Stephanie Morgan states that "among some groups competing for land, there had evolved a relatively symbolic kind of combat called Bepalu, using clubs instead of iron, which were ostensibly intended to kill, and are excellent jumpers. "When a little more civilized, they would make good soldiers, being brave in nature. They are, however, short- a man of five feet five inches high would be considered tall, and the average is about five feet three inches."

Stamping Out Crime

James Brooke realized that in order to control Sarawak, he had to stamp out crime and especially headhunting, which was not only instilling fear amongst the various tribes, but also disreputable to his nation in Borneo. Brooke took advantage of the fact the Than, who lived in watersheds that divided one river system from the other, were always at odds with each other.

"Rivers have traditionally played a central role in everyday life and in the past they provided the chief lines of communication and travel between Than settlements. Locally, even today, people identify themselves with the river they live, most often describing themselves, for example, as Kami Sarihas -we are from the Saribas (River) or Kami Skrang.

In the past, such groups formed the maximal units of warring alliance and defense" (SMJ, Special Monograph No.7, 1994; 26). At the height of Brooke's rule, the more aggressive Saribas and Skrangs dominated their neighbours, causing them much misery and hardship and in a short period of time, the Saribas-Skrang Dayaks had become the most powerful Than group. Brooke found an ally in the Balau tribe, who, as sworn enemies of the Skrangs and Saribas, were prepared to join forces with him.

Many of the latter groups had been forced to retreat downriver to Batang Lupar and Sebuyau, where, a few leaders who wanted to get as far away as possible from their enemies, moved closer to the administrative centre to seek protection under the Brunei envoy, Muda Hassim. Groups of persecuted Balau settled along the way at Sadong and Samarahan rivers on the periphery of Kuching.

One Balau leader moved to Lundu, West of Santubong and closer to Dutch Borneo (he was later conferred the title of Orang Kaya by the Sultan of Brunei), while another led his people to Padungan in Kuching, where they settled on the true right bank of the Sarawak River. So the Sebuyaus ultimately became friends of the government and served Brooke's purpose.

Other Dayaks of Sarawak The other Dayaks who were dependent on Brooke's protection were the Land Dayaks or Bidayuh, as they are now known. Distributed in the upper reaches ofSarawak, Sadong and Samarahan rivers and the hills around Kuching, such as the Bukar, Sentah, Penrissen, Peninjau and Singghai as well as Lundu.

They became the closest native allies of the government after Brooke was installed as Rajah. Being quiet, amiable, moral, obliging and honest, they suffered under constant Than attacks and looked upon the white Rajah as a saviour. In James Brooke's time, Sarawak's territory stretched only as far as the Sadong River, which represented about a fifth of the whole state.

The Skrang and Saribas (now in Sri Aman and Betong Divisions) were not yet a part of Sarawak. Along the Rajang River system lived the Orang Ulu or upriver Peoples. These tribes were composed of the Kayan, Kenyah and Melanau (such as Kanowits, Rajangs and Tanjongs of the lower Rajang) as well as the Ukit, Punan, Lahanan, Sekapan and Kejamans of the upper Rajang.

Of all the upriver peoples, the Kayan were described as the most feared and most dominant in the region above the Pelagus rapid of the Rajang River.*4 Many of the latter groups had been forced to retreat downriver to Batang Lupar and Sebuyau, where, a few leaders who wanted to get as far away as possible from their enemies, moved closer to the administrative centre to seek protection under the Brunei envoy, Muda Hassim.

Groups of persecuted Balau settled along the way at Sadong and Samarahan rivers on the periphery of Kuching. One Balau leader moved to Lundu, West of Santubong and closer to Dutch Borneo (he was later conferred the title of Orang Kaya by the Sultan of Brunei), while another led his people to Padungan in Kuching, where they settled on the true right bank of the Sarawak River.

So the Sebuyaus ultimately became friends of the government and served Brooke's purpose.Brooke had a cordial relationship with the Abangs and other Malays, namely fishermen and traders living along the west coast of Borneo between the mouth of the Sarawak and Sadong rivers. He said these Malays were inclined to follow peaceful pursuits of trade and generally happy and content with life.

The Malays lived in large villages comprising attap houses and also had an aristocratic society. Muslims by religion, they were later influenced by the Arabs, who, after inter-marrying with the locals, set up clans in various parts of the country. Though the Malays were never known to be pirates, descendants of communities such as the llianun of North Borneo and Southern Philippines have been known to migrate to Sarawak to settle among the Malays.

The most famous of them was Si Tundoo, an llianun who was murdered by the Malays after eloping with the wife of a local Malay chie£ As a whole, the Malays, represented by the Pangirans, Shari:ffs and Abangs were looked upon as leaders of the native society in Sarawak, while the pagan Dayaks frequently became their serfs. After acquiring his first head, Rentap married Sawai and lived in Skrang.

When they failed to have any children, they adopted a daughter named Tambong, who was raised by Sawai while Libau often went on his headhunting excursions. It is estimated that Rentap stood at around 5 ft 8 in and was very tall for an Than during his time. Initially, Rentap served under the apprenticeship ofDana as a Tau Serang- a war leader.

Together, they posed a lot of problems for the Brunei sultanate, especially the viceroy (prior to the arrival of James Brooke), Muda Hassim, and launched many raids along the coast of Sarawak. During the late 1830s, the Saribas and Skrang Than began to launch joint raids against the Land Dayaks (Bidayuh) and Chinese living in the Sambas-Pontianak region (namely the Montrado, Sambas, Mempawah and Sungei Raya districts in Dutch Borneo's western province) bordering Sarawak.

It is said that in an expedition in the Sambas in 1834, Dana managed to seize many cannons. One of Spanish cannons was handed down to Aji. Mter Dana's death in 1854, this cannon was passed on to his three sons - Nanang, Saji and Luyoh, who joined forces with Rentap, whose notoriety grew towards the end of the reign of Raja Muda Hassim.

As such, Saji and Luyoh were not recognized as chieftains by the Brunei Sultanate and unlike other Orang Kaya and Pemancas, did not have any titles. Nanang was conferred the title Orang Kaya Pemanca by Sir Charles Brooke. Master of deception Sandin said that one of the cannons could have been the Bujang Timpang Berang:

"About one year before the arrival of the white Rajah, Libau (Rentap) ofSkrang led his warriors against settlements in the vicinity ofFontianak.But before he reached the area, he attacked the schooner of a Malay trader, capturing a cannon and some ammunition, as well as a Kris with a golden handle." During the expedition, Rentap's warriors travelled 300 miles to Pontianak, where they first attacked a group of Chinese farmers.

After the killings, the Dutch Borneo authorities sent a steamer and called for the Sultan of Pontianak (Sambas) to pursue the raiders. The Sultan equipped his boat with a war party, which was led by the Sultan's relatives including his nephew. It is said that the war party seized the ship of the nephew of the Sultan and escaped with the bounty, including a cannon. Spenser StJohn described Rentap as the most notorious and truculent of Dayak chiefs, who won fame during a cruise off the Dutch possessions in the Sambas.

He gives details of the Sambas episode, from whichh Rentap earned the reputation as being a master of deception. "(Rentap) had surprised some Chinese at work in their fields. The Dutch officials... sent out a gunboat to intercept his return; the Sultan of Sambas also equipped a war perahu••. manned it with a select crew, in which many young nobles were included as volunteers.

The two gunboats soon came in sight of the fast-pulling Dayak banglw.ngs, which, however, appeared in distress. "The Malays, excited by the chase, gave way with a will, and soon left behind their European ally." "When Rentab saw the Sambas boat was beyond all immediate assistance from the Dutch guns, he turned on his Malay pursuers, came down on them at full speed of his war boat, and overwhelmed the Malays beneath a shower of spears.

Not one escaped." "Having seized their heads, their guns, and gold-handled krises, he abandoned his prize and pulled off from the heavy Dutch boat which was vainly endeavouring to come to the aid of its consort."