Lun Bawang or Muruts
The Lun Bawang are found in the rugged country of north-central Borneo. They are relatively physically the same, identifiable by the way they talk and have common interactions with themselves and their economy. In Sarawak, they are found especially in Lawas, Trusan and the upper Limbang.
Lun Bawang country is one of narrow river valleys and steep mountain slopes. Along the border with Kalimantan, the peaks can reach 2,500 meters with valley floors up to 1500 meters. From there, the northwest flowing rivers tumble quickly to a narrow coastal flood plain. Lun Bawang communities are also found just before the coastal plain.
Rainfall averages three to four meters per year. In late July through early September, there is a dry spell which marks the shift from the southeast to the northeast monsoons. Rice planting is done during this period. In December, the second dry spell begins as the northeast monsoons give way to the southeast monsoons. The rice is ready for harvest and usually takes place during that time. The cycle begins anew in May when the fields are made ready for the new plants.
The households lived together in ruma kadang or longhouses. The longhouse was erected in a community effort although each family was responsible for its apartment. With the exception of the two end units, the apartments shared common walls with two other apartments. Access to the longhouse was provided by log steps at either end. The veranda was the symbol of physical unity. In Lun Bawang oral literature the longhouse is described “as structures strung together like the beads on a piece of heirloom jewellery”.
The Lun Bawang were broken down into small groups. They had a strong leader, lun mebala and his followers were called anak itan. The anak ikan could have been individuals, families slaves and voluntary indentured servants.
These small groups of Murut formed very tight-knit communities. Because of the ecology of farming, plunging rivers and small areas suitable for cultivation fights were a continual scourge among the Murut. Headhunting, feuds and other factors kept the kampongs unstable, yet very close.
The Lun Bawang live in both isolated farmhouse and kampongs. The farmhouses are single household units while the longhouses contain ten houses. Two environmental factors reflect this living pattern. First, the agricultural duties are best accomplished with a larger force such as a longhouses community. Secondly, the longhouse communities are best defended from attack. Blood feuds, headhunting and occasional large scale raids made life difficult for the Lun Bawang.
One battle occurred when the Kayang were pursuing the Lun Bawang. The Muruts were attacked from the rear by a group of Kayans. The Muruts collected a large force and drew the attackers into a large island[I don’t think the author meant a sea siand] full of caves. The Kayans easily beat of three charges by the Muruts. Seeing there was no advantage to the way they were attacking, the Muruts collected great quantities of firewood and placed it at the mouth of caves. The Muruts set the wood alight and the Kenyans tried several times to escape the smoke and flames. In two hours the entire attacking force was destroyed. However, the battle did not save the Muruts. They were driven by the Kanyans to the upper reaches of the Limbang River.
In March 1857, the Kayans had a force of three thousand and threatened Brunei town from the mouth of the Damit river. They asked that a particular village be given up to plunder. The Brunei government assembled a force to opposes the Kayans but neither seemed inclined to fight.
After about a month’s talk, Makoda proposed to the Kenyans that the Muruts should be bribed to return to their own country. It was later revealed Makota’s plan was to give up the Murut town of Balat Ikan for them to plunder. The result was thirteen dead, seventeen captured as slaves and the town looted. Traders from the Brunei town went to the battle to help out the Kayans.
Another problem among the Lun Bawang were the conflicts among themselves. The Trusan Muruts were continually being harassed by the Lawas Muruts. A group of Muruts who occupied the Gaya river had to pay tribute to the Trusan Muruts. The Sarawak government reported in the Sarawak Gazette a plethora of intertribal warfare.
In 1885, the Sarawak government acquired the Trusan river drainage area and the Limbang river system was acquired in 1890. After complaints by district officers to govern the area, the government sent troops to quell Lun Bawang resistance.
Some effects of Kuching control began to be felt immediately. Slavery as an institution was abandoned. Karibau or water buffalo became widely popular and a rich trade in rice was established. In the early 1900s rubber trees were introduced and by the 1920s many groves were producing latex.
However, the negative effects were also reported. The tight kampong system of communities broke down. There was no longer any need to maintain close ties for planting. Alcoholism, provided by local brewers, became rampant. People moved away from their kampongs to be closer to their rubber trees. Rice farmers, both wet and dry, moved closer to their fields. The idea of individual ownership became involved. The concept shifted from” we” own that field to “you” own that field became prevalent.
From Community Fragmentation among the Lun Bawang by James Deegan in The Sarawak Museum Journal December 1974
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