by Tom McLaughlin Across the river from where I live in Kuching, are several kampongs all to be torn down to make way for either high rises or a park where people can walk along the river. I am not sure which. The following is a report on a visit
Cockfighting by Entika Glumbang In the good old days, cock-fighting was carried out on a regional basis in that a few long houses would join together against another team which, consisted of several other longhouses. It was like a game of football (soccer to the Americans). Earning money was never
Dreams: A Chinese Interpretation by Chang Pat Foh The interpretation of dreams by the Chinese community of Kuching Weather and Universe A shooting star-Your family may be struck by sickness A star going slowly into a cloud-You may have a child Stars in a clear sky-Good fortune The sun/moon setting-Your
All Creatures Great and Small #34 Sun Bear The Sun Bear distribution outside protected areas in Sabah decreased by only 4%. Sun Bears seem to be resilient to forest degradation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02503-9 Brooke and English Law When British subjects made land tenure arrangements with native authorities beyond Britain, they were understood
Kuan Yin Goddess of Mercy by Chang Pat Foh The Chinese believe in the existence of many gods, spirits, devils and the souls of the departed human beings in the supernatural world. Thus, prayers to the god’s departed ancestors are offered by the Chinese community at specific times for specific
All Creatures Great and Small #33 Ants A one-hectare of lowland forest in Brunei yielded 115 species of ants, of which 102 have been identified. No fewer than 24 of these are new records for Borneo. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31184/M00138908.1584.4153 Crocker Undersea Fan The Crocker undersea fan has good undersea gas and oil
Tom’s note: Matang is located to the west of Kuching and has many Javanese Kampongs. This is the story of how the people got there. In the period before James Brooke came to Sarawak and became its ruler, there arrived in the bay between Santubong and Tanjong Datu a sailing-vessel
Courtship among the Ibans”Ngayap” Toms Note: To western observers, the term “Ngayap” often had a sexual connotation. This is not true and is an insult to the Iban people. The Ngayap is an Iban custom which they inherited from many different peoples several centuries ago. As the Ibans moved up
Mujong Expedition A party of murderers and some followers were located at the tributary stream, the Tijau. Three Malays had been killed, and a native force had failed to dislodge the rebels. His Royal Highness the Rajah resolved to take stronger measures. The Rajah decided to attack before the dry
Whale Fin whales are found in all oceans. The fresh skin and blubber was taken from a stranded fin whale in Sabah. The results confirm migration to warm tropical waters, the diet was mainly pelagic (living in areas away from land) and they need to be offshore. Zoological Studies 61:79
A Piratical Cruise and Malay account of the destruction of the Pirate fleet by HMS Rainbow in 1861 the Sarawak Gazette 1 April 1861 Below is the translation of a paper written by Nakoda Amzah and found among his effects after his death. He, his grandson and another were killed
Traditional Earthen Crocodile Effigies of the Lun Bawang in Sarawak by Ipoi Datan The Lun Bawang are one of the oldest indigenous groups who have inhabited Borneo for several centuries. They were traditionally agriculturalists, practised wet and dry rice farming, reared livestock, exploited jungle produce and were animists. During the