Planted in a pot on my front balcony is a clump of bamboo. I don’t recall where we got it but we moved it from our home in River Bank Suites to Riverrine Emerald at least five years ago. We watered it when we remembered and a bird built a nest in the very top […]
There are many, many Chinese made jars found here in Sarawak. One can find them in any antique shop or curio store. Sorting them out and trying to tell which kiln they were from in China is a daunting task, which we will try and pursue at a later date. The Bartmann Jugs were made
A European Jug in Mukah Read More »
This summary condenses twenty printed pages from the Sarawak Museum Journal July-December 1962 written by Benedict Sandin. My sincere apologies if things were left out or written in error. Probably one of the most unusual of Iban gawai rights is the whetstone feast. A whetstone is used for sharpening knives and farming tools. Why one
Iban Whetstone Feast Read More »
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
The Tortoise and Mouse DeerTranslated by A.C. HaddonThe tortoise and the mouse deer agreed to steal from a neighbouring garden the fruit known as ‘buah mah”(rambutan in Malay). The mouse deer suggested that the tortoise should climb the tree whilst he would pick up the fruit. The tortoise did so and threw down showers of
Tortoise and the Mouse Deer Read More »
This song was translated by the Right Reverend Galvin from the Kenyah people. It was published in the The Sarawak Museum Journal July-December 1962. He states the song is only part of a longer dirge. Head-Hunting Song Up with you! Shout along the length of the house Away and summon everyone. Call the young warriors
Jelly Fish Processing There are three tools used by the fisherman. The seledok is a long handled scoop net. The penchangkok is like a rake with two sharp prongs on the edge of a long wooden pole while the belat is a long drift net. The season is from mid February to April and then
Along the coast of Sarawak there were dugong or sea cows. In Malay, they were called sea women. They are extinct or nearly extinct. These animals were thought to be the source of mermaid stories among the Malay fishermen. The Tears of the Mermaid or Minyak Senyongyong are considered to be a strong love potion
Love Potions and Sea Cows Read More »
The Rundum Rebellion of 1915 in SabahNorth Borneo was secured via a number of concessions from the Brunei and Sulu Sultanates. To the company, the bottom line was profit driven on how to make North Borneo profitable to its London shareholders. The emphasis on increasing revenue was the full scale planting of tobacco. Another major
The Rebellion in Sabah Read More »
The Mat Salleh Rebellion in SabahMat Salleh was a proud and war like pengeran who lived with a following of warlike Bajous up the Sugut River on the East coast of North Borneo. His father was Datu Balu, a chief in that part of the Sugut while his mother was a Baju. His wife was
Mat Salleh Rebellion in Sabah Read More »
