James Brooke’s role in the Battle of Marudu Bay 1845

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 26, 2020March 27, 2020

“The Battle of Marudu Bay sees James Brooke enlisting the help of the British Royal Navy in Singapore to defeat Sherif Osman, a pirate leader from North Borneo, effectively ending his piracy,” this is

Looking back at a punitive expedition to upper Batang Lupar in 1875

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 19, 2020March 19, 2020

Headhunting was rampant in 19th century Sarawak. In an effort to control the death toll brought on by headhunting, the-then Brooke government sent out punitive expeditions to suppress this activity. Here is an account

Remembering an old Iban ceremony called ‘Gawai padi datai’

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 16, 2020March 16, 2020

The Iban community is known for having different kinds of gawai celebrations. Even though we associate the word 'gawai' with partying today, the feasting and festivities are actually secondary to the main event

Early records of inoculation and smallpox vaccination in Sarawak

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 11, 2020March 11, 2020

If you are not familiar with inoculation or variolation (deliberately introducing the pathogen into an uninfected person), it is the method first used to immunize an individual against smallpox with material taken from a

Cultural similarities between Naga people of India and Myanmar regions, and the people of Borneo

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 6, 2020March 6, 2020

The Naga people are tribes who live in northeastern India and northwestern Myanmar. They make the majority of the population in the Indian state of Nagaland and Naga Self-Administered zone of Myanmar. The Naga

Mandi Rumah, an old Iban housewarming ceremony

Culture

by Patricia Hului - March 5, 2020March 5, 2020

An example of an Iban Longhouse. Dusun Kedungkang, an Iban longhouse located near Danau Sentarum, West Kalimantan. Different cultures have different housewarming traditions as people embark on the next step of their lives, which is

How were executions carried out during Brooke’s time in Sarawak?

Culture

by Patricia Hului - February 28, 2020February 28, 2020

Execution of criminals has been used by almost all societies in the world. If you've watched Braveheart you'll know that there were many painful and cruel methods of carrying out an execution throughout history.

What you need to know about the first Sarawak Chamber of Commerce

Culture

by Patricia Hului - February 27, 2020February 27, 2020

This is part of Sarawak that no longer exists, which is the first Sarawak Chamber of Commerce: After 30 years of Brooke rule in Sarawak, the end of 1871 saw how vastly the import and

How Raja Simpulang Gana became the Iban God of Agriculture

Culture

by Patricia Hului - February 26, 2020February 26, 2020

Who said only the Greek or Germanic peoples had interesting mythology? Here in Sarawak, we too have plenty of intriguing stories of deities and gods. Before we know how Raja Simpulang Gana became the God

How did the name of Sarawak’s capital get changed to Kuching?

Culture

by Patricia Hului - February 25, 2020March 1, 2020

In the olden days, Sarawak's capital was also known as 'Sarawak'. Kuching view. Credits: Pixabay. Why did the second White Rajah, Charles Brooke decide to change Sarawak's capital name to Kuching on Aug 12, 1872? Abang