Iban’s Custom and Cultures: The Origin of Adat Nguai

Previously, I’ve posted the post about ‘Nguai’ in Iban. So I thought of, its about time to translate them into English – And add up a little info that I missed in the sister post. – Where did Nguai tradition came from?

          In the ancient days, the Ibans were very particular about their daughters and sons going to marry. This was because ‘nguai’ was a very important issue in the social and economic system of the Iban people.– In the modern day of Iban, though the ‘Nguai’ system seems not so significant anymore, but its a tradition that will take place during the wedding ceremony. And mostly, people nowaday will choose ‘Tengah Hari’, means not ‘Nguai’ to anybody.

Basically, there are 2 adat exists in the ‘Tikah Iban’
1. Ambi Indu – (Take the women – The women will ‘Nguai’ to her husband.
2. Anjung Lelaki – (Send the man – The man will ‘Nguai’ to his wife.

Some you may wonder, what is this ‘Nguai’ anyway? 

          Nguai is a practice to decide whether the woman should stay with her own family (Not Nguai to her husband) or not (Nguai to her husband) after the marriage, and VICE VERSA. 

          Should an Iban family has only a daughter, her intended husband and his family should agree to let him live with the girl’s family. His social status would then be of a son-in-law who becomes a part of the family – physically, socially and economically. If his family did not agree with the terms and conditions, the mariage will not take place and the girl’s family will have to find another suitor. However, if the man is the only son in the family, then his family sets the rule. The marriage would not take place if the girl’s family did not agree with his rules. 

So, where did this practice came from?

          There is a folktale pertaining to the tradition which has passed down in Ulu Skrang. 

          Lemiah, a fair Iban maiden, came from a good family who owned a lot of jars, padi fields, silver ornaments and brassware. They were well-known for their generousity. She was an only child and it brought a great deal of sadness to the family as they had to be on a look out for a son-in-law who could stay with them. From a very early age, Lemiah demonstrated her intelligence and friendliness. She had made friends with all the children in the long house, particularly, a good boy named Assan who had a little limp. All the children helped in the padi fields belonging to their own family. Both Lemiah and Assan were the best little workers in the padi fields and everyone admired them for their speed and diligence. 

          Soon, it was time for Lemiah’s parents to decide with whom Lemiah should be married to. A young man from another long house was selected and the family and kinfolks were over the moon. There could not have been a better choice. Lemiah, however, was disappointed that Assan was not the chosen one. Her famiy thought Assan was not suitable for her. Worst of all, he could not leave his house to live with her family as he too was the only child.

          Assan was sad when he heard that Lemiah was to marry someone else and went into the jungle to hunt. After many days of travelling, he was weakened by his sorrow. However, his guardian spirit came to his aid in the form of a hornbill. The hornbill understood his good intentions and deep love for Lemiah. So he told Assan to ask Lemiah to follow him to the waterfall next to the long house on the next full moon before she was to be married. Assan was not sure what would be the outcome, but he believed in his guardian spirit and did as he was told. On the night of the full moon, Lemiah left the long house only too willingly to follow Assan. 

However, just as they reached the waterfall, the gongs in the long house were sounded and the villagers came afterthem. They had broken the customs and Lemiah had broken her marriage vows. The anger of the families permeated the whole forest and caused the leaves to tremble. The sound of the gongs echoued through the hills. Lemiah and Assan were trapped as they could not cross the waterfall. At last, they jumped into the water. The villagers were shocked by this desperate act and returned home empty handed. Lemiah’s parents were heartbroken for they had lost their only child. Assan’s family too was saddened and they took the blame for causing this shame. 

          They had to pay their fines and also had to move out from the long house. Such was the punishment dealt out by the headman.

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The Rites of Iban’s Birth

I’ve asked my wife (Dr. Majorie) about the significant of the Iban-after-delivery tradition called ‘Bekindu’ and the part of ‘Penti’ have to do with the medical science. She explained that ‘Bekindu’ meant for warming the mother’s body – which is explainable. But, the part of ‘Penti’ however remain mystic – Unexplainable, through a scope of health sciences.

          According to Iban’s tradition – Following delivery, the mother is subject to a period of heating called ‘bekindu’ (literally ‘to heat’ or ‘warm by a fire’) which traditionally lasted from a month to forty-one days, its duration formerly reckoned by the use of a string tally. During this time the mother heats herself by an open fire kept continuously burning inside the bilik and is treated with ginger (Lia) and other heating agents so that her ‘body is made warm’ (ngangat ka tuboh). 

          At the same time, members of the bilik-family observe a series of ritual restrictions (penti). These have a disjunctive effect, temporarily setting the family apart from the rest of the community whose members are not subject to the same restrictions. Similarly, heating itself places the mother and infant in a ritual status antithetical to other longhouse members.

          For the mother, this status ends when she resumes river bathing at the ‘penai’, a ‘cooling’ act that marks her resumption of normal longhouse life. ‘Heating’ and ‘bathing’ are ritually antithetical categories, and before the mother resumes ordinary river bathing, she is first given a steambath (Betangas) inside a mat enclosure at the tempuan bilik in which she is steamed with an infusion of medicinal leaves meant to induce heavy sweating. ‘Steaming’ in this context can be interpreted as a mediating act between ‘heating’ and ‘bathing’. 

          For the infant, on the other hand, its first bath at the penai’ is made the focus of a longhouse ‘Gawa’ rite. This rite, the most elaborate of the series surrounding birth, gives social and ritual recognition to the infant’s entry into the longhouse community. 

          Following its first bathing, mother and child undergo a secondary bathing rite on the longhouse gallery marking their ritual incorporation. The movement represented is thus from seclusion to incorporation, from heating to cooling.

          What is significant here is that this series of rites is enacted as an ordered movement through the longhouse itself: 

1. beginning in the relative security of the bilik apartment; 
2. moving outward to the open-air veranda, 
3. the zone of the house most removed from the bilik; 
4. then journeying in ritual procession from the gallery to the river bathing-place, at the outer threshold of the longhouse, and back again; 
5. and ending in a rite of incorporation on the communal gallery. 

This movement gives cultural construction to the infant’s entry into the social and cosmological world — an entry signalled, at its beginning and end, by a fundamental ritual polarity: heating and bathing (or cooling). 

          This polarity recurs at other life transitions as well, including death, and is an integral part of the rites that preserve the longhouse as a ritual entity, symbolized especially by its hearths and posts — the one a source of heat, the other of cooling.

Iban – Ukai Lanun, tang Pengayau. (Iban – Not Pirates, but a Head Hunter)

Pengawa aki kitai bansa kelia ke ngayau mulau lalu ngulihka pala munsuh semina nyadi ka buah kenang buah randau bala kitai nembiak rebak baru diatu. Kitai temegah ka diri peturun raja berani – tang, naka ni penemu kitai entang pengawa ka dikumbai orang ngayau? Nama kebuah Iban kelia ngayau? Nama kebuah bala Rajah (Brooke) ngelar kitai Dayak Laut (Sea Dayak), lalu lebih agi ngumbai kitai Iban kelia – Lanun.

Bala kitai Iban kelia ngayau laban ketegal ka deka begiga ka dengah enda patut amat dikumbai James Brooke perumpak tasik (pirates/lanun) rambau maia nya suba.

Pengawa ke bepumpung ka pala munsuh nya siti isu ke balat amat sensitif lalu jarang bendar dikenang nembiak rebak baru diatu. Taja pia, nadai kebuah kitai nyeliah kediri ari ke bekenang ke pekara ke semina tinggal kenang nyadi sejarah sereta legasi aki ini kitai dulu menya.

Kebuah pia, taja pan kitai Iban agi temegah ati ngembuan tusuk enggau tampun (jaku kelaung kena nyebut pala munsuh ke udah disalai atas pedilang) pala nya mina nyadi ka tanda penuduk aki ini kitai kelia ke udah bulih dengah, tau kayau tauka tau serang.nyadi ke lambang tauka ke tanda kitai tu meh purih turun raja berani.

Taja pan antu pala nya agi mayuh digantung ke sebelah ruai rumah panjai kitai (bisi sekeda disimpan ba atas sadau, lalu dipantaika semina maya pengerami), mayuh macam bengkah ga bala jerita bisi ditusui bala sida ke tuai, tang agi mayuh mega kitai bansa empu sereta enggau raban bansa bukai bedau tentu nemu nama kebuah aki ini kitai kelia gagit matak kayau enggau serang, lalu ngejungka iya nyadi siti adat asal ke balat dikemeranka bansa kitai iban rambau maya nya kelia.

Sagam ati aku, enda kelalu jauh enti aku madah ke kitai rebak kediatu endang mayuh deka nemu enggau silik serta dalam ke agi nama kebuah aki ini kitai kelia balat bendar gagit deka ngayau, ngiga dengah mumpung pala munsuh.

Nyadi pala tu besai bendar guna ia, ka mayuh bengkah pengawa enggau pengerami asal kitai bansa iban. Enti bala diri sebilik bisi mati tauka lesi bebadi ninggal ka diri sebilik, mina pala ke baru diketas ulih kena muai ulit, nyadi nyak adat lama kitai menya. Kemaia ari tu kitai nadai belandik ke adat baka nya agi. Nyadi lebuh maya ke ngulit, semua utai enda mujur dipejalaika kitai Antu pala nya mega ulih diguna kena ngenselan rumah panjai ke ngulit nya. Mayuh agi pala, manah agi ga taun umai, bulih agi ga padi.

“Antu pala nya mega enti nitih ke pengarap lama kitai iban,ulih dikena kitai nyaga rumah panjai nya ari semua utai jai. Lalu lebuh maya bisi gawai tauka pengerami, bala sida ke indu deka bebaika antu pala nengah ruai enggau tempuan laban ngayanka pemerani apai enggai menyadi lelaki sida. Rambau maya nya kelia, sigi enda dipalik sida ke dara enti bala bujang nya nadai dengah bedau kala mumpung pala munsuh.

Atur ngemeranka pengawa ngayau sereta bepumpung pala munsuh, siti ari adat asal kitai Iban kelia ke balat kena sebut sereta nyadi siti pekara dipebasa lalu ngemesaika bansa Iban rambau nya, nya siti pekara ke nentuka pemerani sereta penuduk bala lelaki rambau nya.

Bala lelaki ke udah bulih dengah dalam kayau senang ngiga indu ka bini. Kelimpah ari pengeran enggau pengering ati bala Iban deka bepantap ngelaban munsuh, antu pala nya mega tau ngenataika kuasa enggau lebih agi pemerani ngagai orang ke bulih iya.

Bala kitai Iban rambau mayanya kelia mega bepengarap ke antu pala nya tau mega mai pengering ati, ati takut tau nyadi berani,ngering ke tulang enggau semengat kitai, pemanah ulah enggau pengaya pengeraja ngagai rayat sekayu rumah panjai ke nyimpan antu pala nya. nyadi kitai bansa dunya ke moden kediatu jauh udah ninggal ke pengarap nya. rambau kitai kemaya ari diatu bebaika degree, setipikit, kerita besai enggau rengka pengaya bukai, lelaki dulu kelia mai pulai kerumah panjai diri empu utai ulih sida dalam kayau enggau serang – antu pala, kena ngiyas rumah panjai sida lalu nyadi ka batang pengaga sereta pengangkun enggau pengandal ati bujang kelia ti begelar raja berani.

Tang anang salah runding, bala aki ini kitai kelia, nadai ngepunka pengawa bekayau enggau bepumpung ke pala ari tegal pengerindu enggau peneka ati sida, tauka tegal sida enggai nadai tropi dibai pulai kerumah ari pejalai matau menua tauka pegi.

Kebuah pengawa nya dikemeranka maya nya suba, laban menua nadai adat ke menyana, nadai perintah megai sereta ngempung menua. Nya alai tegal nya, semua raban bansa bebunuh ke pangan diri.

Utai ke bakanya sigi teleba nyadi ba sebarang alai menua nadai perintah megai, nadai perintah ngempung.dini-dini endur ba menoa kitai enggau menoa urang bukai,utai tu sigi enda ulih diseliah ke rambau maya nya suba.

Chunto utai tu bisi nyadi mega ba bala bansa Arab Jahiliah (Rambau Dark Ages) sebedau penatai pengarap Islam ngagai menoa Timur Tengah sereta mayanya mega menoa China agi balat belaya berebutka kuasa enggau pangan diri, nya rambau maya Confucius sereta sepengudah Confucius tauka Kong Fu Tze.

Nyadi bansa kitai Iban laban ada ngemai darah berani, enda ulih ngetan ati enggau darah mangah, nyaga sereta nerabai diri empu ari kena kayau raban bansa bukai. Nya kebuah kitai iban udu ngayau mulau.

Pengawa ngayau mulau kitai iban tu kelia, bepun ari kitai Iban balat selalu dialahka siti raban bansa di Borneo ditu dikumbai urang Kantu. Beduduk ari ke selalu kena serang sereta dikayau Kantu, bala Iban kelia belajar nyaga bansa diri lalu kejung ke kitai iban mujur ngalahka menua Kantu, sereta enggau munsuh bukai ke bisi ngempang jalai bansa kitai iban rambau maya nya kelia.

Laban ke belajar ari pengasar munsuh, iya nya bansa Kantu, rambau maya nya mega, bala kitai Iban ukai semina munuh munsuh, tang mega ngetas pala munsuh iya nya dipumpung lalu ngemai pala nya pulai, lalu disalai pala nya enggai ka buot. Pala ke udah diketas ari tubuh lalu disalai nya dikumbai antu pala, lalu nyadi ka batang pengandal sereta pengangkun ati bala bujang – enggau sida ke dara.

Antu pala nya mega dikena aki ini kitai kelia ngelensan semengat bala kitai Iban ke udah dambi munsuh pala, lalu ka pengering semengat bala manuk sabung kitai Iban ke udah rebah alah laban munsuh, sereta ka peransang bala sida manuk sabung ke agi idup, sereta agi enggau ngayau. Ngicha ke ati sida enda mudah takut, nangi, rawan ke munsuh. AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN…

Sebedau penatai Rajah Brooke kelia, bala Iban sigi udah berengkah ngemeranka pengawa ngayau lalu bambika pala munsuh laban lebuh ti keterubah iya kitai iban baru datai melunggang ari menua Kapuas ngagai menua Sarawak kitai iban enda diterima bala bansa bukai ke udah nguan menua ditu,ngambi ke banding baka ba Batang Ai. Bansa ke bemunsuh enggau kitai Iban maya baru datai di Sarawak nya tebal agi baka bansa Ukit, Seru, Beketan (tauka Bukitan) enggau bansa bukai ke mayuh udah punas.

Ketegal ke baru deka berimba mungkal menua, mayuh bala kitai Iban mega parai ketegal besatup enggau munsuh rambau maya nya kelia.

Uji kitai berati ke cherita Beti bensumbar Brauh Ngumbang enggau indu penama Remampak kena kitai manding ke kitai d’alahka Bukitan. Nyadi Remampak tu balat bendar ngulitka apai iya ke udah dibunuh Bukitan.

Nya alai laban meda pemerinsa indu dara nya ngulit, Beti lalu malas pemati apai Remampak lalu mumpung pala bansa Bukitan ke udah munuh apai indu nya. Bukitan ke dipumpung iya pala nya mega ketuai bansa Bukitan.

Nya alai tu ngayanka pengawa bala kitai Iban kelia enda seneka ati bepumpung ngayau mulau bala munsuh, tang beduduk ari tegal ke menyana enggau meruan, lalu enda mungkal orang sengapa.

Penemu enggau ulah kitai iban nya meh ke udah ngemunka bala kitai Iban mansang berani lalu ngejung ke iya diketakutka bansa bukai rambau maya nya kelia. Laban enda ulih terus ngidupka diri, nyengkaum mungkal menua baru alai bumai betupi, atur bekayau enggau bemunsuh nya terus dikemeranka laban antu pala nya besai guna dalam dunya pengarap lama, kelebih kena ngading bala sida Keling enggau raban iya enggau dunya sosio-politik rambau nya.

Ngambi ke banding kitai dalam jaku bukai, pengawa begiga ke pala tu udah nyadi sebagi ari jalai pengidup sereta adat asal kitai Iban rambau maya nya kelia, dalam scenario dunya anarki nadai beperintah alai mensia bepangai minta gempung “munuh enggaika kena bunuh”. Darah sigi dibalas enggau darah.

Laban ketegal kitai bansa Iban ke enggai alah laban bansa bukai rambau maya nya kelia, sida lebih pragmatik ari bansa bukai, reti nya nyau ngujung ke kitai iban nyerang dulu, sebedau kitai iban diserang maya enda sedia, tauka munuh sebedau dibunuh enda ngadang, iya nya siti jalai idup survival ke dipelajar sida jauh dulu ari bansa bukai.

Sir James Brooke ke datai keterubah iya ba tanah Sarawak kena 15 Ogos taun 1839, datai ba maya menua tu kelia agi balat bendar kacau serta siga.

Lebuh iya mula nyadi Rajah keterubah menua Sarawak dalam taun 1841, Brooke orang keterubah ngumbai bala kitai Iban ke ngelaban perintah tu perumpak tasik (‘pirates’) tauka dalam jaku Melayu lanun, iya nya orang ke ngalahka kapal tegal deka ngambi perapasan.

Taja pan perintah Belanda ke merintah menua Sambas ba Kalimantan Borneo enggau Sultan Brunei maya nya enda kala ngumbai bala Iban tu perumpak tasik, Brooke ngena jaku nya laban iya bisi utai deka diulih ke iya empu ti ngenatai ke penguntung ngagai ia empu rambau maya nya kelia.

Nya alai lebuh penulis bup ari menua tasik baka Pringle, Runciman enggau bala orang bukai ke nulis pasal “Battle of Beting Maru” dalam taun 1849, sida ngumbai bala raban kayau Iban betuaika Linggir ‘Mali Lebu’ nya perumpak tasik, laban bepanggai ba pemadah enggau rikot ari perintah Brooke maya nya.

Nyadi cherita ari sepiak bala sida Linggir maya nya enda kala ditemu mensia mayuh tauka pemacha laban nadai kala ditusui.

Kati amat ka enda bala Iban maya nya nyadi perumpak tasik munyi ku Brooke? Ba penemu enggau runding aku,ko aku, nadai kitai Iban nyadi perumpak tasik, nadai kala. Kitai Iban maya nya mina gauk deka ngayau aja, mumpung pala tang ukai deka ngerampas perapasan nyadi perumpak ba tasik.

Endang sigi amat bisi bala kitai Iban ari menua Saribas ngiga munsuh ngena perau kayau nebing tasik, kekadang bekayuh ngeluie Beting Maru, lalu bisi nguji nebing tasik ngagai selatan Borneo, ngagai Sambas. Tang sida nya ukai deka nerumpak; sida semina begiga ke pala munsuh kedengah sida iya.

Sejarah mega nyukung penemu pasal perau kitai Iban kelia ke enda ulih kena nerumpak sereta enda taan dikena nyadi perumpak tasik.

Rambau maya nya,kitai iban sigi nemu perau kayau kitai nadai banding enggau perau sereta kapal dikena bala lanun tauka perumpak tasik ke bendar baka sida bansa Sulu, Illanun, Natunan enggau bansa perumpak bukai.

Ka tambah nya mega bala kitai Iban enda teleba ba tasik lalu sigi ukai orang diau ba tasik – enda aku nemu kebuah Brooke tau ngangau magi ngelak kitai iban ngena nama Sea Dayak (Dayak Tasik) –pendiau pengidup kitai iban sigi ari kelia menya nyentuk ke saritu sigi enda besangkut paut enggau tasik, laban sigi teleba ba menua ulu, ba dalam babas tauka ba batang ai numbas iya pemesai.

Nya alai sekeda perau kayau bala sida ketuai kitai iban ke enda kala lebu enti ngayau mulau ke abis pechah sereta karam laban sengayuh kapal H.E.I.C.S. Nemesis ba Beting Maru,perau kayau nya sigi ukai digaga kena pengawa nerumpak ba tasik. Perau nya mega enda chukup pemesai mai raban perang sereta kayau besai Iban, lalu tentu nadai alai ngengkah perapasan enti sema sida nerumpak ngambi perapasan.

Naka ke ditemu ba menua Saribas, Krian tauka Batang Rajang enggau ai bukai, nadai kitai Iban bisi madah sereta ngayanka perapasan ulih nerumpak ba tasik. Mina utai ke bisi dipeda ba sebalah rumah panjai kitai Iban nya rengka beli magang, baka sida bedil, setawak enggau utai bukai.

Kebuah pia, laban aki ini kitai ukai perumpak tasik. Sida mina gauk deka ngayau lalu mai pala munsuh pulai. Antu pala ke udah disalai nya aja meh perapasan ke bisi digantung kitai Iban ka pengingat orang tuai kelia sereta kena ngingatka kitai pasal adat asal sida kelia, ke udah dibuai ketisi dilengka ke kitai rambau dunya moden diatu. Kebuah pia, laban sida ukai penyamun tasik ngiga perapasan tang orang gila kayau ngiga pala munsuh.

Tang enti nitih sekeda bup, Brooke enda kala ngumbai bala Iban Sebuyau perumpak tauka penyamun tasik, taja pan bala kitai ari Sebuyau bisi sama enggau ngayau bepumpungka pala munsuh. Nama kebuah Iban Saribas aja dikumbai perumpak tasik?

Diatu, berindik ari rintai utai ke nyadi bekau nya, baru kitai nemu kebuah iya ngaga bakanya – James Brooke ngena jaku ‘pirates’ tauka perumpak tasik laban iya begunaka sukung perintah British dalam nyapai juluk ati iya naluk menua Sarawak.

Dalam taun 1888, taja pan James Brooke udah nadai agi, Perintah British bisi nyain siti sempekat deka nyaga menua Sarawak ari kuasa bukai. Kebuah pia, laban sida takut Belanda enggau Sepanyol naluk menua Sarawak. Rambau nya Belanda udah megai Kalimantan Borneo enggau Jawa lalu Sepanyol udah megai menua Pelipin.

Nya alai, amat meh bala kitai Iban balat diketakutka dulu menya tegal sida gagit matak kayau lalu mumpung pala munsuh, ke ngejungka pengawa bakanya balat dibantah lalu ditagang perintah Brooke, taja pan nya sigi nyadi adat asal lalu sebagi ari jalai pengidup maya nya, dikemendar ulih adat asal bansa enggau semua bansa petara, jelu enggau antu ke nyaga semengat sereta pendiau Iban rambau nya.

Sida gaga dikumbai orang bujang berani, mayuh dengah lalu gagit deka bepumpung pala munsuh, tang aki ini kitai menya enda ngaku diri dikangau orang perumpak tauka penyamun tasik.

Kitai ke rebak baru tu, salah munyi jaku enda meh tau ngetu ngayau. Tang kitai ukai ngayau ketegal ka mumpung pala munsuh. Kitai ngayau mumpung bala pemandai bala penemu. Kitai mesti gagit ka mumpung pala SPM, pumpung gak pala Diploma, udah nya pala Degree, lalu anang berenti, gagit kitai sampai terpumpung ke pala PHD.

Sida ke lama ngayau ngena ilang ngena duku, kitai ke baru ngayau ngena pemandai ngena penemu.

Oooo Haaaaaa!!!

Iban Longhouse Architecture

Trace back my posting history, the very last were written back to the end of last year. So this is my 1st posting for the year 2011. I’m sorry for being such a lazy butt but half of the 2011 have been a busy months for me. But anyway, thanks to those who came and stop by my blog though there haven’t been any updates for last 7 months.

Today, I’d like to answer the questions that have been popped in my email for several times, –  Longhouse Archutecture

I’m sorry to keep you waiting (those who asked) – Thus, I recommend that if you have questions that need a quicker response, please ask me via twitter at http://www.twitter.com/AllenCharlie ( @AllenCharlie ).

        One of the common social-cultural characterisrics shared by the indigenous communities of Borneo is their dwelling structure – The longhouse architecture, where a whole village lived under one roof with each family owning individual apartment and its related space. 

I will explain the respective functions of the basic structure of every longhouse.

1. Tanju (Open Gallery):
The space used for this part is mainly for activities that require the use of outdoor and sunshine, such as drying rice, pepper, othet crops and clothes. Here it is also used for ceremonial performances during ritual festivals (Gawai) such as offering (Miring).

2. Ruai (Rofted Gallery):
This is the covered gallery for multi-purpose daily avtivities, such as mending tools, making fishing nets, weaving mats or ceremonial blankets (pua kumbu). It is also a place for meeting, entertaining visitors to the longhouse. It is a sleeping area (Pantar) for unmarried men, and male visitors. Ritual performances are also conducted here, especially for funeral ceremonies (Rabat). It can be said that the ruai is one of the most important aspects of longhouse living that provide space for interactions between residents (Randau Ruai), especially for bringing up children and their schooling in customs and cultures of the community.

3. Tempuan (Common Walkway):
The narrow space that is between the bilek and the ruai that runs lengthwise from one end of the longhouse to the other is known as tempuan. This space is in fact the proper passage-way along the longhouse. It is an accepted practice to walk along this passage rather than use of ruai when one move from one bilek to the otger. The reason for this is that the tempuan is commonly owned, whereas the ruai spaces is individually owned by the family that has the ruai facing their bilek. At the end of the tempuan are the entrances that lead to the house ladders (Tangga Rumah). In the past when rice has to be milled manually, the women folks used the tempuan as a place to husk (Nampi) and pound (Nutuk) the rice.

4. Bilek (Family Apartment)
This is the family room for members to have their meals and privacy, when they wish to be away from the rest of the household. It is the place where the family’s heirloom and properties are kept, such as tajau etc. Married men and women folks sleep in there. Here also is where cooking is done and the family has their meals. In some modern longhouse, the apartment inside is large enough to have several divisions to serve as saperated bedrooms.

5. Sadau (Loft):
The loft is mainly use for storing farm implements and the year’s rice supply of the family. It was used in the past as sleeping place for the family’s young unmarried women. Nowaday, modern longhouses use the loft as family’s bedroom. Some longhouse kept the tradition passed down enemy’s head (Antu Pala) in this area, normally at the loft spaces of the head of the longhouse (Tuai Rumah).

The above are the different sections and individual functions of an Iban longhouse. 

In general, other Borneo’s ethnic longhouses have similiar section and functions. Iban’s longhouse example does give the general outline of longhouse architecture, and a general impression of longhouse living, that are common to all ethnic groups who have adopted the longhouse system.

My Childhood’s Longhouse Experience

Like me, some of you may have grown up in the era of wooden longhouses, built from the ground up by our forefathers.

Normally these type of houses are built far from the city, surrounded by fruit trees, chickens and lots of green which make up a natural playground.

As an Iban kid who born in 1980s, I used to play in this kind of environment. I loved playing with grass, stones, puddles, mud, building wooden bridges, dams and canals. It’s a wonder why I didn’t grow up an engineer.

Maybe because I hated maths… 🙂

With the greenish environment which makeup a natural playground, the experience to live and grown up in the era of the wooden longhouse is something worth to share with you, especially with the youngsters today.

Unlike you, when I was a kid, I woke up every morning quater to 7 or maybe by 7 would be the latest. Or else I’ll feel sorry to myself, regreat why would I spend a my time in bed when the beauty of nature await me to be explore. I woke up this early for a reason. Its not like because of Ben 10 will start at 7. Or maybe because of the coco crunch await me on my kitchen table. Or maybe because I need to go for the art class tuition by 8. That’s not it! The reason I wake up every morening is something that different from those of the reason you wake up early. Not by force, but by intention.

You can’t resists to wake up early when little bird singing right outside of your window, when little insects sang a jungle song, when the morning breeze blew colder than your aircond… when you thinking of to start a day with a smile. 🙂

The riverbank near by is an official meeting place for a every kids every morning and evening. The crystal clear water call me by name, though its cold as ice, it can’t stop me and the kids to flip floop dunk ourself into the water. We swim, we play, who can’t we teach. Basically, the world is ours. This kind of environment brought us together and the bond were tight.

Its good to be friend with human rather than computer.

There is no Fish and Chips, but we have fresh BBQ fish, which is far more delicious and healthy than the so-called wastern food. Though we don’t have a cheese burger at that time, we have something that almost similiar. I can still remember how delicios is the “Roti Sebayan” or some of us called it “Roti Penat” or “Roti Tababr”, when I dunk them into my hot coffee. – Kopi Cap Ah Moi.

At night, we don’t watch Power Rangers like you do. Since there is no electricity, what more to say TV? So the main source of news and entertainment for old folks is the radio. But for us, the kids, we don’t really give a damn about the entertainment, we don’t care about the news or what happened in the world those day.

All we know, the world is ours, so what we do is, play and play and play.
In the day time, we explore the nature. At night, we play hide and seek.

Apart all that, like me, I believe kids at my time do enjoy the “Randau Ruai”. Its something like a story telling section where we’ll faced our grandparents and the old folks sit at “Ruai” and listen to their “Ensera” or story in English. The stories were interesting, its cover up all the topic from the fantasy and the myth to the history of our origin and the languages. See, we don’t need a tuition class to learn all that. Furthermore, I don’t need a MP3 to sing me a song to sleep at night.

Like what I’d mention in the beginning of my story, I play stones, puddles, mud, and those of the things which may be dirty to you. We don’t buy toys but make toys. We don’t play XBox’s Street Fighter, but we do sometimes watch the cockfighting. We don’t need a monthly payment for martial art class as the old folks will teach us “Kuntau” for free. Dance classes, “Ngajat” for free. Music classes, all for free!

In line with the modernization and development. The longhouse you know today is not a longhouse that we known yesterday and it may change again tomorrow. Though most of my young times spent in the city, but the life to live and grown up in the longhouse environment is something that can’t never be forget. Thanks to my parents for those wonderful experience and memories.

Eventhough the wooden longhouses now transformed to concrete, the jungle surrounding now change to a flowers in the pot, the river now is a drains, and the chicken in the cage, there are the thing that remain the same.

The bond amongs us..
and I hope, forever, it will stay that way.

Gawai diatu enggau kelia

Peremisi Hari Gawai Dayak diungkupka ngagai bala asal Dayak di menua Sarawak; baka bansa Iban, Bidayuh, enggau mayuh sub-ethnics ari Orang Ulu – Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, enggau mayuh agi ti enda ulih ditiuka ba ditu. Sejarah Hari Gawai Dayak ulih dipansik pulai ngagai taun 1957 kelia. Pengerami Hari Gawai Dayak dipejadika (gazetted) nyadi sebengkah ari Hari besai ba menua Sarawak kena 25 September, 1964. Beduduk ari nya, Hari Gawai Dayak ti keterubah diintu kena 1 Jun, 1965. Pengudah ari nya, iya lalu diintu tiap taun sampaika hari tu.

Reti leka jaku Gawai sama enggau pengerami. Nya meh kabuah enti orang bisi rami disebut kitai begawai – Gawai lelabi (orang melah pinang), Gawai Antu (Ngeregang baka ke diatu) Etc. Maya ngintu Hari Gawai mayuh bendar pengawa diaduka beserimbai enggau pengerami nya. Sigi batang pengawa iya nya meri besai terima kasih ngagai Tuhan tauka Petara laban udah bulih asil ari kereja bumai betaun.

Simpulka jaku pandak, pengerami nya tadi dikena meri terima kasih ngagai semengat padi. Pia mega, pengerami tu dikena minta awakka dalam taun baru ti deka datai sama bulih padi sama pemayuh tauka lebih agi ari taun ti udah. Semua perengka dikena bumai nempalai nyengkaum batu panggul sereta enggau keresa kena kereja berat lalu disengkilung ngena pua kumbu dalam pandung ranyai. Tuju pengawa nya awakka semua perengka ti dikena bekereja nya tadi tau enda mai pulaika penusah tauka bebadi. Chara ngintu nya tadi nitihka pengarap. Sida ti udah megai pengarap Kristian ngintu ngena chara sembiang. Sida ti agi pengarap adat asal ngintu ngena chara miring.

Maya Hari Gawai, mayuh mega pengawa bukai diaduka orang. Bisi mega orang sabung jadi nyerumba Hari Gawai. Kelimpah ari nya, mayuh mega main enggau adat asal dibantaika kena ngerami malam baka bebiau, betabuh, bepantun, ngajat, sereta main gagai enggau uti ti bukai. Pengerami belabuh kena lemai hari 31 Mei alai semua raban diri sebilik sama makai begempuru (family union).

Ba sekeda menua, pengawa tu dikumbai orang ‘besapi tuai.’ Raban ti pengabis biak dalam ruang bilik berengkah nyapi raban ti pengabis tuai lalu beturut datai ba iya ti pengabis biak nya empu. Tuju pengawa tu awakka tau gayu-guru baka iya ti tuai dalam ruang bilik nya. Tengah malam nya mega bisi ngirup ai pengayu. Udah nya ditangkanka mayuh main enggau adat asal kena ngerami malam datai ka hari tawas.

Chara ngintu Hari Gawai engka bisi lain mimit nitihka ai enggau bagi menua sebengkah enggau sebengkah. Ba alai genturung orang mayuh agi diau, bisi mega orang ngaduka pekit kumang enggau keling. Maya Hari Gawai mega orang sigi nerima penatai temuai ari pupu raban bansa ti datai ngabang. Mayuh bansa pemakai asal enggau iya ti baru (modern) dibantaika temuai. Tuak tauka ai pengayu enda tau tinggal laban kena ngamin ke adat, sida ke enda ngirup enggai enda meh nyulik mimit. Kelimpah ari nya, pengawa ke nembiak baka pekit ngajat, pekit ngasuh orang ketawa enggau pengawa ke becabut ke tiket bertuah pan selalu seiring enggau pengerami Gawai.

Bepun ari pengawa ke ngambi, ngelalu tauka niki ke pengabang, Pengawa Nebang Ranyai/Bungai selalu ia nyadi penutup pengerami Hari Gawai keterubah (1 Jun) lalu ditutup ninting taun ngena pengawa Ngiling Bidai, nanda ka tempoh begawai udah nyau, lalu berpun ari nya, pengawa ke nugal sereta betambak tau berengkah diperunding ke baru.

Mayuh utai udah berubah, pia mega pengawa Gawai diatu enggau kelia. Ngambi ke banding, nebang Ranyai tau ka Bungai enti kelia enda tau sebarang, orang ke peturun raja berani, orang be udahbisi dengah tauka sida ke kering agi bulubaru tau ngereja pengawa tu. Tang diatu, barang orang tau ngetas buah Ranyai/Bungai, ya ke nebang diatu nya orang bisi, orang ke besai pangkat, ngambi ke banding sida ke megai orang, bala orang kereja perintah ke napi pengawa besai enggau bala sida YB. Kebuah pia, dini alai kitai ngiga orang ke udah bedengah kemaia ari tu? Kebuah bukai, ari pengawa ngetas/nebang Ranyai tauka Bungai tu salah sigi cara rumah panjai ngumpul duit (Fund) laban setiap siko ke ngetas buah Ranyai, sida diminta ngajat lalu udah ke ngetas sida lalu meri pemeri.

Kemaia hari tu mayuh bala anembiak udah bejalai sebelah nengeri ketegal kereja kena ngidupka ruang bilik diri empu. Ketegal kereja ti jauh di menua urang, sekeda ari bala kitai enda ulih mulaika diri enti maya Hari Gawai Dayak. Belanja deka mulaika diri ke menua asal tau mai ungkus beratus. Enti mayuh bala anak, belanja mulaika diri sebilik tentu tau mai ungkus beribu. Mayuh mega orang udah pindah diau mendam ba nengeri ketegal ngiga peluang dikena ngidupka diri ti lebih manah agi.

Dalam kandang 30 taun ti udah lalu, migration ari menua pesisir ngagai nengeri pan nyau makin nambah. Enti kitai mandingka enggau sida bansa Cina, tau dikira nyau deka abis menua ba dunya tu alai bala sida iya migrate ngiga peluang pengidup baru ba menua bukai. Nya alai ba mayuh menua, kitai bisi meda endur ti disebut orang China Town. Ba nengeri Johor mayuh bendar bala ari Sarawak udah bekereja sereta diau mendam ba genturung Bandaraya Johor Bahru dalam 30 taun ti udah lalu. Beduduk ari nya engka nadai salah enti perintah setuju meri nama endur nya dikumbai Sarawak Town tauka Iban Town. Nitihka banci ari perintah, enda kurang ari 40,000 (need to be verified) bala Iban bisi ditemu bekereja tauka diau mendam ba endur nya. Sekeda ari sida iya bekereja di Singapore tang berundang ari Johor Bahru tiap hari.

Chara ngintu Hari Gawai Dayak ba nengeri diatu pan nyau udah bisi jauh lain mimit ari ba rumah panjai. Kabuah pia laban pengidup diau di nengeri udah kena pangka gelumbang dunya nadai sempadan (globalization). Beduduk ari nya, adat asal mayuh pupu bansa nyau udah bechampur (assimilation). Ulih tauka enda adat asal lama baka pantun, ajat, timang, kuntau, sereta mayuh ti bukai dipeturunka datai ba tubuh sida anembiak rebak baru ila? Pekara tu ti balat bendar mai pengirau ati ba sida ti nyadi tuai raban bansa diatu.

Kati ku gaya Hari Gawai diintu anembiak rebak baru ila dalam timpuh 20-50 taun ari diatu – kati agi bisi sama ba senentang chara sida iya ngintu enggau beratika reti leka jaku Gawai ketegal balat bai ubah arus pemansang? Aram mih kitai sama ninjau pekara tu beserimbai enggau musin Gawai tu.

Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak 2010 – Arapka semua kitai gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai, chelap-lindap, lalu mujur dalam semua pengawa.

It has happened

It has happened,
in every corner of the earth,
where the few eat bread,
and the rest eat sand.

It has happened,
where the few clothed velvet,
sleep in palaces,
the rest go naked,
squeezed into shacks.

It has happened,
the hidden hand appear,
spilling the blood of the poor,
to cling on to power.

It has happened,
when the kings turned bad,
the citizen goes mad,
the world, sad.

Ensumbar Tuai Sarawak

Ari pengada TYT kitai baru udah ngelebus, tang surat khabar sampai ke saritu agi penuh enggau “ucapan tahniah” ngangkat p***r ari kompeni-kompeni tauka badan korporat ngagai sida ke bisi bulih pingat lebuh maia ari pengada TYT tu tadi.

Nyadi saritu aku ka bekunsi sekeda utai ke narit ati aku enggau bala kita.

Borneopost kala mansut ke genteran madah ke pingat “Datuk” menua Sarawak jauh tusah diulih enti dibanding enggau menua-menua ke bukai dalam Malaysia.

Tang utai ke balat narit ati aku ya ke dibaruh tu. Tu meh rimtai semua pingat ke direbut bala mensia setiap taun.

Aruh bala mensia bendar amat ke berebut ke pingat tu, peda kita pemanah curak pingat tu, lebih-lebih agi gelar tauka pangkat ke seiring-sejalai enggau ia.

Ensumbar Pingat: Dato Sri

Wow, Enti nyau sampai pingat ke ke diayan ke dalam gambar ke dibaruh tu, sejengkal kitai mansang wai. Jarang endar bansa kitai teulih ke tu.

Ensumbar Pingat: Datuk Amar

Pendiau curak pingat tu baka ke makin “GAP” nyau ngagai peringkat ke tinggi agi. Peda gambar pingat ke dibaruh tu, enggau ukir-ukir emas ia, chukup manah! Nya alai, ketegal pemanah ia, tau ditiap bala kitai ke bisi nerima pingat tu. Bansa kitai, kelimpah ari Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Jabu, nadai agi ke bukai ditemu aku.

Ensumbar Pingat: Datuk Patinggi

Tu tadi dua iku aja gak nerima pingat tu, pingat ke-terubah diberi ngagai Niang Laila Taib dikena ia di sebayan din, pingat ke-dua diberi ngagai tengku mahkota Johor ngambi ke bisi disimpan ia dalam stor, kapa ia nya ko ia.

Tang sayau-sayau buah kemayau, sigi pingat aku enda kala tepeda ke gambar, aku nemu, pia mega bala kita. Pingat tu pingat ke pamadu besai dalam menua Sarawak ti semina diuan siku aja, orang ke nguan ia mega orang ti pemadu besai enggau kering dalam Menua kitai tu. Pingat tu dikumbai Satria Bintang Sarawak ti mai ensumbar Pehin Sri ti bisi diuan siku aja dalam bejuta, ianya YAB Pehin Sri Taib kitai. Nadai agi orang bukai dalam menua Malaysia tu, kelimpah ke ari Pehin Sri Taib enggau Pehin Sri Tun Mahathir.

Pingat tu engka mayuh pemali alai enda tau dipeda anak mensia baka kitai tu. Nadai orang kala nemu pendiau curak pingat tu ya ke ditemu aku.

Bakani enda gaya pendiau curak pingat Satria Bintang Sarawak tu kini?
Imagine…

Kada enda baka tu?

Yo yo, wassup homeys!

Dunging anak Gunggu, Genius Iban ari Nanga Ulai (Debak)

Ngejangka kitai meh Raja Menua Sarawak, pia ku jaku kenang bala sida di Nanga Ulai dalam menua Debak lebuh Dunging anak Gunggu parai urung tengan taun 1980an menya.

Kebuah pia, laban pintu bilik penaik Dunging ba rumah panjai nya betulis ‘Raja Menua Sarawak’.

Ku orang ke nusui, bilik penaik Dunging jauh nyulut manah ari enggi orang bukai ba rumah nya, laban ke digaga ari teras magang, sereta dirias enggau ukir sereta rengka bukai digaga iya empu, enda nyalah baka rumah mijum.

Siku kaban penulis, ke mega bekau kepala pengajar ba sekula primary, iya nya Morris Unong enda nemu dini alai iya diatu ke sama serumah enggau Dunging, lebuh ditanya, sigi ngamatka berita nya.

“Niang Dunging nadai utai dikenadai ba dalam bilik baka rengka pengidup rumah panjai endang bisi magang, muti nadai mayuh diri sebilik enggau betupi,” ku Morris.

Terubah penulis nemu rita Dunging tu kena taun 1964 menya. Nyadi lebuh Gawai Antu orang ba rumah panjai Sungai Belong ba dalam batang Malupa pati Krian di Saratok dia Dunging tu bisi nyadung utai chelak iya. Nyadi nya bisi ngundan gambar dero iya empu ngena ngepan Iban.

Ba tisi gamal dero iya bisi diselitka tulis romanised sereta mega dalam alphabet Iban ke ditengkebang iya empu. Utai ke ditulis iya nya ke ulih bacha aku dalam ayat romanised, iya nya pasal tusut turun temurun Dunging empu ari Singalang Burung.

Nyadi ba reti tusut iya mansik tauka nentu berapa serak sida sebilik nya semak tauka ngejang ari Singalang Burung, ke nyadi petara bumai betupi ba pengarap lama Iban.

Siti ari utai ke dichelak iya sangka aku ngena injin penyelak gaga iya empu iya nya pasal ‘carta organisasi’ ba sekula ti endur iya ngajar sekeda bala anembiak rambau nya kelia pasal urup tulis Iban ke digaga iya empu. Sekula nya, nunda ba utai ke disadung iya nya, diberi iya nama Sekula Sera Gunting (Sera Gunting School) iya nya ngangkatka nama uchu Singalang Burung, anak Menggin seduai Dara Tinchin Temaga, iya nya anak tuai Singalang Burung, ke disebut dalam leka main sereta jaku tuai Iban Aki Lang Singalang Burung, Aki Bejugu Menaul Tuntung.

Penulis empu dua kali meda Dunging, iya sekali dalam taun 1968 di pasar kayu Saratok enggau sekali berandau enggau iya empu di Sarikei dalam taun 1982.

Tang entara 1964 – 1985, mayuh ga utai udah didinga pasal Dunging, tang iya ke nyemetak agi nya ari tusui aya penulis Stephen Sembilan anak Ambas ari Nanga Tut, Rimbas.

Nanga Tut tu enda jauh ari rumah panjai Dunging ba Nanga Ulai dalam Rimbas, pati Batang Saribas. Utai ke ditusui tuai aya nya enda mangat silik tang iya udah nyidi sekeda pengawa enggau utai ke udah dikereja Dunging datai ka iya nyau tebilang rita lebih agi ba genturung pendiau menua di Rimbas, Layar, Batang Paku, Batang Krian, sekeda menua ba Batang Lupar, Bintangor enggau Sarikei.

Ba renggat tu kitai nguji mansutka sekeda ari pengawa Dunging ke udah ngasuh iya bisi berupai nyelaie sereta nyulut pengelandik ari kitai Iban ke bukai.

Iya ke udah, tu meh keterubah iya siku bansa kita udah bisi pansut nama bisi penemu enggau pengelandik ngaga mayuh bengkah utai. Tau kitai madah, nadai pengkebang menua kitai tu lebih ari Dunging.

Kenu ku tusui aya Stephen, Dunging tu endang udah bujang ba taun 1925. Iya endang udah bisi pengelandik jari baka ngukir, ngambuh, ngaga chapak mangkuk, ngaga sugu ari kayu tapang.

Iya udah nguji ngaga ruding ari selung enggau ari takang aping. Iya mega bisi ngaga kesuling ari buluh. Siti agi utai ke bisi digaga iya nya engkerurai ari labu selaing enggau buluh lapan iti, lalu dilah iya digaga ari temiang.

Kelimpah ari rengka tebah musik asal nya tadi iya mega bisi nguji ngaga rebap ari tachu nyiur. Dunging mega bisi ngaga enyakun (nyau ka baka sapek) ari kayu empalaie betali dua iti ari rutan. Semua utai ke disebut nya tadi endang perengka dikena bemain musik asal kitai Iban.

Ba taun 1930 lebuh Gawai Antu di Nanga Ulai (rumah sida empu), Dunging bisi ngaga kipas angin ari kayu. Kipas tu tau bepusin ari kuasa injin kaki ari jauh. Iya tau bepusin ari sadau lalu nyepu pala pengabang lebuh ke duduk tauka mansa ruai iya. Keba sekeda lelanjang pengabang abis tekebu empa pengeras pusin kipas kayu Dunging.

Iya mega bisi ngaga gasing kena nabu ubung. Dulu ari nya iya endang udah bisi nanam kayu taya. Buah taya ti udah mansau lalu diketau, sereta lalu dipalu ba tikai ngena rutan ke digaga iya ambika pemalu taya empu.

Nya baru digasing ngena gasing nya tadi sereta lalu jadi ka ubung. Ubung Dunging tu mayuh udah dikena bala indu sida semenua kena nenun kain, pua kumbu enggau utai bukai.

Kelimpah ari nya, Dunging udah mega ngaga ketupi ari kayu empalaie enggau ari kulit kayu tekalung. Iya mega ngaga pua, baju enggau tanchut ari kulit kayu tekalung. Utai ke digaga iya nya endang dichunto ba iya empu lalu gari nya dikena iya kulu kili. Orang bukai ke bisi pengerindu meda utai nya tadi ulih ga meli ari iya sereta lalu meri chunto sukat diri empu.

Siti agi utai ke bisi digaga Dunging iya nya minyak wangi. Tu digaga iya ari rakit bungai kayu enggau daun kayu babas champur enggau bungai tanam.

Nyadi bungai tanam ke dikena iya baka Bungai Kapu, Bungai But, Bungai Ruku, Bungai Gerempung, Bungai Rajang, Bungai, chekur enggau lia. Sekeda ari kayu tauka bungai kampung ke dikena iya baka sida Bungai Seminggu, Bungai Empaka, Bungai Kepudak, Bung Innus, Bungai Mutik, Bungai Kemarik, Bungai Kupi enggau Bungai Pakan. Bisi empat puluh bansa utai dichampur ka iya kena ngaga minyak wangi.

Semua utai nya tadi lalu dichampur enggau tepus, paku ikan, paku lilin, kayu garu, buah kayu balung, kupak pauu enggau buah kepayang. Nyadi lalu dipegulaika iya semua utai ke disebut nya tadi sereta lalu dibalut ngena gari utai tauka pua. Panduk ngena periuk tembaga, lalu ditumbak ka ba dalam tanah.

Periuk nya tunsang lalu mua periuk nya diselap enggau batang tepus ti udah dipalu sereta enggau daun paku nya tadi. Burit periuk ditunu enggau api, lalu mua periuk nya diterima ngena mayang pinang tauka kulit kayu. Udah nya kaus iya labuh ngagai teradu nya tadi lalu diterima ngena tachu nyiur.

Udah nya dalam taun 1936, Dunging nguji ngaga injin kena ngaga ngeli. Pengawa iya tu enda tentu mujur. Enam hari iya udah nguji injin tu, iya pan lalu enda nyadi. Malam hari keenam nya iya tinduk lalu bisi mimpi ti munyi tu: – Mimpi asai ke benung ngaga injin ngeli. Dia iya berasai tusah ati ensepi pengawa iya enda mujur. Lalu asai ke datai indu orang putih, bansa ribai. Indu nya lalu nanya nama kebuah iya tak kelalu tusah gamal. Dunging pan lalu nerang ngagai indu nya madahka pengawa iya lalu enda nyadi. Nya ti ngenusahka ati iya. Dia indu nya lalu ngasuh Dunging nelentangka tapa jari iya. Indu ribai nya lalu bejaku, “Nuan Dunging, semua orang nadai pelajar nadai pandai ari nuan, laban jari kanan nuan tu bisi diengkah Jesus pijar.” Dunging pan lalu tedani.

Udah bemimpi nya iya lalu beperansang ngaga mayuh agi bengkah utai. Injin ngeli iya pan lalu jadi. Ari nya iya lalu berengkah ngaga ngeli.

Siku ari orang ba pelilih menua kami bisi ngena ngeli gaga Dunging iya nya niang aki kami bilik sepiak menya penama Jerampang anak Saat ke bensumbar ‘Pintu Batu Nanga Igan, Indu Balu Tengah Malam’.

Endang tak enda nemu pemanah niang Jerampang menya ngena ngeli gaga Dunging. Ngeli nya bisi kuning mimit enda tentu burak baka ngeli batu gaga Cina. Tang manah amat dipeda. Nunda ku cherita iya enchabut ngeli ngena anggup besi mit tang enda pedis laban iya ngena puchau pemenat.

Sebengkah ari pengawa iya ti agi bisi dipeda sampai ka seharitu iya nya kebun getah iya ti bisi nyelaie agi ari enggi orang bukai. Iya endang bisi mayuh kebun getah ke alai sekeda bala sida serumah nya bekereja bebagi dua enggau iya. Nyau keleju iya pan nanam baru kayu getah bisi 25,000 kayu.

Nitihka padah iya empu agi iya idup suba utai tu dikereja iya dalam taun 1932. Nyadi semua getah ditanam ba tanah ke bisi renjan mimit ba serantu jalai ari rumah panjai orang Danau ngagai rumah panjai Ulu Bayur.

Kira ke ba tebiang meh endur iya nanam getah nya tadi. Laban ke suah bendar nengah menua nya ngagai menua Bayur entara taun 1988 ngagai 1992 suba, sinu endar meda getah ke bebesai nadai dikereja. Iya ga renjan endar laban Dunging ke deka nguji tengkebang ngena chuban siti.

Nyadi ku cherita Morris Unong, udah getah nya tau dikereja iya pan ngaga panchung ba tiap batang getah nunga awak ka nitik ngagai siti batang payan ke udah dibelah dua.

Nyadi payan nya baka tungga lalu nitik ngagai siti beledi besai ke nyadi chuban. Datai ka bepuluh iti pun getah ke bekunsi ka siti chuban beledi nya tadi.

Pengawa tu manah amat laban iya ngurangka jam muat sereta awak ka enda ibuh ngaga chuban mayuh. Tang utai nya enda nunda ka ati iya.

Nyau ujung-ujung orang ke bekereja dia nyau ngurang ka pemayuh batang getah ke bekunsi ka siti chuban. Kebuah pia laban enti kelalu panjai batang payan ke nyadi churung ai getah mansang ngagai chuban, ai getah nyau meku serantu jalai apin datai ba chuban. Nya alai enda tentu mujur projek getah ba tebiang bakanya.

Dulu ari tu, apin ke nanam kayu getah ke ngemayuh nya, Dunging endang udah bisi ngaga injin getah ari kayu kering. Nyadi injin tu ambika kena nginjin getah sida iya empu.

Laban getah endang sigi mayuh, nyadi Dunging kira ka bulih amat duit ari getah. Orang ke ngereja getah iya pan mayuh ga. Nya alai ba menua sida Nanga Ulai endang jarang ke bisi bulih agi belanja ari Dunging.

Cherita pengawa iya ke bukai lebih agi ke ngajar bala anembiak ba menua ke besemak dia urup jaku Iban ke ditengkebang iya – sekula nya dikumbai iya Sekula Sera Gunting – nyangka deka ditampung ba renggat dudi ila.

Enda entu ulih nyadi

Bedau lama ke udah, pala menteri kirai Malaysia Dato’ Seri Najib udah madah ke kitai enda lama agi, kitai bisi F1 tem kediri empu, team tu dikumbai kitai 1Malaysia F1 Team. Kelimpah ke ari utai ke udah disebut aku dalam post ke bekait enggau tu ke udah, aku bisi utai ka ditambah agi.

Bedau entu lama ke udah mega bala laut udah abis beraya (cuti), rekod Ops Sikap orang ke bebadi ba jalai alun jauh tinggi ari taun ke udah. Maia ditanya TV3, tuai polis menua Tan Sri Musa Hassan madah ka, Ukum bunuh bala sida ke driba laju nadai meh beduna, laban orang Malaysia sigi ka laju mai kereta laban sida ia landik)

Nya aku berunding, orang Malaysia chukup berani driba kereta, sapa enda nyadi driba kereta 1 Malaysia F1 tu ila? Orang Malaysia? Tauka 1 Malaysia udah digiga tang enda tetemu, alai ngambi driba ari menua ili?

Mayuh gak orang ke enda puas ati ke project Mega MAlaysia 1 Malaysia F1 tu, kelimpah ke ari utai ke disebut Najib, nuan enggau aku nemu, project besai tu beguna ke duit tax, duit rakyat. Duit nuan enggau aku. Mayuh bala kitai enda yakin enggau project tu..

Aku percaya bala kitai tentu bisi kebuah ti chukup manah alai kitai enda yakin enggau projek tu, maksud aku.
Heh, come on, this a Malaysian Government + Proton + AirAsia project. You know I know lah…

Nama kebuah 1 Malaysia F1 Team tu enda entu ulih nyadi, ba runding aku, enggau pendiau pengidup kitai orang Malaysia, baka tu…

#1. F1 bukai sigi udah ditemu driba ia. 1 Malaysia F1 bedau temu agi.

Sida Abu, Ah chong enggau Mutu sama bela enggai alah, sama ka driba. Bedau agi tambah sida Singh, sida Laing sida Empangup enggau sida ke bukai…
1 Malaysia mah.. ko Ah chong

#2. Poooooootttt.. ko siren bebunyi nanda ke lumba start. Kereta F1 ke bukai bekedebus bela ka ngenulu ke diri. 1 Malaysia F1 Team agi bedau ba garis start..

Nama Kebuah?

#3. Enti bisi accident maia ke belumba ba litar, ari ke nerus ke diri ngagai garis penamat, 1 Malaysia F1 kitai enda mukai-mukai temu nekan break, slowind down.

Nama kebuah?
Ngetu dulu, kiruh ke orang ke accident.

#4. Maia ke benung driba ba tengah jalai, 1 Malaysia F1 kitai ke enda mukai-mukai temu nguing ke diri ngagai stesen minyak ke paling dampih enggau Litar Sepang.

Nama kebuah?
Laban perintah baru udah madah ke rega minyak ka niki pagi la, sebedau rega niki, isi penuh lok minyak, pama meh.

#5. Benung ba jalai lurus, ujan enda ribut enda, enda mukai-mukai, 1 Malaysia F1 kitai temu tebabas lalu ngembal ke kereta F1 team ke bukai sepiak ia.

Nama kebuah?
Laban pangan driba 1 Malaysia baru udah sent ia sms. Nyadi driba ke chukup landik tu tadi driba ngena sepiak jari aja, sepiak agi kena sms. Mata dijual ke bukai…

Nya kebuah 1 Malaysia F1 tu ke enda entu nyadi.
Kebuah BMW Sauber Team narit diri ari F1, laban saritu RM1.80 rega minya diisi petronas ke sida, pagila RM2.00.