BACK in 1963, when I was aged 9, my mum, grandma and two siblings Rawlins Abunawas, 10, and Dahlia Abunawas @ Ara aged 8, went on a fishing excursion to the remote Kedap hinterland at a stream called Kedap Ginda in Saratok.
We were armed with the ‘pemansai’ woven baskets, each carrying one, knives and some roots of the tuba plant. It was meant to be a simple tuba fishing venture at the knee-deep stream, a tributary of Kedap stream that flows into the Melupa River, a Krian tributary.
Mum led the fishing venture and was the one who was supposed to beat the tuba roots at the upper reaches of Kedap Gimda.
Our journey took about 90 minutes from our Kedap longhouse at the Melupa River front. Grandma, then aged slightly over 70 was still strong and healthy. She carried some food for lunch when we started the journey around 8.30 in the morning. Both Rawlins and Ara also brought with them some snacks and sweetened drinks.
When we finally arrived at the point of Kedap Ginda where mum intended to beat the tuba roots, we settled for a while and mum advised us not to pee at the stream because that would neutralise the effect of tuba. So Ara, Rawlins and I complied with such advice to maximise the tuba effect.
About half an hour later we noticed some fish and prawns resurface for a gasp of air and that was when we got hold of them and put them in the baskets each of us carried. The tuba roots beaten at the upper source of the stream slowly flowed to the lower part and the poisonous effect was devastatingly clear. There were fish and prawn of various sizes. Those fresh water fish comprised the ‘black’ type known as ‘tuman’ and ‘bekut’, ‘keli’ catfish, some of which were quite huge, white carps such as ‘tebalang’, ‘bangah’, ‘kerak periuk’ (white and black spots), ‘enseluai’ and s few others including small prawns. There were also some eels and crabs too.
Ara, now happily married, was laughing with excitement all the way and all of us made a good collection of the intoxicated fish, prawns, crabs and eels. Her brother Rawlins and I were also excited and competed as to who collected the most. Mum and her mother were both composed and were laughing with excitement.
We took about three hours to go down river till we nearly reached the estuary. Our collection of the poisoned fish and prawns that lasted such duration was considered a good catch. Mum divided the collection into half, each half went to the two families in the venture. By noon we were exhausted and took a rest before opening the wrapped lunch grandma carried.
Some of the bigger catch were immediately barbecued by Rawlins for all of us to enjoy. That was such a memorable excursion.
Sadly grandma Kejuang Meling, my mum Jabai Narang and my cousin Rawlins Abunawas have left this life to join their forebears. May their souls rest in everlasting peace.
A year later in 1964 when we were settled at our rubber plantation Bukit Tinggi in upper Melupa, I joined my two third cousins Madil Jatan and Kimbui Bnngin to go for tuba fishing at nearby Sungai Tapang, a stream that flows into the Melupa. Situated slight below our Bukit Tinggi resident, the stream was about knee deep but deeper at pools.
Madil was older by a year than me and Kimbui about was the same age as me. Around two in the afternoon we took the tuba roots that grew near our residence and were equipped with knives and ‘pemansai’ baskets as well as another basket on each back as container for our anticipated collection. Our journey to the intended tuba hitting spot took about an hour or so. It was right in the middle part of the stream with knee deep water.
The act of hitting the tuba root was done by Madil, who was more experienced according to Kimbui. “We need to wait for more than half an hour after beating the tuba and let the water flow slowly downriver,” said Madil. But before long the effect of the toxic tuba was clear that we noticed white carps ‘tebalang’, ‘bangah’, ‘enseluai’ and others as well as ‘keli’ catfish and prawns were surfacing for air when they got intoxicated by the tuba poison.
As we moved downriver for collection we found our catch was beyond expectation. Each made a good collection that we later pooled together and equally divided among us.
The three of us made another tuba fishing venture circa 1966 at the same spot. Our second trip was also good but not as good as the first one. That was our last tuba fishing venture at Sungai Tapang.
I found these ventures were good in promoting fishing interest, bonding and camaraderie. This same principle also applies to the one we did at Kedap Ginda in 1963 and as such I see it compelling to share with readers those memorable moments. These episodes were seen as good bonding and improved our relationships and friendships.
As for the second and third one at Sungai Tapang, I now feel sad as third cousin Kimbui Bungin was killed in a road accident about two decades ago. May his soul rest in peace.
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.
