The Legend of NUNUK RAGANG
This is the place once stood a giant Nunuk Ragang, now replaced with a faux giant concrete tree for remembrance.
Locally, the unwritten history of the Kadazan/Dusuns has been orally transmitted from generation to generation in legendary tales. A lucky catch of this generation is the legend that the Kadazan/Dusuns originated from "Nunuk Ragang" which can roughly be located to-day at Tampias, where two rivers (Liwagu and Gelibang) meet to the East of Ranau and Tambunan. "Nunuk" is a Kadazan/Dusun word for a Banyan Tree. "Ragang" comes from the Kadazan/Dusun word "Aragang or Aagang" which means red. Nunuk look like giant mangroves with highly developed buttress stems with deep indentions that provide good natural shelters. The Nunuk Ragang or Red Banyan tree as told by the old folks, Widu Tambunan measured six out-stretched arms in circumference. Its canopy top was estimated to be able to shelter under its seven joined Kadazan/Dusuns' huts. ( A hut measures 12 by 20 feet).
Its numerous branches and giant thick foliage provided for ideal shelter and play-grounds of wild life, birds, insects and even spirits according to local beliefs. When the morning sun rose, the Nunuk Ragang settlers would climb to the branches of the Nunuk tree to bask in the sun and then enjoy plunging into the great cool river pool below. It was believed that the roots of the Nunuk tree produced red latex that gave the pool not only the reddish coloration but also its medicinal value. Thus the name Nunuk Ragang. In fact the Nunuk's latex is still used to treat rashes and other minor skin diseases.
The early Kadazan/Dusuns' community at Nunuk Ragang lived a carefree life, enjoying the abundant supply of food and other basic necessities from the richness of nature that surrounded them. The legend relates that the Chinese adventurers from Kinabatangan and Labuk areas had their first encounter with the Kadazan/Dusuns. This was followed up by the marriage of the daughter of the Kadazan/Dusun chief to one of the Chinese heroes, who were rich enough to afford the dowry of 7 huge jars plus copper and silver wares.
The population increased by leaps and bound. It became more difficult to get food from nearby. The river had considerably eroded its banks and the Nunuk Ragang began to bend lower and lower into the river pool. The Chief then instructed his men into expeditions to look for new suitable settlements. The Kadazan/Dusun migration movement thus began towards the west to Tambunan, Ranau, Penampang and towards the east to Labuk and beyond to where the Kadazan/Dusuns are found at present. River tributaries became the principal guides to the direction of travelling. The expeditions occurred in groups and therefore had multi-destinations. Each group formed their own long house for unity and strength against wild beasts and intrusions by other communal groupings. As they spread west wards the Kadazan/Dusuns met the Bruneis and other settlers of the West Coast. Barter trade occurred from which the Kadazan/Dusuns got their gongs, copper and silver girdles, necklaces and bangles from the Bruneis. Where the dispute over territorial matters occurred it often ended into inter-communal warfare with the use of "Gayangs" (long-head-hunting knives) and blowpipes with poisoned darts. Head-hunting worsened when groups join together to form larger group to attack another. The advent of the Bajaus referred to by the old folks as "Sama" under the famous Colonial Rebel, Mat Salleh further fanned, inter-communal head-hunting activities for Mat Salleh's men sided with some communal groups while plundering others. It was only during the advent of the British that head-hunting died down due to better peace and order condition. And according to old folk's story, British had taken Ibans warriors to Sabah to fight for Mat Salleh. After the Mat Salleh epoch, some of the ibans work for Timber Company here and married with locals and most of their descendant can be trace down somewhere in Labuk and Beluran.
The word "DUSUN" is a Brunei-Malay word for a mixed form usually identified with Dusun People - "Farmer". Later, the British adopted the word "DUSUN" to describe the people. Bruneian called the local tribe people as Dusun because most of them are farmers.
Some says that the word Kadazan was a late conception by the educated locals to liberate themselves from the word "Dusun" which was regarded as low class and primitive people, the late Tun Fuad Stephens coined the word to uplift the image of the locals in 1963. Especially because Penampang was one of the nearest Tamu Centre - "Open Market", besides being close to Towns (kakadazan). The first Tamu centre was situated in Inobong Penampang. The Bobolian or Bobohizan (priestesses) say that the meaning of "Kadazan" is Tuhun - in english 'the people'.. But according to the Kadazan folks in Penampang, they claimed that "Kadazan" exists even before their great-grand-mother was born. I also found a "Kadazan Dictionary and Grammar" book, which dated in 1958. The book has been compiled and printed in Australia and the first page i saw a picture of Kangaroo with a words of "A Gift From The Australian People Under The Colombo Plan". When i lifted to page 9, i saw this interesting statement by the writer as quoting:- " When i came to North Borneo in 1932 and was detailed to work amongst the Kadazan in Penampang and surrounding village", meaning to say, the Kadazan name does exist even before 1963 ( as claimed by some). Kadazan was the name of the local community in Penampang.
Same goes with the Dusuns in Tambunan, Ranau,Telupid, Beluran, Tuaran, Papar etc. They have been called Dusun all the while, but nobody knows that actually, they have their own Identity name.
Locally, the unwritten history of the Kadazan/Dusuns has been orally transmitted from generation to generation in legendary tales. A lucky catch of this generation is the legend that the Kadazan/Dusuns originated from "Nunuk Ragang" which can roughly be located to-day at Tampias, where two rivers (Liwagu and Gelibang) meet to the East of Ranau and Tambunan. "Nunuk" is a Kadazan/Dusun word for a Banyan Tree. "Ragang" comes from the Kadazan/Dusun word "Aragang or Aagang" which means red. Nunuk look like giant mangroves with highly developed buttress stems with deep indentions that provide good natural shelters. The Nunuk Ragang or Red Banyan tree as told by the old folks, Widu Tambunan measured six out-stretched arms in circumference. Its canopy top was estimated to be able to shelter under its seven joined Kadazan/Dusuns' huts. ( A hut measures 12 by 20 feet).
Its numerous branches and giant thick foliage provided for ideal shelter and play-grounds of wild life, birds, insects and even spirits according to local beliefs. When the morning sun rose, the Nunuk Ragang settlers would climb to the branches of the Nunuk tree to bask in the sun and then enjoy plunging into the great cool river pool below. It was believed that the roots of the Nunuk tree produced red latex that gave the pool not only the reddish coloration but also its medicinal value. Thus the name Nunuk Ragang. In fact the Nunuk's latex is still used to treat rashes and other minor skin diseases.
The early Kadazan/Dusuns' community at Nunuk Ragang lived a carefree life, enjoying the abundant supply of food and other basic necessities from the richness of nature that surrounded them. The legend relates that the Chinese adventurers from Kinabatangan and Labuk areas had their first encounter with the Kadazan/Dusuns. This was followed up by the marriage of the daughter of the Kadazan/Dusun chief to one of the Chinese heroes, who were rich enough to afford the dowry of 7 huge jars plus copper and silver wares.
The population increased by leaps and bound. It became more difficult to get food from nearby. The river had considerably eroded its banks and the Nunuk Ragang began to bend lower and lower into the river pool. The Chief then instructed his men into expeditions to look for new suitable settlements. The Kadazan/Dusun migration movement thus began towards the west to Tambunan, Ranau, Penampang and towards the east to Labuk and beyond to where the Kadazan/Dusuns are found at present. River tributaries became the principal guides to the direction of travelling. The expeditions occurred in groups and therefore had multi-destinations. Each group formed their own long house for unity and strength against wild beasts and intrusions by other communal groupings. As they spread west wards the Kadazan/Dusuns met the Bruneis and other settlers of the West Coast. Barter trade occurred from which the Kadazan/Dusuns got their gongs, copper and silver girdles, necklaces and bangles from the Bruneis. Where the dispute over territorial matters occurred it often ended into inter-communal warfare with the use of "Gayangs" (long-head-hunting knives) and blowpipes with poisoned darts. Head-hunting worsened when groups join together to form larger group to attack another. The advent of the Bajaus referred to by the old folks as "Sama" under the famous Colonial Rebel, Mat Salleh further fanned, inter-communal head-hunting activities for Mat Salleh's men sided with some communal groups while plundering others. It was only during the advent of the British that head-hunting died down due to better peace and order condition. And according to old folk's story, British had taken Ibans warriors to Sabah to fight for Mat Salleh. After the Mat Salleh epoch, some of the ibans work for Timber Company here and married with locals and most of their descendant can be trace down somewhere in Labuk and Beluran.
The word "DUSUN" is a Brunei-Malay word for a mixed form usually identified with Dusun People - "Farmer". Later, the British adopted the word "DUSUN" to describe the people. Bruneian called the local tribe people as Dusun because most of them are farmers.
Some says that the word Kadazan was a late conception by the educated locals to liberate themselves from the word "Dusun" which was regarded as low class and primitive people, the late Tun Fuad Stephens coined the word to uplift the image of the locals in 1963. Especially because Penampang was one of the nearest Tamu Centre - "Open Market", besides being close to Towns (kakadazan). The first Tamu centre was situated in Inobong Penampang. The Bobolian or Bobohizan (priestesses) say that the meaning of "Kadazan" is Tuhun - in english 'the people'.. But according to the Kadazan folks in Penampang, they claimed that "Kadazan" exists even before their great-grand-mother was born. I also found a "Kadazan Dictionary and Grammar" book, which dated in 1958. The book has been compiled and printed in Australia and the first page i saw a picture of Kangaroo with a words of "A Gift From The Australian People Under The Colombo Plan". When i lifted to page 9, i saw this interesting statement by the writer as quoting:- " When i came to North Borneo in 1932 and was detailed to work amongst the Kadazan in Penampang and surrounding village", meaning to say, the Kadazan name does exist even before 1963 ( as claimed by some). Kadazan was the name of the local community in Penampang.
Same goes with the Dusuns in Tambunan, Ranau,Telupid, Beluran, Tuaran, Papar etc. They have been called Dusun all the while, but nobody knows that actually, they have their own Identity name.
Read more on: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/7637/kadazanDusun.html
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