Past Posts

The Sebuyau The Sebuyau originated in the Kapuas Basin of what is now Indonesian Borneo. Perhaps as early as the 16th century, Ibanic people who were to become the Sebuyau migrated up the Kapuas River. They crossed into the Lupar Basin in what is now Sarawak and moved north. However, the people who would become… Read more: Sebuyau Tribe and Lundu Town

Sago What is sago? Sago is a flour from a palm tree used to make desserts, noodles, cakes and dumplings. It is widely used in Chinese cooking. Much is owed to Steve Morris, who wrote The Oya Melanau in 1991, a 414-page book which focuses on the Melanau. No one seems to know where the… Read more: Sago and Melananu

Sambas and Sarawak The origins of the Sambas begin with the movement of Austronesian peoples who settled along the Sambas River from the Sulu coast in the Philippines in small waves from 2000- 500 BC. They probably formed a type of riverine culture. The coast from Sabah to south Sarawak was blocked by mangrove swamps,… Read more: Sambas and Sarawak

All Creatures Great and Small #85 Sabah and Kalimatan Border Dispute between 1891-1912 The issue of marking the border involves not only the determination of physical lines but is also influenced by technical, legal, geographical, and colonial-political factors. This study argues that the failure to reconcile the interests of colonial administration with geographical realities and… Read more: All Creatures Great and Small #85

Religion and Smelting at Santubong Java traders from about 0-1350 AD experienced periods of trade booms followed by downturns of trade depression. The cycles of trade were based on Chinese interests in Southeast Asian products.   The 10th- 13th century was viewed as the height of Javanese-Chinese trade. Java people traded with Borneo, as Hindu… Read more: Religion, Smelting and Santubong

Immigration of people from Java  to Kampong Boyan, Gersik and Sourabaya along the Sarawak River 1800-1840 When one looks at a map of Sarawak one notices the names of Boyan, Gersik and Sourabaya along the Sarawak River across from Kuching. These three kampongs hold the remnants of the people who possibly migrated there from those… Read more: Immigrants to Boyan, Gersik and Sourabaya along the Sarawak River