed. The letter was directed to me (Sereib Masahur) and stated the two Europeans had been killed by Si Kalye (Sakali) and Saweng. I sent the letter onward to Sarawak (Kuching) with Nakoda Usup.
I then went upstream to the fort with two large boats and three smaller ones. Upon arrival, we found the boom destroyed, the fort burnt and the muskets and shot taken. The only thing left were four large guns. I contacted Egan and asked for assistance with the idea of getting great credit from Sarawak.( Kuching)
From these sources, I learned that Si Talip and Si Abbi were the murderers. They were supported in a conspiracy by other Chiefs in the region. Half the Kanowit people were involved in the plot. Half then moved down the river to Sibu while the other half fled in the jungles.
I launched an inquiry into the matter with many of the chiefs of the area. We captured Abbi coming down a ladder from a longhouse and he said Talip was involved in the murder of Fox and Steele. He also said all of the men in the Fort agreed to the revolt against Fox and Steel. Abbi said he had assisted Talip in the killing of Mr. Steele with a blow across the head.
Abbi continued that Talip brought money to Mr. Steele but Mr. Steele said it was not enough and that he should go out and get more. Talip raised his kris and said “that and my kris will be enough” and raised his kris to Mr. Steele. Mr. Steele seized the blade in his hand and as Talip withdrew cut off Mr. Steele’s fingers. Mr. Steele grabbed Talip by the throat and cast him downwards. Abbi came from behind and dealt Mr. Steele a blow across the head. Talip escaped to Sibu and then out to sea. Abbi was executed on the following day on Sereib Masahurs orders.
Mr. Johnson (he would change his name to Brooke and become the second Rajah) came by boat. He seized Tani who the upriver Dayaks told him he was involved in the murder. Tani was executed on Mr. Johnsons orders at Serekei.
Mr. Johnson then said he wanted to execute eight more men. These included Derman, Samat, Khar and five others. These men came to the area after the fort was built and were dependent on the fort for trade.
I caught three men and two of them, Derman and Samat, were executed at once. Jaman, a boy, was sent aboard a ship as a slave. The other six men, on Johnsons orders, were killed by loyalists to Johnson at Nialong Creek. Johnson then went up to fort and killed six more men. I heard that Patinggi Gapor and the Datu Tumagong were among the men that captured them at the fort when they were executed by Inchee (sic) the Sarawak Executioner
After doing administrative work and forwarding monies to Sarawak, (Kuching) I sailed to the Sarawak River where I was met by Mr. Johnsons boat. Mr. Johnson then fired on me. One of my men had his head blown off by a round shot , another was shot in the hip while still another was grazed in the face. We ran the boat ashore as fast as we could. We escaped into the jungle and made our way to Brunei.Sherib Mansor was exiled to Singapore without a trial. He died in 1890.
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