Tom’s note: This account about the infrastructure of Sarawak is probably one of the most unintentionally hilarious histories of the times of the Second Rajah Brooke. Coal Outcrops of coal existed at Silantek and along the Sadong river. Mr St John was dispatched to explore the coal findings. However, he
What? No Sri Vijaya Toms Note: This is a condensation of a 53-page essay written by Liam Kelley and published in China and Asia in 2022. I requested Dr Kelley to review the manuscript, and he added minor corrections. Contact me if you want the whole essay. George Coed’es, a
Zygogynum New Species from Sarawak A new species of Zygogynum thought to occur only on the eastern side of the Wallace line, has been discovered in Sarawak. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-022-10041-4 Tiger Leeches Soil moisture is the main feature governing the locations of leeches. Tiger leeches were found in lower elevations, while Brown leeches were
The Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple in Kuching Many thanks to John Tan for his kind assistance in helping me understand the Chinese temples. The Hiang Thian Ti temple, on Carpenter Street, was first built in 1863 by the Teochew immigrants as a house of worship for the Deity of
Tom’s Note: This old custom has a much deeper meaning. The Malay, whom the Land Dyaks honour, is half Royal Blood and half land Dayak. I am not sure if the author means Bidayuh or another Land Dayak. Black flags are seen on some fishing boats on the river outside
Kumang Kidundung by Sunga Tom’s Note: This tale comes from the Bidayuh in the Serian district. Kumang, in the Dayak world, are spirits among the people. This story tells an interaction between one of those spirits, Antu Puah, and a Dayak named Kidungdung. Kumang Kidundung One day Kaleng went out
Tom’s Note: Probably one of the most awesome spectacles of the natural world is watching the bats leave the great cave at Niah. You must plan a trip for those who have not seen the show! 300,000 Bats There are seven species of bats in the large cave at Niah.
The Sandakan Diary Tom’s Note: The founder’s wife of Sandakan, located on Sabah’s east coast, wrote this small diary in 1894. Bajau Legend The Sultan of Johore had a beautiful daughter that was betrothed to the Sultan of Sulu. When the time came, a large fleet was assembled to escort
All Creatures Great and Small #28 Fish Information on fisheries in Sarawak is scarce and poorly known. This review completes a checklist of fishes in Sarawak waters and tells of the status of the resource. https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4651.2022 Visitors will pay to see orangutans. This study states the visitors to the Sepilok
Tom’s Note: Here are some fun proverbs from the Dusun people of Sabah. Are there any similarities between Malay, Chinese or other languages? Some Dusun Proverbs and Proverbial Sayings 1. “One way or the other, when defeated becomes ashes when winning becomes charcoal a man engaged in a lawsuit. There’s
Tom’s Note: Here is an oral history of Datu Merpati. He is a person who, it was said, ruled Sarawak sometime in the 1700s and who many of the current and past rulers have traced their lineage. Much of it is fantasy except for one item the Sultan of Brunei
Tom’s Note: Connecting the upper Oya and Egan rivers in Sarawak is a man-made canal called a Kut. It was first built in the late 1790s and has been modernized and dredged since then. Here are a couple of stories telling the origins of the Kut. Early History of the