Here is the second part of the second Sultan Tengah of Borneo. The essay explains the origin of gula Melaka, the formation of different silats and the organization of the Malay and Iban armies. The information comes from the oral history of the dukun. 

Ismail Hasanuddin The Second Sultan Tengah (Indrana Ngemas) ~1462 – 1490 

Part Two

Abdullah Muhammads’ Description of Malacca

Sultan Hasanuddin was pleased to hear the news that Abdullah Muhammad brought from Malacca. He also asked Abdullah Muhammad what Malacca was like. Abdullah told him that Malacca was very prosperous and had many traders from many places. He said the Sultan of Malacca was very religious and was current on religious issues. He also told them there were many Islamic schools.

In describing the palace of the Sultan of Malacca, Abdullah Muhammad said the palace was beautifully built. The posts were constructed on stones and the steps together with the jungkar (balcony) were also made of stone. To visit the court (balai mengadap), you had to descend steps made of carved stones. At the left and right of the balai mengadap (the hall that leads to Sultan’s chair), there were two places for the Patinggi to sit and talk. (takhta tempat duduk Sultan). 

To proceed to the Pangor, carved stone steps are used. Pangor (astaka) were made of golden carvings. The walls of the Astana were made of stones and wood. The diameter was huge and the Astana had many stories. The top part was made of wood. The area of the Astanna was protected by a large stone wall. On the arch (pintu gerbang) to the Astana were two dango (small buildings) that were dango balun (pondok bedok) and dango pengawal (security guards). Dango balun was for the people who requested to see the Sultan. 

The people who wanted to see the Sultan had to strike the bedok (drum) seven times. The guard would then ask the reason why they wished to see the Sultan. The Sultan would then tell the guard to admit his subjects. The Sultan was loved by his people.

There was a Bandahara (Paduka Raja) who was very smart and acted as an advisor to the Sultan in administrative matters. There were also Pandeyka (Pendikar)(silat masters) who were very efficient. There were seven pandeyka (warriors) and they were given the title Datuk Laksamana Melaka. They were all very young. They also had a large army. Abdullah also mentioned that the people were busy building stone walls and were adding on stone to make the walls higher around the city of Melaka especially the ones facing the sea and the ones facing the Sungai Melaka. On the wall, there were several very high menara tinjo (menara tinjau)(minarets) so they could see what was happening at sea. 

After listening to Abdullah’s story, Hassan wished to make Santubong like Melaka. He hoped to repair and rebuild the tembok ( wall)at Mungguk Maras that was destroyed by the flood during the reign of Pangiran Baginda Tuanku Siagasangsana. However, he did not have manpower and skilled labour. (The wall was destroyed by contractors in 2018) 

Hasanuddin wanted to adopt other features from Malacca. Therefore he ordered a dango balun (a place where the drum was kept) to be built near Astana Munguk Maras that functioned like the one in Malacca. 

Coconut Sugar and Gula Malacca

The Sultan of Malacca had requested Abdullah Muhammad’s help in starting a coconut sugar industry much like the industry in Santubong. Abdullah Muhammad told him he would convey his request to Sultan Hasanuddin. He felt he could send people to Malacca to produce sugar. The venture could also enhance the relationship with Malacca.

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NOTE

The gula Melaka (sugar)was supposed to be gula kabong(sugar).The Sultan of Melaka requested Abdullah to learn the skill of making it from Indera Samudera Punik. Gula kabong was made from palm trees whereas gula Melaka was made from coconut trees. 

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NOTE

Hashim (Hashim 1992 p.45) reports that in the text of the Hikayat Siak Brunei is part of the Malacca empire.

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Sultan Hasanuddin ordered his people to cook coconut sugar and told them to send a big basket to the Sultan of Malacca. When the sugar was ready, Abdullah Muhammad and his entourage visited Tun Perak. They told the Tun Perak they wanted to see Sultan Mahansursa and they brought him several Panda Gula (people who know how to make sugar) and gula kabong (coconut sugar). They were then brought before the Sultan by Tun Perak. During his meeting with the Sultan, they told him they represented Sultan Hasanuddin and presented him with a gula kabong. He also brought people to teach others how to make gula kampong from the young shoots of the coconut leaves.  Abdullah Muhammad spent about six months in Melaka to teach the people how to make sugar out of coconut. Pandai Gula was created in Melaka. The Sultan was very happy and named the sugar Gula Melaka.  

Organization of the Malay and Iban Armies

Sultan Hasanuddin wanted to create a team of army officers that was very efficient. He created the post, Paduka Laksamana under the Menteri Sri Paduka Indra Temenggong. He established an army that was made of Malays and Orang Iban (orang ma’anyan from Suku Melayek and Suku Melautus). He had discussed this with Bapa Menakan. (bapa saudaranya) (uncle) Temenggong Iban, Konchet Ampelang together with other Orang Ibans in the areas of Indera Ponek. 

The Sultan persuaded Konchet Ampelang (Iban Temenggong) to bring the Ma’anyan of Suku Melayek and Melautus (Ibans) located in the areas of Setentang and Sanggo (Sanggau) to become part of the people of Santubong. 

These Ibans migrated to Santubong. They were allowed to open new places like Sri Anyan and Sri Enggang (now daerah Serian and Semanggang/Sri Aman) and also Srunduk (now Lundu area ). The Sultan also ordered the Temenggong Iban to appoint a Kepalak Bentang/Tuai Iban (headman) in all the Iban kampongs. The position of Kepalak Bentang came under the power of Temenggong Iban. They passed down traditions for the Malays and Ibans to live together. Many of these rules come from the heritage of Indrana Hyang Sogi and are still practised today.

To enhance the army, the Sultan searched for pandeykas ( an expert warrior) among the Malays and Ibans to train more soldiers. The army was led by three Laksamana:  Laksamana Si Ki (Anak Pengiran Paduka Tuan Saenan), Laksamana Sitam (anak Sri Paduka Temenggong) and  Laksamana Riam (anak Perempuan Pandeka Tegak yang Bernama dang Siti Mariam). Pandeyka Tegak was the brother of Datu Patinggi in Kalaka.

There were several lubalang (hulublang) (high-ranking warriors who have expertise in silat) that were composed of Ibans and Malays. 

1. Lubalang lubalang  

a. Lubalang Teremat and Lubalang Serait (Malays from Seri Abas)

2. Lubalang Apok and Lubalang Leban (Ibans from Nyadong)

3. Lubalang Gintal (a Malay from Tanah Belidah)

4. Lubalang Achem (an Iban from Tanah Belidah)

5. Lubalang Puntik and Lubalang Betong (Ibans from Sri Anyan area)

6. Lubalang Tajim and Lubalang Badi (A Malay and Ian ban from Semat Rotan)

Those Lubalangs were under the management of Laksamana. The task of Lubalangs was to train the army of Santubong.

The armies were led by three Lakasamana. They were in charge of protecting the coastal areas.

1. Laksamana/ Nakhoda Sika who led the army protected the seas from Santubong to Tanjong Datu.

2. Laksamanna/Nakhoda Riam who led the army that controlled the coast from Santubong to Mora Sungey Salak up to Mora Sungey Mora Abas. 

3. Laksamana/Nakhoda Sitam who led the army and protected the coast from Mora Abas to the Kalaka area.

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NOTE

Nakhoda Sitam was from Pulau Serasan. According to Sarawak lore, he fell into the sea and was saved by a black octopus. He was lifted and placed on the boat. The descendants include Ne Nek Ihat who was well known in Kampong Boyan. Before she died, kampong folks saw her as the head of an octopus and the body of a snake. The Nakhoda on the Sarawak River went from kampong to kampong to protect passengers. (Sahari, oral history)

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Several attacks from Bajak Pulo (Lanun/pirates) and Pulo Reio (now Pulau Riau) on Semat Rotan and Tanjong Kembang were stopped. An attack from Bajak Cina (Lanun Cina/Chinese pirates) on Santubong was also foiled.

The migration of the Malays and Orang Ma’anyan from Baku Lapura to Santubong resulted in the building of new Kampongs of Malays and Ibans in Indera Samudera Punik, especially in the area of Semat Rotan, Nyadong, Tanah Berlidah and Seri Abas.

Sultan Hasanuddin ordered Abdullah Muhammad to build schools for the study of religious teachings in Santubong at the foot of Mungguk Maras. The school became known as Darul Hannah.

The Sultan also wanted to surrender his rule to his brother. However, Abdullah Muhammad wanted him to rule for five more years. Abdullah wanted to travel to the Malay kingdoms to the east of Tanjong Datu (now Kalimatan ), especially in the area of Bijakyapura (now Sambas River). 

The Borneo Travels of Abdullah Muhammad

Abdullah Muhammad also wanted to visit the mausoleum of his father. He went to Bijakyapura to the grave of his father, Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil Jaffaruddin, whose resting place was at the upper river of Vijayapura (now Sambas river). He then went to Bakulapura. 

Upon arrival at Sukadana, the centre of administration of Bakulapura, he immediately visited the Ruler named Raja Sapurong (Raja Bapurung). He presented him with ten tajo of gula apong (palm sugar), ten tajo of garam apong (palm salt), a few deer antlers, semukun emas (gold), a pair of pakaian sungkit (hand-woven attire), kebok (big jars) and ipang (a large jar to hold water) and a few uncut diamonds. Abdullah then introduced himself and told him he was from Santubong and was the descendant of the Rulers of the old Tanjungpura. The Raja was happy with the presents and was glad to meet him. Abdullah Muhammad asked for permission to stay in Bakulapura. He received special treatment from Raja Sapurong. While he was there, he went to the Arab settlements in Ketapang. He found a few Malays who had embraced Islam. Abdullah Muhammad travelled to other areas. He was in Bakulapura for two years. Raja Sapurong liked his manners and attitude and matched him with his daughter, Puteri Sariyana.

Abdullah Muhammad apologized to him and said he could not marry her because she was not a Muslim. However, he said he had fallen in love with Puteri Sariyana. Raja Sapurong laughed after listening to his statement and said that if Abdullah Muhammad was willing to take his daughter as a wife, he and the daughter were willing to convert. Therefore, Raja Sapurong converted to Islam and took the name Saifuddin Malik and the Princess was given the name of Puteri Nur Fatimah. Abdullah Muhammad and Puteri Nur Fatimah were married.

Abdullah sent the news of his marriage to Sultan Hasanuddin. Abdullah Muhammad returned to Santubong at the request of his brother together with his wife and the servants. The Kingdom of Bakulapura then changed its name to Tanjungpura, after the name of the of the old kingdom of  Tanjompura. 

His return at Santubongresulted in great celebrations. Gongs sounded and drums were beaten followed by singing in the Astana. The people were served with food. The revelry and feasting lasted for seven days. The Acara pencak silat (martial art), acara beradu kuat and acara acara permainan (forms of silat) were performed by the Malays and Ibans. The celebrations were held in Kampong Sungey Tekoyong, Kampong Mungguk Maras and Kampung Pasey Putih in Santubong. The celebrations were held alternatively for two days in each Kampong after the celebrations at the Astana at Mungguk Maras.  

The Origins of Malay and Iban Martial Arts

Traders who came to trade in Santubong took part in the celebrations. Merchants from China and Betawi also performed their martial arts and were experts in demonstrating weapons. Their participation was well received by the people of Santubong. Many people from the areas of Indera Samudera Punik came to Santubong to take part in the festivities. The Chinese traders and the Betawi traders performed their martial with weapons attracted the attention of Abdullah Muhammad who also wanted to learn the martial arts. Hasanuddin ordered those traders to meet with him after the ceremonies were over.

The traders met with Hasanuddin. They were offered a decrease in taxes if they were willing to teach martial arts and weapons to Hasanuddin’s family. The traders agreed. The Chinese traders offered the leader of the sailors, Ong Peng of the Hui family, to become an instructor. The Betawi traders sent the head of their guard, Purwadi, to teach the art. Abdullah Muhammad brought with him several young men to learn the martial arts from Ong Peng and Purwadi. They studied hard and mastered the Chinese and the Betawi martial arts in only one and a half years. Abdullah also learned martial arts from the three Laksamana of Indera Samudera Punik.

Abdullah Muhammad named all the martial arts that were mastered as “Pencak Kunto“. These were established from a combination of Betawi and Chinese arts. Several years after the death of Pengiran Paduka Tuan Saenan, during the month of Dzulhijjah 884 (1479) a few days after the celebrations of Aidil Adha, Sultan Hassanuddin said he wanted to step down and asked his brother to replace him.

BorneoHistory.net