In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins
– Ulysses S. Grant, American military officer and 18th president of USA
After the three failed Brooke expeditions, Rentap became more dictatorial and assumed he was invincible.
In September 1861, Charles was more determined than ever to bring down Rentap who claimed he was the ‘Raja Ulu’ — King of the Interior.
Charles had the upper hand because a year earlier, two of Rentap’s old allies Haji Abdul Gapur and Sharif Mashor had been banished from Sarawak. Haji Gapur and Mashor, the Governor of Sarikei, had masterminded the assassination of Charles Fox and Henry Steele on June 7, 1859 in Kanowit.
Another factor in his favour was that Charles Saribas chieftain Orang Kaya Pemanca (OKP) Dana Bayang’s had died.
Dana was considered as one of the most famous leaders in Iban history. Rajah James Brooke described Dana as the “most dreaded Saribas pirate, the man who commanded the marauding fleets” (Pringle, 1970; 561).
It was Dana, who had once boasted that he would not rest until he had obtained James Brooke’s head.
Brooke wrote in his journal entry on July 1, 1842, the following: “At Sarawak (Proper), I found most alarming reports of an intended invasion from the united forces of Saribas and Skrang, and received moreover, the agreeable information that Bayang (Dana), one of the leading men of the former river, had suspended a basket on a high tree, ready to receive my head when he returned in triumph from the conquest of my country.
“I cared little for these idle threats, though I did not neglect taking the necessary precautions.” (Pringle, 1970; 72).
Before the arrival of the Brookes, Dana was one of 16 Iban leaders who were accorded titles such as Orang Kaya, Orang Kaya Pemancha, Orang Kaya Panglima and Orang Kaya Temenggong by the Sultan of Brunei for being loyal to his government.
Many years later, after the defeat of Rentap, one of Dana’s sons, Nanang, was bestowed the Orang Kaya Pemancha title by the second Rajah of Sarawak, Charles.
Dana became famous in the early 1800s when he raided a Selakau village at Tanjung Datu (Cape Datu) which is now on the border of Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
Following Admiral Henry Keppel’s expedition against the Batang Saribas in 1844, Dana’s power was finally broken.
A year later, Dana and Linggir surrendered to the Brooke government at a special meeting at Tanjung Sabuloh in the lower Saribas River.
Rajah James wrote: “The Orang Kaya Pomancha of Sarebas is now with me — the dreaded and brave, as he is termed by the natives.
“He is small, plain looking and old, with his left hand disabled and his body scarred with spear wounds. I do not dislike the look of him, and of all the chiefs of that river, I believe he is the most honest, and steers his course straight enough.” (Mundy, 1848; II, 75).
Dana ‘Bayang’, who had six sons, died of smallpox in 1854. Four of Dana’s children —Nanang, Saji, Luyoh and Buda — were prominent in Saribas affairs.
Saji had boasted of immortality because he owned a ‘kebal’ (amulet) which protected him as no sharp instrument, sword, spear or bullet, could penetrate his skin; he can only be killed by a silver bullet.
After Saji’s demise, two of his brothers, Nanang and Luyoh, joined Rentap and built their longhouse just outside his fortress.
On the final expedition against Rentap at Bukit Sadok, Charles brought along a secret weapon — a 12-pound brass cannon called ‘Bujang Sadok’ which had been forged in Kuching.
The massive cannon, which weighed 840lbs, had to be hauled up over muddy track in stages — initially by 500 warriors followed then by 60 Chinese artisans and African soldiers over the steep mountainside by slings.
On October 16, Charles and his commander Abang Aing prepared for battle as they arrived at the foot of Bukit Sadok with several thousand warriors.
The following day a ‘baum’ gathering Iban chiefs with Charles was held to discuss a peace deal with Nanang and Luyoh who wanted to leave Rentap.
Days later, Nanang went downhill with nine of his warriors to “meet the Rajah’s nephew (Charles) to confer on the conditions of their surrender.” (SMJ, Special Monograph No. 7, 1994; 193)
In the early afternoon of October 25, Nanang and Luyoh with his followers evacuated their longhouses while the women and children moved down to a safe place.
Said Charles: “A fine handsome man clad in ‘cawat’ (loincloth), a long flowing garment and long sword dangling by his side, Luyoh looked anything but a conquered man; nevertheless, his manner was respectful and upright.”
Before the start of the battle, Rentap had a change of heart and sent word to Charles he wanted to discuss a compromise.
Charles agreed on condition Rentap paid a fine of 12 Rusa jars, demolish the fort and abandon Sadok if ‘Grandfather Rentap’ (Aki’ Rentap) was serious about his intentions.
Charles then sent two former Rentap warriors to the fort at the summit to invite him for talks at the Tuan Muda’s camp.
“The two men had formerly been his ‘fighting cocks’ (manok sabong) but now had been on friendly terms with us for four years. They informed me he (Rentap) was very surly and scarcely spoke a word. While in his presence they felt most anxious, fearing he would close his doors and hold them as hostages.
“They told him there was a gun coming up which was large enough to knock him to pieces. This he would not believe at all and said he was perfectly aware of the ‘akal’ (cunning) of the white men, as they had attacked him often before and failed.
“This was enough from Rentap and the two men declared they would not go near his place in a friendly capacity as his pathway was so narrow and approach so small, that they might be murdered and thrown off the precipice without anyone being the wiser.” (Brooke II 1866; 142-143)
One factor against Rentap was that he had committed a ‘pemali’ or ritual prohibition by discarding his old wife and marrying a girl old enough to be his grandchild.
Charles realised that the chieftain was losing ground because he had become a despot and couldn’t care for the taboos.
Rentap, who was in his 70s, had taken new wife, a young ‘anak Umbong’ — a fair maiden kept secluded in the longhouse attic and from sunlight until she was of marriageable age — named Berinjan.
Charles noted: “The old fellow had lately married a second wife whom he fetched from far down the river, among many people who were particularly averse to the match; however, the lady ran off with him at night and mounted his eyrie unmolested by her own party; the old wife was discarded and the young one became the Ranee of Sadok.”
After acquiring his first head, Rentap married Sawai and lived in Skrang. When they failed to have any children, they adopted a daughter named Tambong, who was raised by Sawai while Libau often went on his headhunting excursions.
During the late 1830s, the Saribas and Skrang Ibans began to launch joint raids against the Land Dayaks (Bidayuh) and Chinese living in the Sambas-Pontianak region (namely the Montrado, Sambas, Mempawah and Sungei Raya districts in Dutch Borneo’s western province) bordering Sarawak.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
