19

- - _ .._ - _ .

APTER 2

DAY H COMMUNITY IN GENERAL

Dayak Identity

The "Dayaks" are considered to be the original - - "nitants of Borneo . Origi nally, the Dutch Authority - =1donesia referred aLL the indigenous pagans of

=:r-eo as "Dayaks" when Indonesia was still under .-..::: ll le of the Dutch , as did the first English arrivals - Sarawak in 1840s. The word "Dayaks" according ~: ' alimantan Review" English Version Volume II /

ember 1999, is the coLLective name for around Bazaar . - : ethno linguistic-groups of the Borneo Island. -=ethnic groups such as the Iban, Kayan, Kenyah, · - ayan, Maanyan, Ngajuk, Uud Danum, Bidayuh,

= - _ang and Pompang are such some of them that _ _ ist . According toAnthropolcqy, Ethnography and

. ; l istie experts, their identity is based on their :: - -.arities in physical appearance, cultural elements, . sto ary law and death rituaL. However, these tribal :..c: . le differin language, culture, art forms, clothing, -: . si g architecture and social organization.

All Dayak group s, however, have some ' . ' : 3mental features in common; they live along

"':-5, mountain-tops and highlands. They practise ':~ : : " shifting cultivatiori and coLLect jungle produce. -" , 's c mmon economic base combined with thi s _ : ::: _ uniform ecosystem within which most Dayaks

: :0 a long way to explain the similarities in . Gate _ ': ;on conceptions and worldview of the D~yak

people, Dayak ancient and traditional religion is now receding before the onslaught of Christian proselytizing in particular.

In Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia, there is a Dayak King. He is Si nga Bansa who is the sixth rulerto sit on the Hulu Ai k throne of Krio Dayak at Menyumbung Village, Sandal District, Ketapang Regency. Based on "Kalimantan Review" English Version Volume II / November 1999 (P.31-32), the Hulu Aik Kingdom was established around the year 1700 at Krio River. Many Dayak themselves in Kalimantan Barat do not know that they have a Dayak King. Nevertheless, Raja Singa Bansa is the symbol ofthe marginalization ofthe Dayak people in Kalimantan Indonesia.

II) Origin of Dayak Bidayuh

During the Brooke Regime and Colonial Era, Dayak Bidayuh in Sarawak was known as "Land Dayak" meaning "the Dayak of the hill country". However, following the passing of the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill 2002 at the State Legislative Assemb ly in Kuch ing on 6-5-2002, the Bidayuh community is no longer referred as "Land Dayak" ­the terminology given by the Brooke and Colonial administrations in the olden days.

It was believed that the Bidayuhs were one of

•• • History of Bidayuh in Serian •••

20

the original people of Borneo and they most probably settle d in Sarawa k "before any other tribes now found among them" (Staal, P.55, 1%0 ). They were the princi pal inhabitants ofthe originalterritory acqui red byJames Brooke (Ling Roth, 1869). These statements of the writers indicated that the Dayak Bidayuhs were the peo ple believed to be among th e earliest inhabitants of Borneo. Their history, some of which is in oraltradition is not recorded. Little is reliably known about their earliest history. It was most probably that the earliest human occupants reached Borneo Island from the mainland Asia during the later stages of the

l' -':L:

Pleistocene when the sea level was low enough to form a land bridge. However, when the sea level rose to near its present level, these early sett lers were effectively isolated from the rest ofAsia (Fi sher, 1966). Through isolation and time, those that settled in a region at the western tip of Borneo evolved into a unique cultural and linguistictype. However, geography and recent history have separated these culturally and linguistlcally similar people into two sovereign territories. In Sarawak, where a smaller percentage lives, th eir homeland is to be found mainly in hinterland of the Kuching and Samarahan Divisions

tJ.ft.""..·~.. r(I1Ulu . .iV.tfn,{UI~" ~

{;~d/w,,(kr. •nOJl1n :e"

?:.dn.Hu k,_

~

APOR~ 40 ;:------*'~ -~<\,

.... ~

).1'~ I. d otr 1Ian= For

~og!!;.

Old Map of Borneo showing the location of Sarawak.

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian • • •

21

·- to )se ~ re

_:0). : a

-: a "]hy

~ n d

- ~ : gn

- : 3ge in

::" .ins

· ·:h are adjacent to Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia - ~ re the majority of them reside.

:..:: ) Legends of the Bidayuh Origin

According to an article "The First Land Dayak" ':-en by Dr. John Hewit, former Curator of Sarawak .seurn 1905 -190 8, originally there were no human

_7'1g5 in Borneo Island. Deer, pigs and beasts of :. 'ous kinds were plenty. Fish andfowls were abundant

.; .: there were no human beings. The first man who :: the first Land Dayak called Tenabi lived at the : : of Bukit Suit and Baru and he married to Kitupong -: died during childbirth. A strange incident : : ened when Tenabi conceived a child in the calf . nis leg. Upon maturity, his calf burst, a female z: t was born. When she became a woman, Tenabi i.ried her. The couple had three chi l.dren, one girl

ed Timuyau, two sons named Padat and Tiruah.

When Padat and Tiruah grew up, they moved f their family home and settled at Sinyang and

: : Hills. Both of them got married and had children . : .e to thievery of Padat's son for stealing sugarcane

_- Tiruah's garden and he was beheaded at the s: set by Tiruah's son. Padat and his family moved Sikanqan where he launched an attack on Tiruah. _3h and his family moved out and settled at

sbut on the right branch of Sarawak River.

Tiruah had a son called Sikaya who married to -~ ale spirit called Sekama at Mount Penrissen.

the marriage, they had two children, one boy : one girl. Sikaya and Sekama had the following

:0 - : thiidren.­

1. ) Bena 6. ) Bikirup z. ) Bungu 7. ) Baang 3. ) Bibawang 8.) Bratak 4.) Biatah 9. ) Peninjau 5.) Singai 10. ) Puruh.

Various accounts of their origin have been interpreted by the Bidayuh them selve s. Some Bidayuhs claimed that they were the descendants of the mythical characters of the Malay origin such as Datu Patio The Bidayuhs from Kampung Engkeroh, Serian claimed that they were the off-springs of the spirit from Lobang Lubok Bayor. The Bidayuh from Kampung Mentu Tapuh in Serian believed that their ancestors were human beings who came out from a hole in the ground along Sungai Mentu. Some Bidayuhs even claimed that they descended from the tree trunk, fish and animals. These are all legends and there is no evidence to prove their claims.

IV) Dayak Bidayuh Settlements

(1) Settlement in Kalimantan Barat

In the olden days, according to a Bidayuh legend, Bidayuh (Land Dayaks) in Borneo Island belonged to one tribe . However, with the Dutch controlling Kalimantan Indonesia and Brunei/British on the Sarawak side, the Bidayuhs were artificially separated by political boundaries. At the later stage, with the Indonesians getting independence on . 17-8-1945 and with the formation of Malaysia on 16-9-1963, the political severance between the two areas became more and more pronounced. Today, when the Indonesian Bidayuhs and the Malaysian Bidayuhs do meet at the border areas, they talk to

.,. History ofBidayuli in Serian •••

22

each other and do some pct ty/b art e 'c'J dill g iii a fri endly manner. They realize that t h ~y "He liviilg in two separate and independent nations. Hence, there is a growing diverqence in political divergence, in political orientatio n, socializatior and <' ''en cultural outlook.

In Ka limantan Barat, Indonesia, La nd Dayaks (Bidayuhs) are found extensively in the lower basin of the I<epuas River, particularly upstream of Sanggau, along the Sekayam Ri ver, northwards into Kuching/ Samara han Divisions of Sarawak. In the lower reaches of the Kep uas, extending northwards to the western most part of Sarawak and sout hward to Ketapang and to the coast of Java Sea, are to Selako/Rara (Selaka u/ La ra) t ribe wh o formerly lived along a ri ver kn own as Sungai Selakau between Sambas and Sengkawa ng in Ka limantan Barat, Indonesia.

However, a long time ago the Bidayuh lived in the coastal areas of Wes te rn Ka limanta n, but were continuously being attacked and ta ke n as slaves by the pirates. Wh en t hey became too old to work, or no longer wanted, they were simp ly put ashore and abandoned. Those who avoided bein g capt ured migrated further and further inland and took to more strategic and defensible positio ns on the tops of the hills, mountains and even in the caves, where they could push down boulders on t heir enemies. The dissemination of ot her reli gions was also one of t he reasons which forced the Land Dayaks (Bidayuh) to move further in land. In t he past, t he Land Dayaks who embraced Islam were considered as Malays or Mu slims. Th ose Land Dayaks (Bidayuh) who refused to adhere to Islam religion moved to the highland and interior land.

. • . llistor, at' Bitla vuh itt Ser itl" • ..

(2) Mig ration/Sett lement in Sarawak

Th ere was no boundary line between Sarawak and Ka limanta n Ba rat Indonesia in the olden days as indicated in the old map printed in London in 1870 on page 23. Hence, it was incorrect to say that all Bi dayuhs staying in Sarawak were immigra nts from I<alim antan Barat. Since there was no border-line, t he Bidayuhs might have been staying in Sarawak for ages already before Indonesia was colonized by the Dutch and Sarawak was under the rule of Sultan of Brunet/ t he Brooke authority. However, it could not be over- ruled tha t t here were Land Dayaks (B idayuhs) who migrated from Kalim antan Barat, In donesia from t he olden days right up t o the form ation of Ma laysia in 1963. When Sarawak was still under t he rule of Brunei, many Bidayuhs died because they were either being att acked by Skrang raiders from Simanggang (Sri Aman Di vision) or revelled against the inhuman treatments by the Brunei aut hority. However, they died not only for the sake of their comm unity but also for the sake of defending Sarawak against Brunei rule. Th at was how the Land Dayaks (Bidayuhs) lived before Sir James Brooke became t he first White Rajah in Sarawak in 1841. Since then, he gradually bro ught peace to Sarawak, the Land Dayaks multiplied tremendously and hence, th e populat ion increased. Owing to th e general barrenness of hill-farming land and the shortage of land due to increase of population, they are forced to consider moving back towards the lowland and coastal areas in order to obtain better rice harvests and other cash crops by cultivating on t he low-lying land.

23

,~

--rawak : 3YSas

1870 : at all : 5 from

=2r-line, Sarawak - 'zed by := Sultan it could Dayaks Barat, .

t o th e ~ vak was uhs died

:y Skrang ision) or :he Brunei - t he sake jefending t he Land

ss Brooke in 1841.

I Sarawak, md hence, e general iortaqe of are forced vland and e harvests : low-lying

'? old map of Borneo printed in London in 1870 showed that there was no border-line between Sarawak, Malaysia Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia.

.,;.

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, , , History of Bidayuh in Serian •• ,

24

(3) An cestral Homes

The Bidayuh is on e of the ind igen oUs communities in Sarawak and they were among the earliest people to inhabit in Sarawak. During the Brooke's and the colonial era, they were known as the Land Dayak meaning the people of the hill country. Today, the Land Dayak prefer to be known as Bidayuh . In their dialect, "Bi" means "people" and "Dayuh" means, "Land". Hence" Bidayuh" means "people of the land". Their original home is believed to be around the lower basin of Kepuas River, upstream Sanggau River and Sekayam River in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. However, most of the Bidayuhs in Sarawak believed that Sung kung , Bugau and SungaiSelakau were their three major ancestors' homes, all situated in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. Sung kung is situated in Seluas, near to Gunung Niyut which is 1,701 metres above the sea level. Bugau, which is an old Bidayuh settlement, is located not far from Kampung Mongkos in.Serian. Gajing Mountain is the homeland .of the Selako (Selakau) and it is situated at the source of Sela kau River near Singkawang. According to a legend, most Bidayuhs from Indonesia came to Sarawak about 20 generations before the Karaka tao eruption on 27-8-1883. Based on one generation of 25 years, the Bidayuhs have been staying in Sarawak for more than 600 years since 1383. It is evident that the close relationship still exists between the Bidayuh people residing on both sides of Sarawak/Kalimantan border. According to Rev. Father J. Staal, the Sung kung Dayaks were fierce and warlike. Many of them were the descendents of a China-man who married with a couple of Dayak women took refuge on the uninhabited mountains. He had the surname known as "Lim" and, hence, many

• • • History of Bidayub in Serian '"

of the Sungkung people are Lirns ! (Staa l, P.56, 19/,0) There is a descendent of Lim in Penrissen area. He is Ketua Kaum Simak ak Baeh of Kampung Banggau, Penrissen who confirm ed tha t he is one of the many descendents of the Lim s in Sa rawa k when I interviewed him at Kampung Banggau on 3-2-2001.

4) ATrip to Sungkung by Bishop Rev. Peter H.H. Howes

On 20-7-1953, the Right Rev. Peter Henry Herbert Howes wh o was the n the Assistant Bishop of Angli can Chu rch and 5 others made a trip from Pangkalan Am pat, Padawan to Sungkung which was 60 miles away. They spent a night at Kampung Kiding. Early next morning, they departed, pausing for a moment at Kampung Sapit and then crossing over the border to Kampung Goon in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia. From Goon , the path skirted the slopes of Baji Mountai n and then onto Temau Mountain until they reached Kampung Tuaan at 5.00 p.m. After spending a night at the Kampung , they left Tuaan at 4.00 a.m. the next early morning until they arrived at Kumba River where they had their breakfas t. After crossing the river and late that afternoon, they reached the first seven Kampungs of Sung kung at about 2,000 feet above the sea level. Each Kampung had its own headman and there was a space of about three to four hundred yards between each cluster of dwellings. There were no long housesexcept individual houses. In the village, there was "Arud Trauh" - a large rock formation alleged to be Trauh's boat (Howes p.247). sungkung had no heirlooms to showto Peter H.H.Howes and his party. According to the people there, in 1935, a party of Dutch visitors had been relieved of their heads and.the Dutch authority had

25

: its soldiers to show its displeasure. The old ; ~ e of Sungkung was burnt to the ground and all

; : au. .. .ooms had perished in the raid (Howes p.248). - ~ ny 'nformation, Peter Howes came to Sarawak in

-': ' I _ : - after his ordination in Durham, England and he . : )1 . ss appointed as Archdeacon of Sarawak and Brunei

. :7 0s. He was born on 20-3-1911, retired in 1985 .H. - Classed away in United Kingdom on 12-4-2003

--:: age of 92 after a short illness.

- ':il ry In the olden days, it took 5 days for the -: :' of = ung people to go to the nearest shopping centre

· -om - Sanqqau in Kalimantan Barat whereas they could - o':as

::' : iI Pangkalan Ampat in Padawan or Pangkalan :' :'1 g. . :.: = 19 in Ulu Bau withi n a period of 2 days. From ' : r a - :l kung, there was a path leading to Plaman : .er :gus Bering via Tu?an. It took about 12 hours on

:: :: -at. : :0 of _ til . ·ter :. - at

- .led -rter ~ l ey

- : at - : . ng .: Jut ' :' of ' : 'Jal

. - a ' : '!es =:ter - :ole ::en -ad

Photo of Bishop Peter Henry Herbert Howes taken in October 1980.

foot to complete the journey. From Plaman Trin ggus Bering, it took about 8 hours to reach Kampung Tringgu s and one and half hours by boat to Pang kalan Tebang. However, today, one can drive avehicle from Pangkalan Tebang to Kampung Tringgus by road within 15 minutes only.

(5) First Bidayuh SettLements in Sarawak

When the Bidayuh first came to Sarawak, they built longhouses and settled in the regions around Gunung Penrissen especially at Rabak Mikabuh in Kuching Distri ct, at Gunung Serembu, Gunung Singai and Bung Bratak in Bau District. They also stayed ar ound th e present Kampung Gahat Ma wang (Semabang), Kam pung Mawang Taup and Kampu ng

. Kujang Mawang (formerly known as Tembawang Rutoi)

Kampung SU!1.9,kung, KaLimantan Barat, Indonesia. Photo taken in JuLy 1953

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian •••

---------------~--------------------

Locality Map of Serian District (Source from Pengarah Pemetaar, Negara Malaysia and JUP( 1)

,( ~)

(,

, I,

. (

,1 fl h ncho ~ .

• I 6i1lu· ~ .~ .. . P9 ~ lQ . KU~' .&<J ~\ 0... . Tc r., B:J'\op ,,. . ..

/ 0

•"., .-,1

I

s~ Ii" 1<0. p o rn n n .!~

.1•K ". ."',,1>1)<1 • ~. 5 iburan ,

• - " . Ie

••• History of Bidayuh in Seria n •• •

27

'1' ': \1'

- r.~ ,lj \ .. \.: ,

-: •

: Dist rict Then they spread throughout the __ : :, _ areas in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions

~ __ known as First Division). It was obvious that = - sett led in the vicinity ofwhat is now I<uching ..r ; its nearbyareas. Although the Bidayuh used

~ = __ ghouse dwellers, many had abandoned that - _: residence. They did it out of necessity rather

: ice. Bidayuh were not vigorous people; they - : =asy going, pacific and even timid . Th at was

: . e became convenient prey for their aggressive _ rs. In the centuriesofslave tradingand head­: - ::! , their longhouses were favourite targets of

y the pirates from Sulu Sea and the stronger -= -='-omSri Aman Division (formerly known as Second

_' ) ). The peace-loving Bidayuhs put up little :~nce . This naturally encouraged their persecutors ­:'._rn whenever they desired loot. Harassed, bullied

: : espairing, they abandoned their homes, retreated --e rivers, and in some cases left low-lying areas

-. ether and fled to higher, more defensible ground. - -ately, many built thei r houses on the mountains - as Gunung Singai,Gunung Landar, Gunung Jagoi, . ng Serembu in Bau District, Gunung Penrissen

- ·u nung Siburan (Sintah) in Kuching District as - as the mountainous areas such as Tembawang -: : (Kujang Mawang), Mawang Taup and Semabang - -at Mawang) of Ulu Sadong in Serian District.

When Sir James Brooke became the first White ; n of Sarawak in 1841, he permitted Christian

- :sionaries to preach in Sarawak. When the __ionaries arrived, they chose a differentapproach

in over the Bidayuhs. They lived together with 3idayuhs in the Kampungs, learned to speak their

- ; uages/ dialect s and brought about the

establishment of churches, schools and even clinics. Missionaries gave the villagers clothing and med icine and taught them how to read and write. In the olden days, Christianity and the Bidayuh faiths/beliefs were absolutely contrary in te rms ofthought and st ruct ure. Those who did not accept Christianity were considered infidel, primitive, animists and uncivilized. Christianity became the symbol of modernization and education. However, those who had accepted Christianity had no other altern ative but to leave the pagan villages and built new villages elsewhere in order to avoid conflict and disagreement with the pagan elders .

V) Bidayuh Language / DiaLects

According to a legend related by Datuk William Nais, the former Bidayuh Temenggong of Kuching Division, Dayak Bidayuhs of the Western part of Kalimantan Borneo spoke only one local Bidayuh dialect known as Peroh dialect in the olden days and they themselves called Dayak Biperoh. However, as time passed, they migrated from areas around Sungkung to Rabak Mikabuh and later from Rabak Mikabuh, they moved and settled down in various places on hilltops identifying themselves with their new settlements and their new leaders.

Unli ke other indige nous groups who normally use the river system to differentiate and to name the groups, the Bidayuh mostly use the mountain or hill system and localeventsto name their groups. Hence, the Jagoi group derived its name from Gunung Jagoi, the Singai group named after Gunung Singai, the Sadong group named afterGunung Sadong andthe Bukar group derived from word "Kakar" which means "dirty/muddy water".

'" History of Bidoyuh in Serian •••

28

The Bidayuhs have four main known dialects i.e. BukarjSadong in Serian, Biatah in Kuching, JagoijSingai in Bau and SelakaujLara in Lundu with each dialectical group having many variations and different talking styles, sound and indistinct pronunciation . Sometimes it is quite confusing among the Bidayuhsfrom different dialectical groups and much worse to a non-Bidayuh. Hence, there are ma ny Malay, some Iban and even English words are in common usage too.

Dayak Bidayuh dialects as a whole arevery unique because their root-words are not derived from any particular dialects. However, the Selakau dialect is an exception because it is more or less simi lar to the Sarawa k local Malay language. In the olden days, individual contact among the Dayak Bidayuh was difficult due to comm unication problem and other pre-waiting danger such ashead hunting. Hence, when they found

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian •••

difficulties in naming certain things, theyinvented new words for them. They also change their pronunciations to some extent in order to suit the surrounding envi ronment. Thechangesin dialecticalintonation came into bei ng after a long process, thus causing differences among the Bidayuh dialects. Further more, within each dialectal group, the re are variation's. The Bibu karj Bisadong, the Biatah and BijagoijBi singai could understand one another in conversation but could not follow the pro nunciation exactly. The SelakojRara (SelakaujLara) dialect is, however, quite differentfrom other Bidayuh dialects because Selakoj Rara (Selakauj Lara) dialect contains many local Malay words.

The follo wing common words together with the mea nings in Bidayu h are selected to show t he different pronunciations of each groups:­

English SingaijJagoi areas, Bau

PenrissenjPadawan areas, Kuching

BukarjSadong areas, Serian

SelakojRara areas, Lundu

Eat man maan ma-an uman

Drin k nuok mo-ok nyihup man pain

Rice (boiled) tubi tubi sungkoi nasi

Hou se bori ramin rumin rumin

Have ogi agl aduhjadueh uni

Don't have do'-i matingjd agi (Bia nnah) anyap kati

Speak sinda miyu nyanda kasena

Cold mudud madud Bebi dinginjpanut

Day anu anu andu ana

Village Kupuo Rai s Binua Kampung

--- - -- --- --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 29 - ~w

:-}ns .: ' ng .arne ~ '1 ·.: es

~ 3ch

. ' ar/ ~ _ ld .: not ~a ra

~o m

- .;-au/

:-- the the

. -

--

hat is the main reason for the Bidayuh in 3 ' t o have different pronunciations for each

_ . Vhen I served in Serian Districtas the District - --=r in the early 1980s, I visited Kampung I<ujang

30g in Ulu Sadong. A Bidayuh elder there told - .: rat it was true that the Bidayuhs spoke one

~ age a-nd one dialect in Ka limantan Barat, - -nesia a long time ago. However, when they .-a ted to Sarawak and settled down in different

::..= tions. The local different environment especially :: different water from the riverthey drank adjusted =' r tongues and, hence, resulted the different

. .: unciat ions of each Bidayuh group in Sarawak : 3.y. Another point was that t he differences were :: 'n ly due to topographical ci rcumst a nces .

0 :, embering that more th an 150 years ago, there -0 5 hardly any road existed in the Bidayuh rural areas,

---= only means of travel was using the jungle-path

or riverine transport. The Bidayuhs stayed in their own Kampun gs, the ir dialects were also affected through constant contact with oth er nearby races; even a spell of 100 years changed a language/dia lect considerably. Anyway, the Bidayuh words in daily use are still th e same or nearly the same in most cases.

VI) Bidayuh Groups in Sarawak.

(1) Bidayuh Main Groups

In Sarawak, there are altogether thirty-four Bidayuh groups' mainly staying in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions. Generally they call themselves after the localities they are staying or aft er certain events or local incident s. However, there are six main Bidayuh groups who are commonly known in Sarawa k. The details are as follows:­

••• History of Bidayuh in Serial! • ••

No Name of the group District How the name being derived

:i) Bi sadong Serian Named after Batang Sadong and Gunung Sadong, the main river and mountain 'in Serian District.

J) Bibukar Serian From the word "Kakar" which means "dirty and muddy river". Eventually, it is pronounced as "Bukar", Bukar is also the name of a river.

c) Biatah Kuching From the word "Entah" which means "don't know" and the word "Betah" which means "broken". Eventually, it is pronounced as "Biata h'.

d) Bijagoi Bau Named after Gunung Jago i - the mountain in Ba u District.

e) Bisingai Bau Nam ed after Gunung Singai - the mountain in Bau District.

f) Dayak Selako/Rara Lundu Named after Sungai Selako (Selakau) in-Kalimantan Barat.

30

a) Bisadong Group

Bisadongs are staying along Batang Sadong and its tributaries such as Batang Kayan, Sungai Kedup, Sungai Suhu and Sungai Robin as well as at the side of Gunung Sadong in Serian District. Hence, they call themselves Bidayuh of Sadong i.e. Bisadong, Actually, there were many sub-groups within the Sadong Group.

b) Bibukar Group

Bibukars are residing nearto Batang Samarahan and its tributaries. In the olden days, when their ancestors migrated from Sungkung/Bugau to Tembawang Rutoi and then settled at a new place by the river near Gunung Sadong and built themselves a long house. On many occasions, the river became dirty and muddy as a result of the crossings made by wild animals in the Ulu. Since the dirty/muddy water was

. known as "Kakar" in Bidayuh Bukar dialect, the river was known as Sungai Kakar and eventually it was pronounced as Sungai Bukar. Hence, the Bidayuh staying in the area now call themselves Bibukar.

c) Biatah Group

As far as the word "Biatah" is concerned, it has three versions:­

First Version The first version was that "Biatah" was the name of one of the descendants ofTenabi, the first man and the first Land Dayak (Bidayuh) who lived on Borneo Island called "Atah". The

• • • HiS/DIY of Bida yuh in Serian •••

descendants of Atah called themselves "Bi Atah" and settled down at a mountain which they called "Si-Buran", Eventually, the group was known as "Biatah" and the place was called "Gunung Siburan" until today.

Second Version The second version was that the word "Biatah' actually came from a local Malay word "Entah" When Sarawak was still under Brunei Rule, one Malay officerfrom Brunei went to Siburan are" and wanted to look for someone to collect tax. He asked the local Land Dayak whom he me­along the footpath and asked where was S0

and so. The Land Dayak who did not know the person but answered in local Malay "Entah' which means "Don'tKnow". Eventually, whoeve went to Siburan Area would say he wanted tc go to "Entah" which slowly pronounced as "Biatah" meaning the people of the area.

Third Version According to Pemanca Kudui ak. Suwed

_

0':

Siburan, a long time ago when the first qrouc of Land Dayak (Bidayuh) migrated from Raba Mikabuh to Gunung Siburan, they saw a b': stone at the present site of Kampung Sintah They heard voices from inside the stone. Whe­the stone was broken (in Bidayuh dialect ­"Batu Betah"), they saw a couple (Man a Woman) in it. The Bidayuhs from Rab a Mikabuh calledthem "Bi Betah" which literal means "People from the broken stone". Slowh it was pronounced as "Biatah" until today.

: .. ' .

mselves 31 -o untain

__ally, the - e place ~ay .

8iatah" Entah".

- .r le, one _'an area

ect tax. ne met

~ .vas so -CJ W the :ntah" oever

- ":ed to - :ed as

~ d of _" ~ ro u p

=,abak ? big

> :tah. -: Nhen : .ect ­- and : sbak "~'a l ly

. : /V ly,

'jagoi Group

:" ;agoi originally came from Gunung Bratak, settlement where the Bidayuhs who first

- :e d from Sungkung in Kalimantan Barat , " = " 3 and settled down there, The Bijagoi moved

_ _119 Jagoi from Bung Bratak sometime in early . order to avoid atta cks by Skrang Ibans from

-- en Division (Second Division) . The Bijagoi ~ In the top of Gunung Jagoi which is 1,162 : : ove sea level. Eventually, the Bidayuhs who

.0 ::aying at Gunung Jagoi and its surrounding called themselves "Bijagoi" , the people of

, _ Jagoi until today.

Bi singai Group "

-unung Singai which is 1,843 feet above sea­.0 is the home of all the Bisingai in Bau and : -~ - g Districts. Th e word "Singai" was taken from : - ? e of Panglima Ma Ganai @ Rangai who was , ='st Panglima (Togung) who led his followers - Sungkung to Gunung Singai. At first, the

__-=:ain was known as "Dorod Ganai" and eventually, 25 pronounced as "Do rod Singai" until today.

- :':= . ' the Bidayuhs who are staying around Do rod :- ;0"call themselves Bisingai.

Selakau (Selako)jRara Group

In the past, Selakau/Rara did not belong to _ 8idayuh community. However, with effect from - s, they have been classified under the Bidayuh

_ _ ~ J because of political reasons. There are not many : ~ -=- c/ Rara in Sarawak and they are only found in

Lundu Di strict. In the olden days, the ancestors of Selako lived at Gajing Mountain and Sengkuku area which are sit uated at the source of Selako (Selakau) River near Sengkawang. Selako mig rated to Sarawak sometime in 1800s and stayed around Pasir River and Kayan River. The Rara came from Benkayang Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia at the later stage and they first settled down at Redang Raya in the Uppe r Pasir Rive r in Lundu District. Tod ay, the re are many inte r-marriages which take place between Selako and Rara in Lundu Di strict. TheSelako is actually bringing the name of "Sekalo (Selakau)" from Selakau River in Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia and used it as the name of Selako (Selakau) race in Sarawak.

(2) All Bidayuh Groups

In 1846, Hugh Low in hi6 book " Sarawak - Its Inhabitants and Production" sta ted t hat there were 21 Bidayuh t ribes who settled in the 29 villages consisting of 1,500 families/houses and wit h a population of 10,500. Of these tribes, 6 had their villages on the western branch and the remainder on the southern stream of the Sarawak River (Low p.290­291). According to Henry Ling Roth in his book "The Natives of Sarawak and British North Borneo"(Vol. 1) published in 1896, the main Bidayuh settlements were as follows:­

(1) Upper Sarawak River (4 settlements) Aup, Surambau (Serembu), Singgie (Singai) and Sow (Sauh)

(2) Lundu Territory (2 settlements) Sela ka /Rara (Selakau/Lara) and Sedumak (Sedemak).

• •• History of Bida yuh in Serian •••

3 2.~ . _

(3) Left- ha nd branch of Sarawak River (9 (4) Up per Sam arahan River (1 settlement) . settle ments).,. Bukar Sampro (Peroh), Sentah (Sintah) , Sennah (Ann ah Rais) (5) Upper Sadong River (4 settlem ents). Simpoke (Simpo k), Sig u (Benuk) , Brang Engrat (Ming rat/Ngarat) , En gkrok (Engkeroh), (Braang) . Kadup (Kedup) and Mi likin. St ang (Sitan g), Te bia (Tibi ah), Sib ungo (Bengoh) (6) Kuap River (1 sett lement )

Kuap (Quop)

Bidayuh beauties from various groups attending AnnuaL Harvest FestivaL in Kuching

••• History ofB idayuh in Serian ...

33

- 7 are altogether 34 Bidayuh groups in Sarawak, The details are as follows :­

~ -: e ro h ) , - Di st rict Serian District Bau District Lundu District Sarawak

-:::- "­ gro up

: ~ : n group

: 7:.:og group

--

: :3. ah group

an

=,: nyawa group

3'annah group

"ibiah group

3raang group

Simpok group

Bengo h group

Semban group.:J

1) Bukar grou p

2) Sa mbat group

3) Mentu group

4) Sumpas group

'5) Tem ong group

6) Taup group

7) Eng kero h group

8) Rii h group

9) Ga hat (Semabang) gro up

10) Su ntas (Sontas) group

11) Kujang group

12) Prangkan Group ,

13) Sangai Group

14) Daha Group

15) Tepoij Biannah Group

15 groups " .

1) Singai grou p

2) JagoijBrata k group

3) Serembu group (Bi roi s)

4) Gumbang group

5) Tringgus group

5 groups

1) Selako (S elakau) Gajing grou p

2) Salako (Selakau) Sengkuku Pueh grou p

3) Rara(Lara) group

4) Undu group (already extinct)

3 groups ..

34 groups

-

: : groups

• • • History ofBidayuh in Serian •••

34

VII) Bidayuh Population in Sarawak.

The Bidayuh population is mainly found in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions although small numbers of the Bidayuh population arefound in every district ofSarawak. In 1841, the population of the Bidayuh (Land Dayak) in Sarawak was estimated to 6,792. By 1876, the population increased to 18,379 and by1939, it had reached 36,963. In 1947, they numbered 42,195. The increase of 14.2 percent between 1939 and 1947 was one of the highest among the indigenous groups inSarawak. This considerable increase had cast doubts on the 1939 enumeration, butit was unlikely that many could have been left out in this · cou nt. It was thought that in-migration of the Bidayuhs from Indonesia Borneo might have contributed to the increase.

Between 1947 and 1960, the Bidayuh population increased by 36.6 percent, the highest rate of increase among the indigenous communities. There was noconcrete

••• History of Bidayun in Serian •.•

evidence to suggest that the bulk of increase was due to immigration or to an undercount at the last census.

In the past, the Bidayuhs had not beenvery mobile except from 1947 to 1960 period when some of them prompted by the opportunity for employmentwith a bauxite company which began operation in 1947 moved to Lundu District. Although there hasbeen no internal migration of any significance over the years since they moved into Sarawak from the Indonesian border, the Bidayuh population increased substantially during the 1947 to 1960 period.

Based onYearbook ofStatistics Sarawak 2001, there were 166,756 Bidayuhs out ofa total of2,071,506 peopLe in Sarawak. In term of percentage, it forms about 8.05% of the Sarawak population or 0.07% of the 22 million population ofMalaysia. This showed that the Bidayuh was the fourth largest racial group in Sarawak afterthe Ibans, Chinese and Malays. The details of the population of the Bidayuh in Sarawak from 1841 to 2000 are as folLows:­

Year r

PopuLation Percentage Distribution

Source -

1841 6,792 Henry Keppel "The expedition to Borneo of HMS Dido Vo1.2 (London 1847) P.206

1876 18,379 Sarawak Gazette No. 124 (Ku ching 1876) P.4 1939 36,963 Lee Yong Leng, "Population & Settlement in Sarawak (1970) P. 91 1947 42,195 14.2 Lee Yong Lenq. "Population & Settlement in Sarawak (1970) P.91 1960 58,000 36.6 Yearbook of Statistics 1992 Sarawak 1970 84,000 7.7 Yearbook of Statistics 1992 Sarawak 1980 108,000 8.5 Yearbook of Statistics 1992 Sarawak 1990 140,000 8.4 Yearbook of Statistics 1992 Sarawak 1995 153,400 Yearbook of Statistics 1997 Sarawak 1999 164,500 Yearbook of Statistics 2000 Sarawak 2000 166,756 Yearbook of Statistics 2001 Sarawak -

35 - .; o S due to

- us. Alt hough the Bidayuh population concentrates in Kuching, Bau, Lundu and Serian Districts, Bidayuhs can -- nd throughout the length and breadth of Sarawak. Based on the Sarawak Yearbook of Statistics 1980,

=' j mobile - _and 2000, the population of the Bidayuh in every district of Sarawak is as follows:­-: of them

- abauxite -c : Lundu - ~ r3tio n of -: .ed into -: 3idayuh -- co 1960

__ : I , there .: people .: 8.05%

.: !lillion _. Jh was - -: Ibans,

- . ::Jf the .: ,'/S:­

- District 1980 Population 1991 Population 2000 Population- . Kuching 35,041 50,147 63,943

- Lundu 8,512 9,278 10,717-- Bau 21,120 23,413 29,215-· Samarahan - 1,538 3,138

" Serian 39,538 42,851 49,117J

:. Simunjan 209 284 307 - Sri Aman 387 461 453-- Lubok Antu 85 90 73-- Betong 55 123 162;

. -. Saratok 69 91 134

·- Sibu 512 1,471 1,505 . . - Mukah 41 136 157_. ' - Kanowit 28 58 57-~ .

.- . Dalat 14 30 28 : Mi ri 1,101 2,753 3,692- . ,

. J. ' Bintulu 142 1,338 1,923

· . Tatau - 113 123 - ~ . Marudi 113 368 637

· Limbang 106 201 271- -. · - Lawas 40 116 168. . '

· . Sarikei 168 209 203_ . , - -- Bintangor 134. _. 61 91

· ~ .- Daro 11 38 12. -- . Matu . 21 7 -., - Julau 72 88 80 - - Kapit 69 196 274.. . · - Song 32 45 69- .

. -. · Belaga 23 47 105 ~ Asajaya - - 119-

TotaL 107,549 135,595 166,756

: 91 : 91

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian .,.

36

According to the data of administrative districts and sub-districts in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions, the distribution of the Bidayuh villages and households in 1990 are as follows:­

Division District Locality Total Bidayuh Villages Total Households Kuching Ku ching Ku ching Proper 6 392

3,643

1,414

3,777

1,490

5,890

889

17,495

Ku ching Ku ching Siburan Sub-District 53

Kuching Kuch ing Padawan Sub-District 36

Ku ching Bau Bau Di strict 61

Ku ching Lundu Lundu Di strict 35

Sama rahan Serian Serian Di strict 109

Samarahan Serian Tebedu Sub-District 19

Total 319

Based on the records kept by District Office, Kuching, Bau, Lundu and Serian, there were a total of 335 Bidayuh Kampungs in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions in the year 2002. The details are as follows:­

1. Kuching District 96 Kampungs

2. Bau District 63 Kampungs

3. Lundu District 41 Kampungs

4. Serian District 135 Ka mpungs

Total 335 Kampungs

VIII) Superstitious Beliefs and Gawai of the Bidayuhs

In olden days, Bidayuhs believed in the traditionaland superstitious omen and belief. To them the re was a danger from all sorts of evil spirits who could cause sickness or misfortune. They could be

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian •• ,

guarded against eithe r bytaking care not to provoke them; or having provoked them, by taking ste ps to placate them, whic h was done by means of a ceremo ny or feast, called "Gawai". There were the refo re various rules laid down t o prohibit the acts that gave provocation. Some of these rules, such as the observan ce of periods of restriction after festivals or after deaths , were common to all villages. Those periods of restriction varied considerably, but were usually from one to fou r days. During this time no one was allowed either to leave or enter the village.

However, the more important festivals with the longer periods of restriction were invariably arranged at a time when the re was no urgent work to be done in the farms. There were also rules in some villages that sleeping mats might not be washed, and that clothing might not be hung outside the housesduring the period of a festiva1 as it was believed that the good spirits which had been called down to help the people might" be offended.

37 Divisions,

useholds -2

: ~ 3

-!4 . - 7

- ~ O

-

-­-9 5

.- provoke ; steps to

:. .erernony ~ various

:- at gave -- as the es tivals or ~: . Those : t were

_ :ime no - : vi llage.

_ ith the = - ~3 ng ed

: ~ done - ~ lla g e s

: - j that - - .iu rinq

-:'- 3 t the -7.Dt he

=. addition to action which human beings :. : ::! ke to ward off misfortune there were also - ::'ons of non-human agents, especially various

- ~ of birds, to be taken into considerat ion. One .=heard calling from the side of the footpath,

-..: : -= d that the bearer would be lucky on that - ereas if it flew across the track whoever saw

- : immediately return home. The same bird, if_. -l

ring a hunting expedition to the left was all : : ut if it was heard to the right the hunters ~ : change direction to put it on the left. Another

=I eard while hunting was a sign that the party _ - ret urn for reinforcement. A certain insect, if : at night when sheltering in the jungle on a

expedition, was a sign that the hunte rs _.:. proceed in that direction. The same insect if

ing Gawai at Kampung Batu Keron on 15-6-1967

heard repeatedly when people were about to build a new house was an indication that the women who lived there would have plenty of children, but the people would also be liable to more sickness. If the I<ijang, or barking deer, was heard on land which was about to be cleared for farming, that land should be abandoned. To some extent these omen birds and animals could be prevented from acting.

The most usual way to deal with the m was to placate them by giving them offerings at festivals, and at the same time calling upon good spirits, especially the spirits of ancestors, to drive them away. If, in spite of such precautions, they still managed to cause trouble, either the project in question should be abandoned, or if this was impracticable such as

in the case of a nearly completed new lonqhouse. then once again they should be placated by means of suitable offerings and ceremonies.

Dreams were also believed to have significance, though they were not considered to be valid if likely to have been influenced by one's recent actions before going to sleep. For instan ce, a dream in which one was laughing means bad news: but this would not apply if one had j ust spent a riotous evening at a festival. Aview from a mountain-top signifies success, and to dream that one was carrying a dead cock indicated success in hunting. To dream of a fire breaking out meant that an epidemic would strike the village: a ripe fruit falling from a tree was a sign that a sick person was about to die. To dream that a tooth

••• His/Dryof Bidayuli inSerian •••

33

Bidayuh Traditional Dance "Langgi Pingadap" performed at Kampung Gahat Mawang on 22-7-1984

dropped off indicated that a member of the family would die. To counteract this omen it was necessary to rise at dawn, without mentioning the dream to anyone, put a grain of maizeInthe mouth and then threw some yellow rice towards the sunrise, at the same ti me spitting out the maize saying to the evil spirits "This is the tooth that you want, do not take anything more".

As far as common possessions and common dangers were concerned, the community also had common means of protection. The most important were the spirits of ancestors. When a person died his spirit went to the place called "Sebayan", where conditions were similar to those prevailing on earth. The spirits were believed still ta king an interest in eart hly affairs and could therefore be asked for assistance. These were usually invoked in two groups: firstly those of the immediate ancestors of all people

••• Histo ry ofBiday uh in Serian •••

_

attending th e particular ceremo ny, who were not mentioned by name, in order to avoid the risk of omission which might cause offence; secondly the spirits of ancestors who were actually famous during their lifetime. These were by no means limited to ancestors of any village, or even of the Land Dayak race. Th e priest on his spiritual jo urn ey during the ceremony travelled as far a field as Brunei and Java, and might call upon the spirit of any famous person of any race! So long as he led a good life when he was on earth he would help the people then .

Apart from the ancestral spirits there were also certain objects and places that might have acquired power. These were called "Guna", Th ey were usually kept concealed in a small house of their own and might not be seen except during a special ceremony which took place only once in several years. Should they be seen at any other time it was believed that great misfortune, even a death, might occur. At one village there were originally two large stones . After they had been living together for a long time there were one day found to be three small ones as well. In other villages the skull of a wild boar, the skull and horns of a deer, and a large block of Belian wood were believed to have magical properties. The existence of such objects within the precincts of a village might be a major obstacle if it was desired to persuade that village to move to a better farming land.

The pagan Bidayuh had so much in their daily lives to be afraid of, that it might be thought that they would be ideal subjects for conversion to Christianity. In fact they were essentially practical people. Living in the present, '50 there should be no

39

ere not ::: risk of

dly the _:: during - ited to - Dayak r.ng the

Java, -.: perso n

ilen he

::: e also :..quired

.; .s ually j and

_ ::mony Should

:: j that - - ;:: one ~ After - : ::here

....: vell, : sku ll

ood . _ The :: of a :Ho

ing

:: ~ ily

.nat - to -:0.al - .; '10

=- =-=_al obstacle to accept a new religion if they _-:: convinced that it would deal with their

':- :,=tter. They were likely to judge it by what :: -::ve, or by what its followers could b.e seen

- ::: abtained. This meant mainly education, and _ - 2 extent better, medical facilities. But - ~_ 1 vit hout economic progress might lead to : :: :: int ment . An increase in the population : r: a correspondingly higher standard of living :: ::~ n g discontent.

"he spread of Christianity was probably the -, portant factor affecting the welfare of the

__- at the present time and it could be said that - esult of having three different missionaries

.~ 'j among them had been entirely beneficial so - .: many cases considerable disruption had been

.ss«: to village life, for as soon as a few families --= -" converted they separated themselves from : -" in village and moved to another part of their : - ilough they often built bigger and cleaner _::5, t he split did not make harmony within the - - _ility, but instead it weakened the authority of : -::adman. The land could not be divided; and as s : cess of converting a whole village might take - - ~ ti me, there were likely to be more frequent . : 'sputes.

The Bidayuh believed in witch-craft connected - ° s'ckness. To treat a patient, he/she was seated -- :: s.ving (Berayun), suspended by Rattan from a

' =- . The evil spirit causing the sickness was - : .te d by means of incantations and dancing, and

.,:: ';:erred to a specially constructed boat together _ : eitable offeringsto keepit happy on its journey.

° : :::: at is then put in the river and allowed to float

away down to the sea. If there was no river, a Rattan was stretched from one end of the house to the other end of the house, the boat was slid along it and simply cast out onto the ground. (Drake-Brockman, P. 29-35)

The disposal of the dead by burning of the bodyappea red to be a custom confined to the pagan Bidayuh in the olden days. In western Sarawak, the custom of the dead was universal; in the Samarahan area, they were indifferently burnt or buried, and when the Sadong area was reached, the custom of cremation ceased, the pagan Bidayuh of Sadong River

Bidayuh woman, Liear, in her traditional costume attending a Gawai at Kampung Mentu Tapu 0100-8-1954.

••• History ofB idayuli in Serian »>­

40

bel ng in th e ha bit of burning the dead. Amo ng the Selaka uj Lara in Lundu District, the bodies of the elders and the rich were burnt while the others were buried (St, J ohn i. p.163 &1 65). In Siburan area, t he paga n Sint a h Bida yuh burned th e dead of t he higher class; the poor were wrapped in a mat and cast out in the jun gle (ibid , ch.viii. p.S7). The pagan Sera mbo (Serembu) Bidayuhs burned all the ir deads (Dension, ch.ii.p.14). However , in 1950, the pagan Bidayuh in Bukar area still had t he contact wit h the Munggu Babi days. They still use d the pagan cemetery which had served the old Kampung of Munggu Babi for the past few centuries. The Bukar pagans rolLed up t heir dead in a stout rattan mat . The body, th us e nclosed, was suspended from the branch of a tree and left to rot away. Later, the bones were colLected and put into a jar for burial (Peter Howes, ch.16.p.209).

•• • History of Bidayuh in Serian .••

Gawai Procession at Kampung Rasau, Serian in 1999

Bidayuh beauties attending Joint Hari Gawai ceLebration at Dewan Suarah Kuching on 1-6,2003 .

41

_ 19

and Matters and Formation of New mpungs

- - "! Bidayuhs look at land and the soil and ~- .ne vhole environmentaround them with awe, . - and reverence. Land to the Bidayuhs is a - ~ sustenance and of life. Even with the advent '::::rIl development and advance economic way

= : e majority of the Bidayuhs are still living in . ral areas where they undertake various

_ : -31pursuits. Accordingly, they perceive that - : e treated with real care and respect. Land ==- utilized basically for paddy planting and -: . : 2tion has played an important role in the

-:: itaqe of the Bidayuh community. However, : :: I' prove the living standard and the social - .: of the Bidayuh community, the State

- - ent has developed the Native Customary :R) Land of the Bidayuh in the commercial

~ - . C 1976, through the government agencies -- - CRA, LCDA, FELCRA, FELDA, DID and the

-:':cult ure Department, large areas of the - . ustorn ary Rights Land of the Bidayuhs in

~ - d Samarahan Divisions have been planted ~ -- cro ps such as oil palm, cocoa, tea, coffee, . - - paddy.

- - :: reasons for the formation or creation of : :::. '1 h Kampungs in Kuching and Samarahan

- : are as follows:­

- :-;:ase of population; : -:" ce from paddy-fields or Plaman; -=-~ .s by the Skrang Ibans and Malay pirates; : -: :r to bazaar / school/main road; : : -::ad of epidemic diseases such as smallpox,

cholera and leprosy; (6) Belief in different religions within the same

Kampung; and (7) Difference of political ideology.

In normal circum stances, the Plaman eventually became an official Kampung recognized by the Government. Hence, a new Kampung was established. The expansion in population in a Kampung to such an extent that many of its people had to waste long hours that could have been spent in paddy-fields, merely in walking to and fro the Kampung and the paddy-field. To avoid the waste of time, a "Plaman"(a temporary house) was built near the remote paddy fields, which was occupied seasonallyonly. Village separation is in fact the desire for better farming land and building temporary houses nearer to their farming land and, at the same time, it has given an opportunity forthe absorption of outside group into the new Kampung. As time passed by, the Plaman became a permanent structure and occupied permanently. To distinguish between the Kampung and the Plaman, the parental Kampung was known as Kampung Mawang whereas the Plaman was called Kampung Plaman. As time went on, the Plaman became more independent and permanent houses and even schools were built in some areas.

The attacks by the Skrang Ibans and other pirates from the sea especially in Upper Sarawak (Bau, Penrissen and Padawan areas) and Upper Sadong (Serian District) had killed numerous Bidayuhs, took away their wives and children as slaves and also destroyed their properties. The constant attacks had causedthe Bidayuhs to move away-from the Kampungs and stayed in the hilly areas and even in the caves

. • •• History of Bidayuh in Serian •••

42:.-­

in order to avoid being attac ked and killed by the intruders. In the olden days, most Bidayuh Kampung s were built in the rural areas where there were no road, bazaar and school. During the Brooke Regime and colonial days from 1841 to 1963, some roads, bazaars and schools were built quite far from the Kampungs. In order to be closer to the road where Bazaars and schools were available, many Bidayuh Kampungs moved and settled down along the main road. That is why one can see many new Kampungs are built along Kuchinq/Bau/Lundu Road, Kuchinq/ SerianjTebedu Road, Padawan/Tebedu Link Road and Penrissen/Padawan Road nowadays. The spread of epidemic diseases such as smallpox, cholera and leprosy in the olden days in the Bidayuh Kampungs was also one of the factors which caused the Bidayuhs to leave the affected Kampungs and moved to new areas in orderto avoid further attack of such epidemic diseases.

With the introduction of more Christian religions and the conversion of some Bidayuhs to Islamic faith in the Bidayuh populated areas especially in Bau, Lundu, Penrissen, Siburan, Padawan, Serian, Bukar and Tebedu areas, some Bidayuh Kampungs split into different villages following their different religious beliefs. After Sarawak achieved independencewithin Malaysia since 1963, political parties were formed and Bidayuh themselves were divided politically. Hence, the different political beliefs had also caused some Bidayuh Kampungs to split among themselvesin order to form a village with a group of Bidayuhs believing the same political ideology.

••• History of Bidayuh in Serian •••

_

X) Comments on the Bidayuh Community by the Europeans

S. Baring-Gould and C.A. Bampfylde in their book entitled "A History of Sarawak under its two White Rajahs" described the Land Dayaks (Bidayuhs) as a numerous and prosperous group but were reduced to a small number due to the attacks by the Sea Dayaks (Ibans). The men were slaughtered, the women and children were taken as slaves and the fruit trees were cut down. Paddy and other crops were burnt. When James Brooke visited Sarawak in 1840, the Chiefs of the Land Dayaks (Bidayuhs) told him, "The Rajah (from Brunei) takes from us whatever he wants, at whatever price he pleases, and the Pengirans take whatever they can get for no price at all" (Baring­Gould and Bampfylde, p.57). The result of such treatment was that the Land Dayaks (Bidayuhs) escaped to the country beyond the reach of the ir persecutors to avoid exploitation and slaughter.

Malcolm MacDonald, the then British Governor General forSingapore and Malaya, in his book "Borneo People" said that the Bidayuhs were the principal inhabita nts of the originalterritory acquired byJames Brooke. The Bidayuhs were long house dwellers before, but many had abandoned that form of residence. They did it out of necessity rather than by choice. The Bidayuhs were not a vigorous group but easy going and peace-loving people. Due to these factors, they became preys of their aggressive neighbours. In the century of the slave trading and headhunting, the Bidayuh longhouses were being attacked by the combined forces of Brunei Malays and the Ibans from Second Division (Sri Aman). The Bidayuhs being the peace-loving people put up little resistance and this

h Community

ipfvlde in their . under its two laks (Bidayuhs) .rt were reduced .ks by the Sea red, the women the fruit trees

)s were burnt. in 1840, the

.old him, "The .ever he wants, ':Iengirans take : all" (Baring­ssult of such , (Bidayuhs)

:: ~ c h of their , .:lU ghter.

~,h Governor : ook"Borneo :..-e principal

-:: ~ byJames : ~ers before,

_ .snce. They : - ice. The ~2 SY going

-: ::ors, they - - . ~. In the _- .inq. the =: by the . : sns from . : cing the :-= and this

'. encouraged the enemies to return whenever . esired loots. Harassed, bullied and despaired,

=- cayuhs abandoned their homes in the low-lying : -' and retreated up the rivers to the higher and

: :.2fensible ground. Ultimately, many built their < near to the mountain tops.

Hedda Morrison in her book called "Sarawak" - ent ed that there was some danger of extinction

.-=Bidayuhs before James Brooke became the ' ::0 Rajah of Sarawak. She said, "The Bidayuhs are

- : and inoffensive people ... unable to withstand . . roads of the warlike Ibans coming from the

ivision (Sri Aman) coupled with the brutal ..7--~o n s of the Brunei Malay Rulers of Sarawak. The -=' Rulers not only bullied and enslaved the people

. :,'-So had no compunction in allowing expeditions -- 2 Ibans to attack the Land Dayak areas. The

: - 5 kept the heads of the people they slaughtered : nanded over the slaves whom they captured to = Brunei authority as their share of the loot" (H.

'son, p.245).

J.F. Drake-Brockman who served as a District """'cer of one of the districts in First Division

_ - pat hized with the Bidayuhs who had been : :-ressed by the Brunei Rulers althoug h they were

:. -abiding people. According to him the Bidayuhs = ~e "Easy to teach and willing to learn ... Not lazy;

: r : not too energetic, always cheerful and easily : : /oked to mirth. It is a great pleasure to work ~ - ong them". (Drake-Brockman, p.37).

James Brooke described the Land Dayaks as a - re wretched, oppressed race. He said, 'Thouqh..... ...

industrious, they never reap what they sow; t houq their country is rich in produce, they are obliged to yield it all to their oppressors: though yielding all beyond their bare sustenance, they rarely can preserve half their children and often, too often, are robbec of them all, with their wives" (Dickson, p.186).

XI) Binua Tembawang Rutoi

Binua Tembawang Rutoi also known as Sinangkan Guyan in the olden days was the original village of Kg. Kujang Mawang in Serian District. It was obviously the earliest and the oldest Bidayuh village established in 1370s and it was situated not far from the present Kg. Kujang Mawang. Tembawang Rutoi was abandoned when the last group of Bidayuh left the old settlement and migrated to Kamp ung Temong Mawang in 1750s. It seemed that Tembawa ng Rutoi such like Rabak Mikabuh in Penrissen Area, Kuching was also the entry point and transit station for the different Bidayuh groups who migrated from Kalimantan Barat. Indonesia to Serian areas, Sarawak in the olden days.

Kampung Kujang Mawang is now accessible by a 3-kilometre gravel road from Jalan Tebeduj Pangkalan Amo since' 2002. Perhaps it is a good idea to develop the old historical and abandoned site of Binua Tembawang Rutoi into a Bidayuh Cultural and Historical Centre. Once developed, it will not only provide a venue for Serian Bidayuh to visit, pay respect and worship the ancestors at the original home of the Bidayuh in Serian but also it will attra ct local and foreign tourists to visit the earliest Bidayuh historical site in Serian District.

• •• History ofBidayuh in Seri.: ...