IN January 2022, my first book, titled ‘Longhouse to City’, was published. Therefore, it seems fitting to reflect on my journey from my initial longhouse to the present in my upcoming columns for the following weeks.
I was born on October 20, 1954, in Kedap, Saratok, and grew up in the first longhouse I came to know, now known as Tembawai Libas due to its abundant guava fruits.
After it was abandoned, my family moved there for a few years. My late mother mentioned that I was born in a farmhouse in Kedap Ginda, which I later visited with my family circa 1963, when I was nine years old.
Although I do not have precise information on when our family resided in this longhouse, I vaguely recall that they relocated to Tembawai Libas after their previous longhouse in Tinting Bedega, middle Kedap, was destroyed in a fire in the late 1930s.
This incident was led by my maternal grandfather, Narang Jeluka. During that fire, they lost over 30 pieces of pua kumbu blankets, and two head trophies belonging to my great-granduncle, Tawi Bungin, known as Lanang Kasih Sayang Bedindang Madang Rutan, Tawi Berati Ati Pemudi Kayan (Lover Boy Who Sings Among the Rutan Creepers, Tawi the Brave Who Scares His Enemies). I was named after this courageous great granduncle.
The head trophies were buried near the burned longhouse. Situated on a hill, we frequently passed by the site of Tembawai Tinting Bedega in the 1960s when the path was used to access farms in the Kedap hinterland, including my birthplace, Kedap Ginda.
I recall that in 1958, my father, Salok Jembu, was in his late 40s, and my mother, Jabai Narang, was about five or six years younger. They had four children – one daughter and three boys – and I was the youngest.
Our room at Tembawai Libas was located at the upper river part of the longhouse, earning us the nickname ‘Pala Tangga’ (literally ladder head). My memories of this place are faint, as I was just a toddler when we resided there until the age of five. Nevertheless, I cherish fond recollections of the longhouse and my time there.
Our dwelling at the ‘Pala Tangga’ had several windows on the side. It was constructed on stilts, elevated and accessible by ladders carved from two logs with additional fences for support. If I remember correctly, our roof was made of ‘belian’ or teak pieces assembled in place.
I recollect our neighbouring couple, an elderly pair known as Magat or Aki Chil and his wife Nawi, also called Ini Chil. They were childless and incredibly kind to me. Magat used to read books, although I was unaware of the type of books he read.
He also engaged in writing and possessed several valuable pens, later identified by me as Parker pens, when Nawi visited us at our residence at Bukit Tinggi in the mid-1960s.
By then, she had returned to her longhouse in Munggu Embawang, Melupa in Saratok, as Magat had passed away some time prior to that. I recall his passing just before we moved from Tembawai Libas. In circa 1965, Nawi gifted me two Parker pens.
At Tembawai Libas, our headman was Tuai Rumah Limbing Untan, my father’s first cousin. He and his wife resided in the middle of the longhouse.
Their son Melina worked as a medical assistant, commonly known as a ‘dresser’, at Kaki Wong Clinic up the Krian River. The longhouse had more than 20 doors.
I have a memory of being carried on the shoulders of Saban Imong, also known as Apai Badey, a renung bard. This may have occurred during an event or celebration, but my recollection is insufficient to determine the nature of the occasion.
Another memory I have is of the group from Tembawai Libas travelling to Nanga Melupa along the middle Krian River on a journey to find a bride for my uncle, Mathew Banyin, my father’s second cousin.
I remember that Uncle Banyin was so overwhelmed with excitement that he fainted at the gallery of our longhouse before the entourage departed for the trip. Although revived, he did not accompany the group but eagerly awaited the return with his bride the following day.
Uncle Ampoi Jembu, my father’s younger brother, also had a room in the longhouse, where he lived with his family somewhere in the middle. At that time, he had two daughters and two sons, one of whom was just ten days older than I.
I recall playing with my two cousins when an elderly lady named Ini Sendai, the wife of Ngelambai Rembuyan or Aki Sendai, collapsed and passed away.
I distinctly remember her funeral, alongside Magat’s, which occurred later. Ngelambai was the first cousin of my grandmother Kejuang Meling and a beloved storyteller in our community.
During that period, our longhouse had a significant number of cows, with one selected for slaughter during important events, including funerals. I was afraid of the large cows and would flee at the sight of them.
The meat from the slaughtered cow was distributed equally among the households in the longhouse. My mother would set aside some pieces to be salted and preserved for future consumption, especially for me and my brother Jon, also known as Chandi.
Our brother Edward Jelani was away in Seria attending the Seria Trade School for at least two years, while our eldest sister Dinggu had been married and settled in Kawit, Saratok.
In a vague memory, I recall my Uncle Gawing Narang, who is now 90 years old, visiting us from his job at Shell in Lutong Miri around 1957 or 1958. Additionally, a trio of visitors from Balingian, led by Janang, my grandmother’s cousin, paid us a visit, accompanied by his wife and young son.
My other recollections are somewhat blurry. We relocated from Tembawai Libas to our Kedap longhouse along the Melupa River, which was situated on high ground with a stunning riverfront.
This move likely occurred in late 1958 or early 1959. Although I cannot be certain, I remember that my third cousin Silong Banyin (female) was born in 1959, though I am unsure whether she was born in Tembawai Libas or Kedap Tebing Ai (Kedap Riverfront).
This concludes my account for now, and I will delve into the details of the ‘new’ longhouse, Kedap Tebing Ai, in my next instalment.
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.
