Today, with its oil production plus timber, pepper and rubber, Sarawak is of economic importance to the nation. For the visitor , Sarawak’s interest is in is in its diversity of Dayak tribes and its areas of untouched jungle.
Many of the tribes up the major rivers of Sarawak ( the Rejang, Balleh, Belaga, Balui, Baram and Skrang) live in longhouses.
Sarawak came under the loose control of the sultanate of Brunei for the for the 15th century but it was only with the first arrival of Sir James Brooke, the first of the “White Rajahs” that it became a separate political region.
When James Brooke arrived in1839, Sarawak was in state of rebellion after the Bidayuh and Malays of the Sarawak River had revolted against Prince Makota, the appointee of the Brunei sultanate.
The Sultan sent his uncle, Raja Muda Hussim, to put down the revolt, which he eventually managed to do with the assistance of James Brooke and his well-armed ship, the Royalist who had served in the East Region. Brooke, who had served in the East India Company arm y had set sail on a voyage of discovery, funded by his substantial inheritance.
As a reward for his services to the sultanate , he was installed as Rajah of Sarawak in Kuching.
When James Brooke died in 1868, he was succeeded by his nephew, Charles Brooke. Through a policy of divide and rule amongst the local tribes, and sometimes ruthless punishment of those who opposed him, he extended his kingdom under his long reign until his death in 1917.
During the first day at Kuching, I went firstly to Sarawak Museum which is considered one of the best in Asia.
Thereafter, I went to the shop to buy souvenirs of the tribes cited. I am reminded of the river to traverse to reach the commercial area.
Thank you Lord for allowing the visit to the place.
