Chapter V: Rentap (2)

Thus ended the first expedition against Sadok. It had done something, though no serious damage, but it exalted the confidence of Rentap in the impregnability of his stronghold. Practically it had been a failure, and so it was felt to be among Malays and Dayaks generally. The unrest in the country became more accentuated, and the daring of the Saribas increased.

In April, 1858, the Tuan Muda says:

I had for many months been tormented by the affairs in Saribas,
which had been for generations the hotbed of head-hunters and piracy
in every shape. The people were becoming more audacious, and I found
it had been to no purpose holding communication with even the
Malays, who, a few days ago, refused to receive a letter, and
declared they intended shortly to ascend the river and live with the
Dayaks, and eat pork as they did. It was evident that a crisis was
approaching which would require resolute action, or our _prestige_
would be injured in this quarter. This we could by no means afford
to lose, as stoppage of all trade and communication on the coast
would inevitably ensue.

A fleet of forty Saribas pirates' vessels was known to be ready to descend the river for a foray on the coast under Saji and another notorious Dayak chief, Lintong;[202] and was only detained till the boat of the former was ready at Paku, forty miles from the mouth. No time was to be lost to prevent this force from reaching the sea, and the Tuan Muda sent to Kuching for aid. Meantime he manned his big boat with sixty men, and a 3-pounder was placed in her bows. Thus equipped, he sped to Lingga, where he fortunately found the small gunboat schooner, the _Jolly Bachelor_, commanded by John Channon.[203] He now started up the Saribas river with a picked crew, and with numerous native boats following. The flotilla advanced as far as the mouth of the Padi river, on which was the village of Saji. Here they anchored, and a 6-pounder gun was pointed up the Saribas in case the enemy's forty war-boats should come down. Thence a party was detailed inland to attack Saji and his pestilent horde. This was done. The enemy was driven back with loss, and their houses destroyed. A more dreaded enemy than the Saribas now assailed the expedition, and that was cholera. In consternation the force began to break up and return home. The Tuan Muda resolved on constructing a fort and establishing a government on the river, and for that purpose retired down to Betong, a site he had selected as most suitable for a station.

Whilst engaged in collecting materials for the fort, the reinforcements from Kuching arrived under the charge of young Mr. J. B. Cruickshank,[204] but too late to be of any use. The cholera prevented any further action being taken; but the time was usefully spent in completing the fort. Leaving Cruickshank in charge, the Tuan Muda returned to Sekrang, and while there heard that the Saribas were again in motion for a coast raid, their destination being unknown.

This was led by the redoubtable Linggir again. The Tuan Muda at once sent orders for the Balau Dayaks to muster and intercept the force. The order was promptly carried out, and Linggir's bala was defeated with a loss of fourteen men, Linggir himself having another very narrow escape. But other parties were out, and the Tuan Muda himself set forth for the Saribas to intercept some of these marauders. Here he was joined by Mr. Watson[205] on his way to take charge of the new fort—a welcome addition for the reinforcement of that establishment.

The Tuan Muda warned the Malay villagers at the mouth of the Saribas, who were restless and desirous of encouraging the pirates, that they would be held responsible should any pirate boats be suffered to pass, and then returned to Sekrang to hasten preparations for an ascent of the Saribas river with a large body of men to chastise the turbulent natives who, led by Saji, had attacked Betong fort on July 14, 1858, and to press on and again try conclusions with Rentap.

After some delay the Kuching force started, and reached the rendezvous at the mouth of the Saribas river, but the Tuan Muda had been delayed, waiting for his Dayaks, and it proceeded to Betong. The leading division was a force from Kuching under the Tuan Besar, who commanded this expedition. It passed on several days before the Tuan Muda with the main force arrived at Betong fort, but was soon overtaken. The river was found to have been purposely obstructed. Large trees standing low on the banks had been felled so as to fall across, and, where narrow, block the stream. And this had been done for several miles. They were not formed into a boom, but left to lie where they fell. This is a favourite plan of the Dayaks for hindering the progress of an enemy up stream. Moreover, by cutting trees inclining to the river nearly through to the breaking point, and then sustaining them by means of rattans, they can in a moment sever these strings and let the trees fall on and crush the leading boats. Some thirty-five years ago, a Dutch gunboat whilst steaming up the Kapuas river was sunk in this manner, and her crew slaughtered.

Notwithstanding the obstructions, the flotilla advanced, and the enemy retired up stream. During five days' hard rowing, it progressed till it reached Pengirit, just below the Langit river, and here the vanguard fell in with the enemy under Saji. Saji gallantly attacked, and met the fate he so richly deserved. "Saji's name and acts had been in my ears for years past," wrote the Tuan Muda. "Many a bloody deed had been perpetrated, and he always had boasted that the White Men's powder and shot would take no effect on his body." So fell one of the most cruel and treacherous head-hunters of those days.

At the mouth of the Langit river a stockade was erected. Here on a clear night the moon was eclipsed. The Tuan Muda had seen by his almanack that this would occur, and had announced to the host that it would take place. If this had not been done a panic would have ensued, and the natives would have insisted on leaving; but as it was, they conceived that the phenomenon had been ordered by the white chief, to strike terror into the hearts of their foes, as also to encourage them; they were accordingly in good heart to advance.

They pushed on readily enough to Nanga Tiga,[206] the junction of three rivers, one flowing from Sadok, one from the watershed where rises the Kanowit river, and the third the main Saribas. Here the boats were to be left, and a stout stockade was erected. Thence preparations were made to advance up-country towards the Rejang. The Tuan Muda, with whom went Cruickshank, was in command and led the van. Messrs. Steele and Fox[207] were to take charge of the rear division. The whole party comprised 200 Malays and 2000 Dayaks.

From Nanga Tiga this party made for the head-waters of the Kajulau, to lay waste the territory of the troublesome natives there. It may seem, and it does seem at first sight, and to such as are not acquainted with native warfare, a barbarous process to burn villages and destroy the padi-fields with the crops on which the natives subsist. But, as already said, it is the only way in which these savages can be brought to submission. The women indeed suffer, but then they are the principal instigators of all the attacks on inoffensive tribes. They rather than the men were greedy after heads, and scoff at their husbands or sweethearts as milksops if they remain at home, and do not go forth to massacre and plunder. In fact, the destruction of their homes strikes the women to the heart, and turns them into advocates of peace. Among the Dayaks the women are a predominant power. The Dayaks are as woman-ridden and as henpecked as are Englishmen. Moreover, the destruction of native buildings is a more merciful proceeding than the slaying of a number of men in battle.

After the return of this ravaging party, which had done a circuit of thirty miles, a day was given to rest, and then the main body prepared to march to Sadok; and this time the expedition was furnished with a mortar that was expected to bring down Rentap's fortification. It was a six-pounder and only a few inches long, and was carried by Dayaks slung in a network of rattans.

Without opposition the host approached the fort of Sadok.

We met with no obstacles in mounting to the summit, which we reached
at a little past ten in the morning. Rentap's party were within his
wooden walls, and not a living being could be seen. Our force set to
collect wood, and within an hour a small stockade was erected, in
which our mortar was arranged; it was mounted within easy firing
distance of the enemy's fortress, and, under the superintendence of
Mr. John Channon, the firing commenced. The shells were thrown with
great precision, often lodging under the roof of the enemy's fort;
at other times bursting over it, and more than once, we heard them
burst in the middle inside. Not a word was spoken by them, and some
were under the impression that the place was deserted, when the
tapping of the old gong would recommence as blithe as ever. Fifty
rounds of shell were fired, besides hollow ones with full charges of
powder, all of which appeared to take no more effect than if we were
pitching pebbles at them. None of our party yet dared venture too
near, but some of the most energetic pushed on to another stockade,
within a few fathoms of the fort, when the enemy commenced firing,
but the shot did not penetrate the wood. Our young Dayaks advanced,
and two were immediately knocked over and others wounded. Other
parties also advanced, and an active scene ensued; some reached the
planking of the fortress, sheltering their heads with their shields,
showers of stones were thrown from the inside, and spears were
jabbed from a platform above. There was such a commotion for a few
minutes, that I made certain our party were effecting an entrance,
and, for the purpose of supporting them, I rushed out of our
stockade, followed by a few, but had not passed on over more than
four or five feet, before the enemy fired grape, wounding a fine
young Dayak behind me, whom I had just time enough to save from
falling down the precipice by seizing him by the hair, and passing
him on to others behind the stockade. My brother and I advanced a
few steps, but found our following was too inadequate for storming,
and many were already retreating. Volleys of stones were flying
round our heads, and as we retired again behind the stockade another
charge of grape poured into the wood now at our backs. The chiefs
had congregated to beg us to desist from making any further advance,
and I must admit that we only risked our lives needlessly. The
natives wisely observed, "We cannot pull these planks down with our
hands, we cannot climb over them, and our arms make no impression on
the enemy."

It was therefore resolved to abandon the attack. The retreat was begun at once, Rentap's followers shouting after the party the mocking words, 'Bring all your fire-guns from England, we are not afraid of you,' and discharging shot and spears and poisoned arrows. The enemy, yelling in triumph, threatened the assailants as they retired down the hill, but kept at a decent distance or hid behind cover for fear of the firearms.

Thus ended the second attempt on Sadok, again a failure. The mortar had not answered its purpose, nothing but a cannon could effect a breach in the solid palisading of the fortress. This venture was made in 1858, and no further attack on Sadok was attempted till 1861. There were other grave matters to engage the attention of the Rajah and his nephews, and although the upper Saribas were continuously troublesome, and had to be checked and reprisals made for their onslaughts on the peaceable Dayaks, for three years no attempt could be undertaken to dislodge Rentap.

But in 1861, it was resolved finally to assault and humble him. Meanwhile a good many of Rentap's followers had deserted him, and he was no longer popular. His violence and wilfulness had alienated many, and more had come to see that under the Sarawak Government the Dayaks who submitted were contented and flourishing. He had moreover offended their prejudices. He had descended from his eyrie, carried off a girl, discarded his old wife, and elevated the young one to be Ranee of Sadok. This was a grave violation of Dayak custom, and was resented accordingly.

On September 16, 1861, an expedition under the command of the Tuan Muda was ready to start up the Saribas river to dislodge Rentap. According to the received axiom, a third time is lucky, and on this occasion success was achieved.

The new expedition was to be better furnished than had been those which preceded it, and was to take with it rockets, a 12-pounder gun, and a 6-pounder; a working party of twenty Chinamen to make roads and throw up earthworks, a force of Sidi boys or negroes, daring fellows, ready to storm the stockade, and numerous Malays and Dayaks. On October 20, the expedition reached Nanga Tiga, the old position in 1858, and there once more the boats were left, a stockade erected, and the 6-pounder mounted in it. The land party then advanced over the same ground as before, the guides leading the way, followed by the Chinese and the Sidi boys; the Europeans being placed in the centre. Rain came down in torrents, as on the former occasion, and a difficulty ensued in getting the Chinamen to keep the powder dry.

On the 25th, the foot of Sadok was reached, whereupon two chiefs, the brothers Loyoh and Nanang, came in and made their submission, but this was accepted only after the payment of a fine of forty rusa jars worth £400, which were to be retained for three years, and then returned to the tribe, or their chiefs, should they remain loyal; and eventually they were restored. Rentap got wind of this, and sent out a party who set fire to Nanang's house, which was close to his on Sadok.

The gun was slung on a long pole, and sixty men were detailed to convey it up the mountain, but this could be effected by the means of ropes alone. No opposition was offered by Rentap, although four hours were consumed in transporting the gun to the summit. At 4.30 A.M. of the 28th, it was in position, but as a dense mist had rolled down enveloping the mountain top, nothing could be done with the gun till 7.30, when the mist had cleared away; and then such a raging wind was blowing, that the rockets could not be used. The gun was discharged, but, after the seventeenth round, the carriage gave way; however, it had effected the purpose for which it had been brought up, by tearing gaps in the stockade of Rentap's fortress, and now, under cover of a volley of musketry, the storming party rushed over the neck of rock, and dashed in at the gaps that had been made. They found the fortress deserted by all but the dead and dying. Rentap, perceiving that it was no longer tenable, had fled with his men down the opposite end of the mountain. In the fortress were found the arms captured when he fought with Brereton and Lee, in 1853, and a large quantity of ammunition, which had been supplied by Sherip Masahor; also, amongst others, a brass cannon taken from a gunboat belonging to the Sultan of Pontianak that had been captured by Rentap in 1837 off Mempawa, in sight of her consort, a Dutch gunboat. In the afternoon of the same day, fuel was heaped about the stockade and long houses; a gun was fired, and in ten minutes a column of fire mounted and was carried in blazing streamers before the wind. As the darkness settled down, the summit of Sadok was glowing and shooting up tongues of flame like a volcano, visible for miles around, and proclaiming unmistakably the end of Rentap's domination as Rajah of the interior.

Rentap will not be noticed again. Broken, and deserted by all, he retired to the Entabai branch of the Kanowit, where he died some years later.

ON THE WAR-PATH]

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Footnote 187:

This is now the established title of the second sons of the Rajahs.

Footnote 188:

Now the Right Hon. Sir John Dalrymple Hay, Bart., P.C.

Footnote 189:

Pangiran Matali (Muhammad Ali) was a brave man, honest and faithful.
He was a Government chief and magistrate, and his death, a few years
ago, was felt as a severe loss. He had a very thorough knowledge of
the Dayaks, and was a capable man in handling them. He was a prince by
birth of the royal blood of Bruni. He stands out as an example of what
such princes were capable of becoming under a just government.

Footnote 190:

Abang Aing was the head Government chief and native magistrate at
Sekrang, a post he held with distinction, noted for his fair and
impartial judgments, till his death, which took place in December,
1884. He and Pangiran Matali were the present Rajah's main supporters
and most trusted servants in the old troublesome days; and their names
stand foremost amongst those Malay chiefs who won an honourable place
in the annals of Sarawak for devotion to the cause of law and order.

Footnote 191:

S. St. John, in his _Life of Sir James Brooke_, says that Rentap took
Lee's head, but this was not the case.

Footnote 192:

Mr. C. Grant of Kilgraston, N.B., was a midshipman on the _Mæander_
when that ship brought the Rajah out from England. He became the
Rajah's private secretary in September, 1848. He retired in 1863.

Footnote 193:

These are titles of Sanskrit origin bestowed by the Sultan, the
meanings of which are somewhat obscure. The first probably means "the
revered Lord"; the third "high in eminence"; as regards the second,
Pelawan may mean the name of a place, otherwise it is untranslatable.

Footnote 194:

Apai = the father of.

Footnote 195:

As in the case of Mr. Lee, little has been recorded of Mr. H. Steele.
He did good service at the battle of Beting Maru, and probably joined
in 1848. He was selected by the Rajah to take charge of the fort at
Kanowit when it was built, and there he was murdered in 1859. He was a
noted linguist.

Footnote 196:

Brass cannon of Malay manufacture.

Footnote 197:

Seman was a Kalaka Malay living in Kuching, and had been made a
penglima by the Rajah for his courage and dash. His name still
survives in Kampong Penglima Seman—the village, or parish, of Penglima
Seman, within the township of Kuching.

Footnote 198:

The brutal and disgusting behaviour of the women on the arrival of a
fresh "trophy," to one who has witnessed it, would choke off any pity
for them.

Footnote 199:

These articles and other valuables, though a bitter loss, can be
replaced. But the destruction of their homes, rice-stores and standing
crops, household goods, cooking utensils and clothing, pigs, poultry,
and hunting dogs, boats and paddles, and farming implements are losses
that it takes two years to regain, and which reduces them for the time
to a condition of beggary.

Footnote 200:

Sauh Besi, a powerfully built Malay.

Footnote 201:

Sandom was the guide. He was a plucky Sekrang Dayak, and thirsted for
Rentap's blood in revenge for the murder of his brother, who had been
put to a cruel death by Rentap.

Footnote 202:

His _nom de guerre_, or _ensumbar_ in Dayak, was Mua-ari, literally
the Face of the Day. He was sometimes foe and sometimes friend, and
will be mentioned again. The _ensumbar_ is frequently, not always,
given to or adopted by warriors who have in some way or another gained
renown. Some writers have confused it with the _julok_, or nickname,
which refers to some bodily defect or peculiarity, and with names
given to children at birth, such as Tedong, the cobra; Bulan, the
moon; Matahari, the sun; Besi, iron. Malays are sometimes given a _nom
de guerre_, such as Sauh Besi, above mentioned, and Sherip Sahap was
known as Bujang Brani, the Brave Bachelor, which is also a Dayak
_ensumbar_; others are the White Hawk, the Hovering Hawk, the Torrent
of Blood, etc. The totem is unknown amongst the Sea-Dayaks.

Footnote 203:

John Channon, a merchant seaman, served the Government for many years.
Of him the Tuan Muda wrote in 1859: "John had been my companion for
many dreary months in the hot cabin of his vessel. He had charge of
the _Jolly_ for years, and many a creek and dangerous cranny had she
become acquainted with in our expeditions. His valuable services, as
well as steady and brave conduct, both on board and in the jungles,
cannot be too highly praised in the annals of Sarawak."

Footnote 204:

James Brooke Cruickshank, a godson of the Rajah. He joined in
February, 1856, when about fifteen years of age; and at this time was
stationed in the Sadong. He served for many years in the Dayak
countries; and ultimately became Resident of the 3rd Division. He
retired in 1875, and died in 1894.

Footnote 205:

Mr. W. C. Watson joined October, 1857, and resigned in 1869.

Footnote 206:

Nanga = the mouth of a river in Sea-Dayak; tiga = three.

Footnote 207:

Mr. C. Fox came to Sarawak from India in 1851, as master of the
Mission School; he shortly afterwards joined the Rajah.

GOVERNMENT STATION, BAU (Gray's ridge).]