Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Golden land -- Sarawak , Chapter 18 , The largest city of Sarawak , Mausan,1856

 After a sip of Lunchin Chinese Tea, Mr. S. M. Bong said,
' The historical city of Sambas at the western edge of Borneo island is a lovely city.'

'It is linked to Indian ocean where the sunset is romantic, creative in a sense that no body can resist the charm of love.'

' When I was dreaming-day dreaming or true night dreaming-
I visualized that elegant city Sambas, present Singkawan city'
S. M Bong is day dreaming again.

It is wonderful to have the courage to dream. That is why Bong
achieves as an artist, photographer, fruits orchard nurturer, Durian champion selector,


All his five childrens are creative and all time dreamers.
That was inspired by my youngest uncles sexy Morris car cum taxi, which was one of the three
taxis in Kuching.
I dreamed of becoming a teacher, business man, horticulture scientist,
lawyer,army commander with colourful badges and uniform,
doctor just like any body else who dare to dream during the journey of life.

My day dream is terminated by bong's raised voice, ' Singkawan, the city is lively, the girls there are pretty and
lovely in a sense that they serve you but never spoil you. Yes , the word is they respect you and 'look up' to you.'

I have seen Singkawan girls when they came to Kuching for medical treatment and I agreed with Bong.
Even when they were sick, they keep their dignity and graceful speech and pose.
Singkawan girls talked sofely like singing to charm you. When they described their sickness and suffering, it sounded like they were telling alient's stories. Objective is the term.

S M Bong started singing sofely the enchanting song Bankalang Salo of Java island tune.
Mr. S M Bong is violist of Gading mountain zone too. Of course he sings.
Bangkalan sultan had many beautiful ladies sing and dance for him when Java was the centre of
couthern kingdom of Indonesia, while Brunei sutan controlled since 15th century balance the
political power.

Politic is always a balance of powers. An fragile balance of human greed and occasional
awakening of humane sense.

' That year, the Chinese new year was fantastic for S P Liew and his friends in Sambas( Singkawan).
1853 was a relatively good year after they loss the chance to recover the largest gold nugget ever known
in this world.' S M Bong continued

'There was a Chinese Kingdom lead by Lo Fan Pe who was cheated by the emperor of China and
poisoned with chemicals, may be cyanide made from plants.

My pupils must be very large if some body could measure it for me when Bong mentioned Cyanide.
It embraced my mind to the not so peaceful stories of Cyanide-like poison made by natives of Borneo for
hunting animals and enemies. They killed animals for food with moderation and the best example
is the Penan people who stays in the trees, who sleep for days after excessive full meal with hunted meat.

Cyanide, a substnace sound deadly, scary as it linked to killing of Jews duirng Nazi uprising of Second world war.
I am wondering third world war is already around us.

The whole world has changed. There are ipad, Drones that fly around the world with remote toy like controller.
The total number of people killed by weapons since world war two exceed millions of people killed then.
Where is peace !

Peace and love is essential for production in all aspect. I talked to Richard's highschool classmates
last night during a Chinese New Year gathering on the subject of making baby boys or baby girls.

Busy couples tends to make more baby boys, in contrast, nature usually offer more baby girls as the first child
for most couples.

'That Chinese New Year of 1853 was calm in Sambas Indonesia for Liew and his friends,' bong talked in a dreaming voice.
' do you know that Gold was famous around Sarawak and the golden dragon stretched all the way to Sambas of Indonesia.'

Bong is having a more serious day dfreaming again. I kept quiet as he enjoyed his day dreaming.
However I agree that Sarawak was famous as the powers of greedy people
came for mainly one major aim--to get or robe gold from 'nature'.

Siniawan and Bau of today used to be the largest city of sarawak.
More than 3.000 Gagaoi ( Bidayu, land Dayak people of 1800) people killed by enenmy in one day
recorded as facts.

The sad past recorded true head hunting in factual form as greedy people fought against each other.
Largest cities changed their status overngit due to wars.

I recalled memory of the clear  beatiiful river water of Bau and Siniawan, collectively the city of Sarawak, the largest city or state in northern part of Borneo during the mid nineteenth century. It seems like the story of yesterday
compressed by modern computer.

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