IT was either late 1958 or early 1959 when we finally left Tembawai Libas and moved to Kedap Tebing Ai (Kedap River Front), which was about 600 meters away. Not all households relocated to Kedap Tebing Ai; some moved just 100 metres to a downriver area called Passa, named after a nearby stream.
This move was essential, as our old longhouse had become dilapidated, with leaking roofs and dangerous bamboo flooring. Everyone – men and women alike – agreed that the relocation was necessary. However, not every household joined the migration to the riverfront.
Among those who chose to remain were Nawai Pipit, who became the longhouse chief; Kana Rembuyan; Ganti Ligong; Manja Juli; Gerinsam Juli; Bidi; and Jelemin Jantan.
These seven families moved only a short distance away, while the rest followed Tuai Rumah Limbing Untan to establish their new community by the river.
This group included my family, led by Dad, who was appointed the assistant headman, and Giri, who also became the headman’s assistant.
Others in our group were Mathew Banyin, Ampoi Jembu, Gara Rembuyan (also known as Aki Angan), Ngelambai Rembuyan (Aki Sendai), Julung Rembuyan (Aki Ngup), Inja Meringgai, Meramat, Buda Bujo (Apai Jawi), Bujo (Aki Jawi), Saban Imong, Kusau Seman, Muchun, Geliga (Aki Jadu), Anggun Merdan, and Nyawin Merdan.
Initially, not everyone completed their dwellings; many stayed in their half-finished units for several months. Eventually, they completed their homes, but every household made do with the incomplete structures.
I remember that by the second year, our former headmaster, Michael Abunawas, joined us at ‘Pala Tangga’ from the upriver side. Before that, he had been residing in a detached house near the Passa longhouse.
Initially, Inja Meringgai (also known as Ini Awik) could not fully complete her unit because her husband, Ibrahim bin Mat, was still in Brunei. Dad kindly offered her a space in our gallery, or ‘ruai’, which was walled off for her privacy and safety.
She had adopted a toddler, an Iban boy named Adong. They stayed with us for a few months before moving into her unit, just a door from ours. By then, her husband had returned from Brunei.
Our room in the new dwelling was adjacent to TR Limbing’s on one side and Aki Ngup’s on the other. Aki Ngup was my grandma Kejuang’s first cousin.
In our family, there were my dad, mom, maternal grandma, my brother Jon (also known as Chandi), who was ten in 1958, and me, aged four at the time.
We were later joined by my uncle Ngauh Narang when he returned from his Shell job in Lutong around 1960. He was Mom’s eldest brother. By then, our brother Edward Jelani was still studying in Seria, Brunei.
In 1959, we suffered a tragic loss when my youngest brother, Tambi, passed away in infancy at just forty days old. Mom was devastated, as were the rest of us.
There was no formal funeral for my dear brother, as he was an infant. He was buried next to my maternal grandfather’s grave at Nanga Burui Cemetery, across the river from our rubber plantation.
I remember that Tambi was born almost simultaneously with my first cousin, Buma Ampoi, and my cousin-nephew, Bala Anggun. Seeing them now always reminds me of Tambi.
Shortly after moving into the new longhouse, the Kedap community held a ‘miring’ ceremony, accompanied by a small celebration. We invited those from the Passa longhouse to join us in ‘ngabang’ and they graciously accepted, showing respect and camaraderie.
After all, they were related, including brothers to the men in our group. For instance, Kana was a brother to Ngelambai, Julung, and Gara, while Jelemin was a brother to Undau.
Most of the longhouse units were strongly supported by larger belian or teak poles and were roofed with belian or zinc. The walls were well-constructed, and the wooden flooring was sturdy.
The longhouse was built on high ground, despite being near the riverfront, elevated at least four to five feet on stilts to hopefully avoid flooding.
Above the Melupa River, in front of our longhouse, a sturdy wooden bridge was constructed well above tide level for safe crossing.
We children often played on the bridge during high tide and loved jumping from tree branches into the deep water below, where it was safe to bathe.
There was no danger from river monsters; no crocodiles were in sight at that time, as several longboat engines were still plying the river from our neighbours upriver at Sungai Belong, Lubuk Bundung, and Munggu Embawang, who owned various motorboat engines such as Evinrude and Seagull.
At Kedap, my dad owned a 10hp Sea Gull, while Mathew Banyin and Giri each had a 20hp Evinrude. The others mostly owned longboats.
Circa late 1959, there was a ceremony in Kedap to celebrate the prospective marriage of my youngest uncle, Gawing Narang, to a girl named Ramih Saa, who had been brought by her family from Nanga Gayau, Debak.
Ramih was only 14 and was to be sent to Lutong, Miri, to marry my uncle Gawing, who was then 25. The following day, we accompanied her to Kuching aboard the MV Chuan Seng from Saratok, along with her parents and younger brother. Our entourage consisted of Dad, Mom, brother Jon, and me.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at tawisalok@yahoo.com.
