A TALE FROM THE PADAS RIVER (Tenom)

A TALE FROM THE PADAS RIVER  (Tenom) ( A Murut Folk Tale )

There was once o lonq house in Kampung Tatamuan beside the river Malalap. It was the tradition of the Murut people, that men had to hunt animals for food as a contribution to society.

There was a young hunter among them who went on a hunting trip with other villagers. He had to leave his family and his pregnant wife behind at the long house.

In those days, a hunting trip usually took many weeks, as they had to poach and wait, or very often penetrate far into the jungle.

During their absence, the village folk discovered a python on the bank of the river. They immediately killed it for food. The remains of the skin were used to make big and small drums.

It had been quite a while since the hunting group had left the village and there was still no sign of their return.

Out of boredom, the villagers decided to hold a feast. Feasting was very common amongst them and it was part of their tradition as well. They began to celebrate with meat from this huge python. They had plenty of food to eat and to share.

Usually light entertainment, such as dancing and singing were performed during such a celebration. This was accompanied by playing the drums which were made from the skin of the snake. However, the moment they hit the drums, the cats and dogs began to fight with each other. Even though they tried, but somehow, the villagers could not stop half way during the celebration. They decided to change to the other drums also made from the snake skin.

This time, the sound of the drums caused an evil sort of spell and the villagers started to fight amongst themselves. There was havoc and death and it was a very sad situation. Some of those who were fortunate enough to be alive, escaped the plundering by hiding in the jungle. It so happened that the young hunter's wife also escaped and a short time later gave birth to a child.

Eventually the hunting party returned and they were remorsely disappointed at such misfortune. They decided to go their separate ways and set up families elsewhere. The young hunter took his wife and child and left the village. After a short while, they arrived at a clearing near a river bank. All of a sudden the hunter's dog caught sight of a Tempadau (wild cow) and chased after it, closely followed by the hunter. By now the hunting dog had caught up with the Tempadau which was wading across the river. Suddenly there was a voice from the top of the hill admonishing them to stop their hunt.

The young man, already frustrated with what had happened back at the village, was in no mood for such a warning. He still followed his hunting dog. A bolt of lightning struck, followed by a thun 'en They have unknowingly trespassed onto holy ground and were immediately turned into stones.

Till today the young man is known as the Batu Balingoi. The Tempadau in the middle of the river is called the Batu Masokoh. The wife and child who followed behind are called the Batu Magibah.

This all happened along the Sungai Pagalan and the stones can still be found there in the river at Tenom.

Sabah Legends

This page is for folklore and legend enthusiasts. In Sabah, folklore and legends are normally passed down orally from one generation to the next.

This page includes legends from the various ethnic groups of Sabah. It is hoped that you will be entertained by these ancient folklore which at times are hard to come by.

• A Tale From The Padas River
• The Story Of The Sun
• The Crocodile Pool
• Bulan Garhana - Eclipse of the Moon
• The Old Man and The Ribong Trees

C.O.N.T.I.N.U.E

Continue of Sabah Traditional Handicraft

Linangoh Group

Linagoh group of woven baskets and trays are the Rungus' specialities. Made from a wild creeper known locally as 'siling kawang', these products come in different shapes, designs and sizes and suit a variety of household uses.

Most often the dried creepers are not treated with dyes so as to maintain the natural fine glossy finish.

Nyiru Group



Made from thin strips of Bemban stem, Nyiru, as the accompanying photographs show, are essentially shallow oblong or egg-shaped or round trays used as winnows for pady and other farm and household applications.
Rungus, a native indigenous group inhabiting the northern part of Sabah, are wellknown for their fine skills in producing these trays.
The patterns shown here are of Rungus origin. Several other indigenous groups in Sabah produce Nyiru of different patterns.
In modern homes, these items are used both  as utility trays and decorative items.

Bamboo & Rattan Group


Until recent years, bamboo and rattan were there for the taking, in abundance in the bushes and jungles of Sabah.
Before the advent of commercialism, the survival instincts of the indigenous people drove them into turning the readily available raw materials into a host of practical useful items for their huts, for work in the fields, fishing or hunting.
Today, these craftsmen are turning out an even wider range of bamboo or rattan and bamboo-rattan products such as the rattan ball for sepak takraw (a national sport), the lampit (floor mat), flower vases, fruit baskets, etc. The authenticity of these traditional craftsmen have not been com promised: they are still turning our genuinely handcrafted handicrafts.

Pandan / Mengkuang Group

Weaving is about the most common past-time of Sabah's rural womenfolk. Handicrafts classified under this group show the natives honed instincts of utilising available raw materials surrounding them.

Pandan or Screw-pine, is widely cultivated. Mengkuang is also a kind of screw-pine. Pandan has fine and short leaves, while Mengkuang leaves are long and broad. Their uses are similar.

With the help of home-made dyes and after painstaking, crude process of turning the green pandan leaves into flexible straws, they are woven into such item as hats, mats, handbags, baskets, food covers, etc.

Pandan is so flexible and easily workable that it allows an extremely wide range of household and decorative items to be produced with the deft fingers and the in-born memory patterns of Sabah natives.

Sabah Traditional Music & Musical Instruments

Traditional Tradition

To the Greeks music is the food of love. In Sabah, music is a vital part of nearly every social event at the village level. It symbolises the traditional harmony that exists among its inhabitants across the years. It is played during wedding celebrations, engagement parties, harvest festivals, first birthday of children, animistic religious ceremonies and other associated events of importance to the community.

Each ethnic group has its own distinct musical forms although several of the major instruments are common to all. Each piece of instrument is usually lovingly crafted, cut, shaped and tested. Distinction are often found in different combinations of instruments, varying dance styles, tempos and tunings. There are also certain instruments found only within the limits of an individual community and not shared with other communities.

Local instrumental music is often associated with dance. It also functions as background music during certain celebrations. Some instruments are commonly used by individuals for personal relaxation.

Oral Tradition

There is no traditional system for notating Sabah's traditional music, nor are the words for songs written down. All the music and songs are passed down by tradition from generation to generation. Both men and women perform, but certain instruments are traditionally associated with each sex. For instance, men generally play the large knobbed gongs and drums, while women play the kulintangan and the flat gongs.

Types of instruments

Most Sabah musical instruments are made from natural products. For example the tongLungon, turali, suling (or flute), sompoton and togunggak are made of bamboo. Others like the gambus, kompang and gendang are made of goat skin. The gongs and kulintangan are made of brass. The sundatang is made from a soft light wood and resembles an elongated guitar with three giman strings.The musical instruments in Sabah are classed according to chordophones (tonghungon, garnbus, sundatang or gagayan), aerophone (suling - flute, turali or tunhi - nose-flute, bunglau Jew's harp sompoton - mouth organ), idiophones (togunggak, gongs, kulintangan) and membranophone (kompang, gendang or tontog).

Source : Sabah's Heritage:A Brief Introduction to Sabah's History & History, Sabah Museum, Kota Kinabalu, 1992.

BUNGKAU (Free Aerophone)

This jaw's harp is made from the outer skin of a palm known as polod among the Dusun/Kadazan. A skilful hand is needed to fashion a good one. They are commonly made throughout Dusunic areas.

The lamella in the centre is made to vibrate by striking the end of the instrument with the thumb. The vibrating strip makes very little sound by itself, but if held before the opened mouth, the player can gently magnify the sound by resonance. A wide range of frequencies can be obtained by varying the shape of the mouth and the position of the tongue.

When not in use, it is usually encased in and attached to a bamboo tube to keep it clean and free from damage.

SOMPOTON (Erofon)

This mouth organ is the most fascinating of the Sabah native musical instruments. It is constructed from a dried gourd and eight bamboo pipes arranged in a doublelayered raft. One of the pipes has no sound, but merely balances the bundle. By blowing or sucking the gourd's mouth, the player can produced a soft sweet harmonious sound. A small lamella of polod palm (like tiny bungkau) is inserted in the side of each sounding pipe near its base. The pipes are fitted into a hole on one side of the gourd and sealed with bees wax. The lamellae lie inside the gourd and provide the sound of the completed instrument. The pipes are bound with thin strands of rattan.

While playing a sompoton, the player covers and uncovers the ends of three of the four shortest pipes with three fingers of his right hand and three small openings cut in the base of the front shortest pipe and front and back pipes of the longer raft with fingers of the left hand.

The sompoton can be played as a solo instrument for personal entertainment or in groups to accompany dancing. It is popular among the Dusun/Kadazan.

TOGUNGGAK' (Idiofon)

Known as tagunggak amongst the Murut, togunggak amongst lhe Dusun/Kadazan or 'togunggu' in Penampang, these struck bamboo idiophones are played in groups to accompany dancing or processions at festive occasions. One set comprises from six (togunggu') to thirty (tagunggak) pieces, depending on the ethnic group. The music resembles that of the set of gongs of the particular group, with each idiophone tuned according to the corresponding gong part it plays.

GONG (Idiofon)

Gongs form the backbone of most musical ensembles and are used for nearly every social event. The number of instruments played together varies from community to community. During a gong beating session, one or two drums are also played to accentuate the main rhythms.

The gongs are found in all parts of the state and are highly valued. They are also used as bridewealth, for animistic religious ceremonies, signaling and during harvest festivals.

Gongs are also recently made locally in Kudat by Rungus people. These have a shallow rim and small boss. Such gongs are made from galvanized iron sheets which are also purchased locally. The more popular gong with its thick walls, deep rim and large boss, is imported from the Philippines, Indonesia or Brunei.

KULINTANGAN (Idiofon)

This was first introduced into west Sabah by the Bruneis but it is also traditionally used by the Bajaus and some Dusun/Kadazan people. It is usually played on festive occasions, such as weddings and religious ceremonies, where it is often accompanied by other traditional gongs.

The instrument consists of a set of about eight to nine small brass kettle gongs. Each sounds a different pitch when struck. The gongs are arranged horizontally in a row on a low wooden bed-like frame. The player sits down on the floor in front of the gongs and beats them with two small wooden mallets.

Source : An Introduction to The Traditional Musical Instruments of Sabah, Sabah State Muzium, Kota Kinabalu.1992.

Sabah Traditional Costumes

The people of Sabah comprises several ethnic groups. Among them are the Kadazandusun, Bajau, Murut, Kedaya, Bisaya, Irranun, Rungus, Kimarang, Kwijau, Lundayeh, Ubian, Binadan, Orang Sungai, Tatana, Tagaas, Brunei, Suluk and others.

The most notable difference among the various ethnic groups are their dialects, religions, customs, and way of life which includes their traditional costumes.

The use of traditional costumes can be seen from two periods of time, that is the classical and modern periods. In the classical period, traditional costumes were worn during rituals, weddings as well as daily wear. In modern times, traditional costumes are only worn at special occasions like weddings and traditional functions.

Most ethnic groups in Sabah use black as the dominant colour of their traditional costumes. The use of black stems from the belief that black is a godly colour and represents power that will protect the user from the bad spirits. Other beliefs state that the use of black is synonymous with the way of life and natural conditions at that particular time.

In the past, red gemstones, coloured glass beads, cowry shells, white buttons or disks made from shells and bronze were used to adorn the men and women’s clothes. Today most of these ornaments have been replaced with plastic beads and other more modern materials like gold and silver threads, sequins and coloured threads. As of old, these ornaments are still worn with belts made from various materials like shells, silver glass coins, bronze or other types of alloys. A waist cloth made of coloured rattan is used to tighten up the robe, pants, or vest. Necklace made from various materials are used as decoration around the neck and chest. Bracelets are also used to adorn the hands, wrists and feet.

Traditional hats/headgear or scarves are normally used by the men and women as protection from the heat as well as to absorb perspiration. The headgear used during official functions are more beautiful and colourful. The ritual specialists wear headcovers and garments which are decorated differently when they are performing traditional functions. Today, the men still use the headgear (sigah) as part of their daily attire. The sigah is a square piece of cloth folded into different shapes according to the district the person is from. The women use beads, combs, scarves and traditional hats based on the occasion or functions held.

                   Bisaya Traditional Costume                      

                                      

Lundayeh Traditional Costume

Brunei Traditional Costume

Irranun Traditional Costume

Kokos Traditional Costume

Suluk Traditional Costume

FESTIVAL AT SABAH- KALIMARAN FEST

The Kalimaran Festival celebrated by the Murut tribes of Sabah is a festival to honor the Murut traditions. Talking to the local people, I was made to understand that Kalimaran, otherwise known as Pesta Kalimaran is akin to the Kaamatan Festival. The difference is the date it is celebrated and of course, the tribes involved. The celebration is held in the Murut Cultural Village in Tenom on 2nd to 4th April 2010, and it is a grand affair with the involvement of the entire Murut population in Tenom.
You might be surprised to hear that not many people in Kota Kinabalu and other parts of Sabah are familiar with Kalimaran. Truth be told, this was the first time I was really aware of it. The reason being this is festival was only highlighted on the Sabah festival calender recently, and is only the 8th annual Kalimaran.
The festival highlights the various sub-ethnic groups that make up the Murut population, their traditional handicrafts and their traditions, such as marriage ceremony, and other folk-lore. Handicrafts that are very popular with the native tribes of Sabah are beads, and the motifs that are found on the various costumes. Also on display are artifacts that are past down from generations, such as jars and urns which are used gifts, and weaponry of the Murut.
You will also have the opportunity to partake the local food and local brew, such as Tuak, a wine made of fermented rice, which comes in a huge jar and is drunk through a bamboo reed directly from the jar. I have had many occasions to sample the local wine and thoroughly enjoyed it. The style of drinking takes some getting used to, but the taste of that potent brew is quite pleasant.

Murut maidens from Kalimaran 2009

 

Kalimaran Festival Tenom 2009

Murut folklore

The photograph above depicts the folklore of the man who turned into stone. The story was recounted by a friend of mine who attended the 2009 Kalimaran. The legend was told to him by the grandchildren of the man himself. If the stone and the legend was shown in the Kalimaran festival, it would suggest that the story is well-known and widely accepted. The size of the stone was about the size of a soccer ball.
If you are interested in local native traditions, a visit to Tenom during Kalimaran is well worth the three hour drive. It also makes for an incredible photography opportunity. You are encouraged to take photographs, and the people involved will happily pose for you. It is colorful, different and the Murut girls are beautiful.

HANDYCRAFT

Function
Crafts among the indigenous people of Sabah began in their efforts to shade / shelter, clothe and feed the best way they can. They produce a wide range of items which are mainly produced for functional and less decorative. Things that are produced include home appliances, agriculture and hunting as well as objects for use in rituals and religious ceremonies. Their handcrafts on environmental resources and needs in terms of culture.
Diversity
Crafts produced by peoples of various cultures in the various districts is wide variation. For example, coastal population relying on the sea have created different from those of the interior are still practicing cultivation of hill rice or rice and hunting and river fishing. Differences also exist between the material culture of the population utilizing wet rice and hill rice. The difference not only to spare utilitarian but also ritual objects, musical instruments and the characteristics of material culture.

Material
The availability of local materials also influence the types of handcrafts. In the Tambunan District, for example the use of bamboo for making household utensils, baskets, houses (including roofs), fences and wide among the Dusun / Kadazan of Tambunan. In addition, the bitter gourd in Tambunan has this as a production sompoton, a mouth organ traded among the Dusun, although it has also been in other places. Cane is a more resistant material is used extensively for hat making, baskets, wall decorations and for binding wood or bamboo. Materials to make traditional clothing are also derived from local plants, including bark, cotton or fibers derived from pineapple, banana or coconut.
Craft type
Men and women traditionally make all kinds of crafts. In the interior, women are largely responsible for hat making, mat weaving, cloth weaving, embroidery, small baskets, nyiru and small objects for everyday use. While men make larger baskets, machetes, plowing and hunting, fishing nets and other fishing equipment and weapons. Among coastal fishing communities, men in the boat, wood carving, fishing devices, and women weave and embroider cloth, weave mats and others.

Trade Goods
Things that are made in the past is only for domestic usage and the basic pattern reflects the things the original function. Revenue is sometimes sold in the guest to other commodities. In this way, goods imported merchandise, such as jars, beads, bronze objects, bronze gongs and handicrafts produced by coastal residents brought into the interior of the island of Borneo. With relations with the outside world increased, a material that is rarely found replaced by things that are cheaper imported in the production of traditional. Thus, the glass beads are rare has been replaced by cheaper plastic beads in the production of beads and decorative clothing. Cheap imports of cotton yarn is used in embroidery and weaving. Cotton and imported black velvet has been used as a substitute for traditional home-made cloth in costume.
Basket
One of the crafts are very much made in Sabah is a basket of these items are used by almost all ethnic groups. Forms and types of baskets depending on the functions and tradition of the people who make these things.
Artifacts of various kinds have now been adapted and produced for the tourist, although some of the artifacts are still made in the original.