Saganda Manikam (Siagasangsana)  ~1277- 1303

After Pangiran Sri Paduka Tuanku Indrana Junjunan changed into a dragon and went into the Kaliman Sea (Keleman ) his son Pangiran Molia Tuan Siagasangsana became the ruler and took the title Pangiran Paduka Tuanku Siagasangsana. He was known as Saganda Manikam in the Tuca Kerabat. He became king at the age of 18. He was assisted by a minister, Menteri Indra Paduka Bantara Diraja Mangkuk Bumi, who was an advisor to the King in the administrative welfare of the Kingdom.

There were a few of the people of the Sri Indera Purik Kingdom that embraced Hindu-Buddhist faith and there were still animistic beliefs left over from Hyang Gi who was the first ruler. Before the formation of the Kingdom Indera Purik, the people of Mora Ponek (Santubong) had been practising animism. They believed in the “Spirits of Nature” as their friends and helpers, and believed them to have supernatural powers.

Siaga was married to Puteri Iyang Dukuk daughter of Paduka Tuan Mangkuna, a Patinggi from Seri Abas. They had three children. The eldest was a girl named Pangiran Ampuan Dang Munila. The second child is Pangiran Empuan Dang Tepey, a female while the third, a boy, Pangiran Paduka Tuan Indranajunjunan. Siaga was also first married to Dang Kama the daughter of the minister Indra Paduka Bantara Mangkuk Bumi. They had five children, three boys and two girls living in the Astana.(palace)

During Siaga’s rule, it is believed he built a wall at Bukit Maras facing the sea. He was the first person to create the position of Panglima in the Kingdom of Seri Indera Purik. The position was called Datu Indra Pelawan and the occupant of the office became known as Panglima. This position was held by his nephew Pandeyka Karah (Pendekar Karah). The real name of Karah is Tuan Indra Karah bin Pangiran Paduka Indra Sagga. It is believed that some of the people of Sri Indera Purik believed in Hindu Buddhism. The royals and ministers were however still practicing animism ever since Indranayangsogi (Hyang Gi) ruling.

Siaga opened another kampong for boats to obtain fresh water. He named the new kampong, Kampong Nyadong which later became Sadong. The people who stayed there were from Kalka and Sari Abas (Saribas). Meanwhile, another new area opened at Santubong near Bukit Jora. At first, the area of Bukit Jora was for the people from Tanjungpura who came to Seri Indera Purik during the rule of his grandfather, Indra Simma. After the village was handed to the minister, Sri Paduka Indra Temenggong, the name was changed to Kampong Pasay Ngemas (Pasir Mas). The settlement was intended for the royal families and Menteri Paduka Indra Temenggong family.

The activities of the people were padi planting and fruit growing. It was during Siaga’s rule that a natural disaster struck the Kingdom of Indera Purik. A big storm and waves caused a huge flood.

About seven months before the disaster, Siaga dreamed that the sea had dried up while the sky was filled with water. In the dream, he also saw his wife together with his five children. When he approached them, the wife and four children walked away. Only the eldest son came to him. He tried to chase after them but they still went away.

When Siaga woke up from his sleep he felt confused and felt like his dream was a bad sign. He asked the palace dukun (person who translates dreams) about the dream and the dukun could not explain the meaning of the dream. He suggested that Siaga call upon the Nahaga Ngemas Mirah Kunin spirit and consult about the dream.

Siaga told the palace servants to prepare for the Tuca Manunggah ceremony. After everything was ready, he performed the ritual of Tuca Manunggah on the beach around dawn. After the ritual, he came back to the palace with his followers and went to sleep. During a dream, he was approached by his late father. In the dream his father told him that Sri Indera Purik will be hit by a disaster. He woke up before he could ask more about the calamity and asked his palace dukun what to do. They suggested that the “Gendang Wanua” be performed. They said that nature needed to be appeased. This ritual had been practised by the Malays in Sri Indera Purik for generations. They also suggested they perform the ritual “Deng Ngadeng” (in Bahasa Malaysia -Muja Alam)(nature worship) to call upon the nature spirits of the unseen world and to be performed every nine days. This ritual was also practised by them for generations.

Siaga agreed to the suggestion. He ordered everyone to perform Gendang Wanua every fifteen days in all areas in Sri Indera Purik. The ritual of Deng Ngadeng was to be performed every day by the Dukuns during early dawn and during the Bahri (dusk) in every area including the Santubong area. (Deng Ngadeng is the ritual that is called Mendeng in the Malay world.) Upon Siaga’s request, the Gendang Wanua was performed at the palace compound and was concluded with the “Nulak Perakah” ritual.

Another ritual called “Nulak Perakah” (a process to rid one of bad luck) was added. To perform the ritual, one builds a small junk, puts food in it and sends it to the sea. This ritual for the “Spirit of Nature”(Anchak) was held in nine places including mountains, hills, orchards, forests, jungles, bays, rivers, sea and tanjong. (promontory)

After three days of Gendang Wanua, he dreamed that he was approached again by his father and he told the dream meant a catastrophe (gelumbang gandang and angin bepusin) in the form of a big wave and twister. The calamity would hit Sri Indera Purik in seven months, during mid-day, on the seventh day after the full moon. His father, in a dream, had asked him to order the people to make temporary settlements on mountains, hills and places away from the sea. His father also taught him the “Tuca Tekoyong” to call upon the spirit of Tekoyong Bondong (snail). While the disaster was occurring, the people should call upon the spirit of the snail. The Spirit of Snail will call upon the spirit of Semengat Berona (colourful ) to ease the spirit of water and wind.

The next day, Siaga told the Menteri to send messages telling the people of the Sri Indera Purik kingdom (Kalaka, Seri Abas, Semat Rotan, Tanjong Kembang, Tanjong Datok, Mora Sadong, Mora Tebas, Bakok, Sungey Buntak and Pasey Ngemas) that they would be hit by a big wave. Siaga ordered shelters to be built at Santubong Mountain and the people of Santubong, Sungey Buntak and Pasey Ngemas to be housed at Sejinjang Mountain. He also ordered shacks to be built at Gunung Salak (Bukit Enggang).

Siaga decreed the Tuca Tekoyong be taught to everyone in every areas in the Sri Indera Purik Kingdom. He also instructed the Menteri Sri Paduka Indra Wangsa to inform ships that wanted to stop at Santubong to leave Santubong as soon as possible because of the big wave that was coming. The ships would only be allowed to load fresh water. There was to be no trading. After five months, the building of the resettlement area at Mount Santubong areas near Mungguk Salak was completed. He instructed the people to move to the resettlement area and to bring their belongings. The abandoned Kampongs turned into a state of silence.

There were some people who refused to move. He told his wife and five children to proceed to the resettlement area but his wife refused and decided to stay with him at the Astana at Mungguk Maras. The ministers also advised him to move from the palace for his own safety, but he ignored them. He also ruled that all valuables be buried and guarded on Mount Santubong.

 The full moon of the seventh month arrived. Siaga became restless. On the fourth day after the full moon, heavy rain lashed the coast until the morning of the seventh day. On the fifth day, an unusual occurrence happened at the seaside of Santubong and Sungey Ponek. (Sungai Santubong)

 The fish were jumping out of the water and onto the bank while at Sungey Ponek, the river water was roiling because there were so many fish from the sea. The fish swam and fought against the upriver current that flowed down with a very fast rush due to heavy rain. This continued until the sixth day. Observing, he ordered the rest of the people to evacuate. He regarded the fish incident as a sign from the Spirit of Nature – Semengat Wanua- who was informing him the disaster would soon strike.

When the afternoon of the seventh day approached, the rain subsided, but at the edge of the sky in the west, was pitch black with clouds. Suddenly, the waters moved out very fast. There was no more water in the sea or the river. The Sungey Ponek River water level quickly went down. It was monsoon season so that was very unusual. Then heavy rain poured down.

The people were terrified! They asked his followers to play the (ketotong), alat bunyian (a gong) to call for those villagers that were left to come to Bukit Maras. Siaga ordered his men to bring their wives and children to hide under the Astana. Then, a very high wave came from the sea and hit the land and submerged the village. He asked all the people to follow him to the mountain but, within seconds, the wave continued until the water was as high as half of Bukit Maras. The water kept on coming. He witnessed the water was almost up to the Astana and all the village was destroyed. He tried to find his wife and children. He was running toward the mountain and then he remembered that they were back at the Astana. He then ran back to the palace to try and save the wife and children but the water was already flooding the garden of the Astana with a forceful flow. To save them, he swam towards the mountain. He held on to two of his children and his wife. The other children were saved by his followers. Not long after, the Astana drifted by in the flood water. 

The storm and the waves were still pounding the area. He and the followers continued to the settlement at Gunung (mount) Santubong. While they were rushing towards the settlement, several big trees fell on them because of the strong wind from the storm. The trees also fell on his followers. Three of his children were killed and his wife was badly injured. The bodies of his followers and two of his children could not be pulled out from underneath the big fallen tree. He moved on to the settlement area. The storm weakened during the night.

The next day he ordered that the bodies of his children and his followers be taken to the resettlement area. They were placed on a mat of bamboo and the bodies arranged in a tree until only bones remained. Then the bones will then be sent to the sea. However, because of the heavy the rain, the bodies could not be fastened to the trees and they were placed in the forest.

Siaga asked his men what the situation was at Bukit Maras. His men told him that it was still flooded and underwater. They said the palace was gone. With that, he asked his ministers to go down to the foot of Santubong Mountain. He witnessed that the flood and the monsoon waves were still hitting the foot of the mountain. The drenching rain continued. By evening, the water level had begun to recede.

He was so sad thinking about his kingdom and his three children who died, his badly injured wife and his people, that he wept. While he was thinking, a very strong wind came up. A storm hit and big waves struck again. He and the followers ran to save themselves. Upon reaching the mountain, the temporary shack they had built had collapsed. The strong wind continued until nighttime. It was then he remembered the “Tuca Tekoyong” that was taught to him by his father in his dream. He recited the “Tuca Tekoyong” until the middle of the night. The wind finally settled down but the rain was still heavy. In the morning the rain let up.

After sunrise, they repaired the damaged shack. The rain also became less, stopped, and then it rained hard again. He asked his men to follow him to the seaside and to recite the “Tuca Tekoyong” and they  chanted nonstop. After reciting for a while, the water began to quickly flow towards the sea. The water went down to half of Mungguk Maras and the garden was emptied of water. He asked his followers climb down to Bukit Maras. They continued reciting the “Tuca Tekoyong”.

Siaga asked his ministers to clean up the area around where Astana had been. Temporary homes were built there. At about the same time, his wife had passed away. It was more or less five days when the water finally moved out completely from Santubong. A new palace was then built at Bukit Maras. After ten days, the people returned to their kampongs. He then sent people to check the other villages and kampongs.

The disaster had caused total destruction to Kampong Pasey Ngemas at Mungguk Jora. Mungguk Jora became a small island, now called Pulau Kera. Kampong Pasir Ngemas had become flooded and was part of the sea. A landslide had caused a small island to be formed. Pulau Salasah (now Pulau Kalasah), at the mouth of the Sungey Salak which was once big, had became another small island due to the smashing sea water. The area of Mungguk Salak (now Bukit Enggang) also became an island.

 A big part of Kampong Pasey Putih had vanished as well as Kampong Sungey Buntak. Kampong Bakok at the mouth of Sungey Bakok (Bako River now) was also destroyed. Kampong  Mora Abas, which was situated at the base of Mount Sungey Abas, was totally demolished.  Upon returning from the investigations of the areas under Sri Indera Purik, they reported to the king that most of the kampongs had been destroyed.

The kampongs closest to the sea were also affected. The area of Semat Rotan, Tanjong Datok was badly destroyed. Kampong Telok Sara Abang was also wrecked as also the area of Tanjong  Kembang. However, the inland  Kampongs in the area of Kalaka, Seri Abas and Kola Nyadong were not affected by the disaster.

Even though the calamity had ravaged many places, the death toll was low. The flood had taken the life of Siagasangsana’s wife and their three children: Dang Rona (second child), Indra Damai (fourth child) and the youngest child,  Indra Rajo. His children  who were saved were the eldest son Mahkuta Indra Lewang and the third daughter, Dang Yak Endang,

The food supply was plentiful because they had gathered the rice and stored it. He ordered a new settlement to be built far from the sea. He decreed the rebuilding of the ruined areas. He also directed the Petinggi to ration the rice so that it would last and would accommodate the people until the planting of the next crop. He also issued a directive that punishments against the Petinggi would be enforced if injustice happened to the people.

Siaga sent messengers to proceed to the ruined areas and ordered the Petinggis to come to see him at his new palace he named Astana Sri Maras at Mungguk Maras. The work of rebuilding the kampongs in every affected area was underway. After  one year, trading resumed in Santubong. After a few years, the condition of Sri Indera Purik had totally recovered.

Siaga went on a journey to Tanjungpura and married Akeng Sari who was also a royal of the Tanjungpura family at the Bijaya Pura (Vijaya Pura). From this marriage, they had two children one girl Dang Puteri Rona and Pangiran Tuan Indra Rajo after their late children. These two were named after Siagas late children.

Siaga was still worried the disaster might strike again. He sent messengers to call upon the Petinggis and told them to meet him at the Astana at Bukit Maras. He then asked his ministers to launch an expedition to find areas suitable for a second administrative unit other than Santubong. They were told to find a place far away from the sea that could be defended. He also said the palace must have a river for communication and transportation. The Ministers suggested the place must be linked to Sungey Ponek.

Expeditions were sent to identify suitable locations. After a month, there were several sites that were selected. Those areas were situated along the river in the interior of Sungai Santubong up to the areas at Mungguk Serak. (Kuching now) At Mungguk Serak, people mined antimony (batu serak) at what is now Astana. The mineral was traded with China and would later be traded to the Arabs to produce the celak mata (eye liners). The Arabs believe it is a sunnah to put on eyeliner because they believe it has a healing element for the eye.

They also identified several coastal areas in the interior of Sungey Salak (Salak River) that were connected with Sungey Ngelabu/Si Ngelabu (Sungai Sibu now). Sungey Ngelabu ended at mora Tanjong Kembang (Tanjong Mbang now). The places along the riverbank at Sungey Salak and Sungey Ngelabu, however, were not suitable because the rivers had many branches. Siaga felt people could easily lose their way.

After the locales had been identified, Siaga asked his men to travel with him and visit the selected spots. Siaga thought most were unsuitable because they were still in a flood plain and the water levels during the tsunami/big flood had shown an overflow mark on the banks of the river. The area from Mungguk Serak up to Mungguk Sapat (Kampong Panglima Seman Lama now) were higher, but they were not high enough. The lowland areas nearby also could not be cultivated and the sections were easily flooded. Furthermore, these places were not far from the sea and could be attacked by enemies. Siaga wanted to find a locale in case Santubong was hit by another natural disaster or raided by the pirates. He ordered another search.

Meanwhile, a group of Suku Layek (Urang Malayek) (Ibans) that lived in Santubong, came to see him. They told him there was a valley upriver where some of their tribes lived. The place was where two rivers from the mountain split and joined into one river. The area from the mountains was settled by the Suku Urang Darat (Dayak Darat) who were bartering with jungle products with Sri Indera Purik. After listening to the story, he decided to visit.

When he reached the place, he was attracted because the mountains were settled by Suku Urang Dayak who were bartering jungle products with Sri Indera Purik. After listening to the story he decided to visit. Lubok Pedada (now Kampung Paroh) had a deep inlet for boats to dock, and whose surrounding fields were suitable for agriculture. It was safe from sea storms or attacks from the pirates.  Furthermore, the river passage could only accommodate small canoes. It was possible to easily defend the river. He then berambeh (stayed there) for three days. He realized there were two rivers that flowed from the right and left. He then went to the meeting place of the two rivers. He imagined the tongue of a snake and thought it should be named Tanah Berlidah after performing a ritual called Perabun Ngeliun (see appendix 22). He declared a kampong and open for trade.

After ten days, he went back to Santubong and left the people to continue to build homes. Six months later, the area was ready for a new settlement. New buildings were erected.  Even though Tanah Berlidah (now Lidah Tanah) was constructed, only a small number of people stayed.

Tanah Berlidah was occupied by Malays and the Urang Suku Dyak Layek/Latus (Iban now). However, the town was not permanently occupied. A hundred days before the rainy season (Musim Tengkujuh) they moved out of Tanah Berlidah and returned after the monsoon season.

Siaga tried to make Tanah Berlidah the administrative capital. However, this did come to pass during his rule. He was called Saganda Manikam in the Tuca Karabat. His son, Pangiran Tuan Mahkuta Indra Lewang became the ruler.

BorneoHistory.net