Page 11 - Sarawak-Visitors-Guide-2014v1
P. 11
virtually all of Sarawak’s of Brunei. Apart from
ethnic groups. As well occasional piracy on the
as Bidayuhs (formerly coast and headhuning
known as Land Dayaks) in the interior, Sarawak
and Ibans (Sea Dayaks), was peaceful. All of this
you are sure to encounter changed when the Sultan
Melanaus from the Brunei appointed
of
central coastal areas a hugely unpopular
and Orang Ulu (literally Governor. The Malays
“upriver people”), the and Bidayuhs of the
collecive name given to Sarawak River revolted
the smaller indigenous in 1836 and declared
socieies, including independence. An ugly
Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, guerrilla war ensued, which coninued unil 1839, when
Berawan, Lun Bawang, James Brooke, a young, wealthy Englishman arrived on
Penan, etc. All are thoroughly modern Malaysians
the scene in his well-armed yacht, the Royalist.
nowadays, but many rural people sill live in village or
longhouse communiies. Brooke set himself up as a freelance adventurer and
History - The White Rajahs the Sultan’s uncle immediately asked him to help put
down the rebellion. The spears and muskets of the
rebels were no match for the Royalist’s cannon. As a
Kuching’s history is also Sarawak’s - the kind of
adventure story that would be unbelievable if it were reward, the grateful Sultan made Brooke the Rajah of
not true. Local bookshops are crammed with volumes Sarawak in 1841. Brooke was not content to rule over
old and new describing the reign of the White Rajahs in a small riverside town, and set out to pacify his new
great detail. What follows is a brief summary. kingdom, with the help of the Briish Navy. By the ime
of his death in 1868, Sarawak was a relaively peaceful
At the beginning of the 19th century, Sarawak was a territory covering the area between Tanjung Datu (now
typical Malay principality, under the control of the Sultan the Indonesian border) and Kuching.
2
ethnic groups. As well occasional piracy on the
as Bidayuhs (formerly coast and headhuning
known as Land Dayaks) in the interior, Sarawak
and Ibans (Sea Dayaks), was peaceful. All of this
you are sure to encounter changed when the Sultan
Melanaus from the Brunei appointed
of
central coastal areas a hugely unpopular
and Orang Ulu (literally Governor. The Malays
“upriver people”), the and Bidayuhs of the
collecive name given to Sarawak River revolted
the smaller indigenous in 1836 and declared
socieies, including independence. An ugly
Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, guerrilla war ensued, which coninued unil 1839, when
Berawan, Lun Bawang, James Brooke, a young, wealthy Englishman arrived on
Penan, etc. All are thoroughly modern Malaysians
the scene in his well-armed yacht, the Royalist.
nowadays, but many rural people sill live in village or
longhouse communiies. Brooke set himself up as a freelance adventurer and
History - The White Rajahs the Sultan’s uncle immediately asked him to help put
down the rebellion. The spears and muskets of the
rebels were no match for the Royalist’s cannon. As a
Kuching’s history is also Sarawak’s - the kind of
adventure story that would be unbelievable if it were reward, the grateful Sultan made Brooke the Rajah of
not true. Local bookshops are crammed with volumes Sarawak in 1841. Brooke was not content to rule over
old and new describing the reign of the White Rajahs in a small riverside town, and set out to pacify his new
great detail. What follows is a brief summary. kingdom, with the help of the Briish Navy. By the ime
of his death in 1868, Sarawak was a relaively peaceful
At the beginning of the 19th century, Sarawak was a territory covering the area between Tanjung Datu (now
typical Malay principality, under the control of the Sultan the Indonesian border) and Kuching.
2
