"No one, except the Siang Lim people can 'dig' the gold with big profits in Mau San..." prophesised Lim Tou Chien,known for his kindness and leadership qualities.
Morning Scene at Sambas River Side,Kalimantan Barat
In the beginning of the 18th century, Hakka from southern Kwantung Province in China flocked to West Kalimantan,lured by the gold mines.
In 1777, the "Lan-fang United Regime" set up a self-governing body for the Chinese under the leadership of Low Fang-pak. Established in Pontianak, the ruling body extended its power to Sambas and worked closely with the Sultans and paid them tributes.
Around 1800, at the peak of its administration, in the district of Monterado alone, the Chinese gold-miners there estimated at 50,000 men.
In 1777, Low Fang-pak established a government in Kalimantan Barat ,using his company name,changing 'kongsi'(company) to republic,and formed "Lan Fang Republic" (兰芳大总制) which lasted 108 years witrh 10 presents.
Picture right: Low Fang-pak罗芳伯遗照
Intervention by the Dutch
In and after 1823, because of financial disputes, the regime was fragmented by the Dutch, who, for their own selfish aims, also provoked the friendly Malay Sultans to shun the Chinese. So clashes between the Chinese gold-miners on one side and the Sultan of Sambas backed by the Dutch on the other began. At one time, the Chinese captured the forts of the Dutch at the mouth of Sambas River and drove the Dutch troops to their steamers.
This, of course, roused the Dutch and in consequence, a strong and well-equipped fleet was sent from Jave, which within a year subdued the Chinese, who, in fact, submitted with little resistance. In the end, the vanquished fled to Sarawak, then part of the massive Brunei sultanate. They paddled up the Sambas River to Siding, crossed the border, walked through the jungles of Gumbang and Pangkalan Tebang and paddled again following the Sarawak Kanan River to Bau or Mau San, as it was called later on by the Chinese gold-miners.
Kampong Gumbang鹿曼
These Chinese fugitives, in fact, settled dawn at Pangkalan Tebang or Xin Shan (新山) as it was named by the Chinese for quite sometime before they moved down to Mau San (帽山). Being experienced and skilful gold-miners, they soon found gold ore at the foot of Bukit Pelandok (Deer Hill) or Bukit Jemuis as locally called by the Dayaks. The gold-miners then constructed a "Shak Bong Ja" (石王爷) temple and an open-space for military training purposes by the side of the hill and then the hill was named "Bong Ja San" (Bong Ja Hill) after the Shak Bong Ja deity. As there was an abundance of gold to be found at Pangkalan Tebang and almost every one had fair success, the news soon spread ans as a result, hundreds of Chinese from Sambas flocked to the spot to find fortune.
Left: Bukit Pelandok (Bong Ya San ) Right: An old incense burner found at an open-space about half way of the side of Bong Ya San . Note that two of its three legs were broken. As the number of gold-miners increased, some went in search of other locations. Following the river, they moved north-westerly to a place where they called Mau San (hat-mountain) later on. At Mau San, there were share-holders on the mines operating under the name "12 Kongsi" (Company of 12). The share-holders were said to include Liew Shan Pang (刘善邦), Bong Kap(王甲), Chin Lik (陈立),Chin Kui (陈贵) and Lim Tou Chien (刘道乾).
Liew Shan Pang and the others died during the up-rising against Rajah Brooke in February 1875, But Lim Tou Chien and some of his men managed to escape into Dutch-occupied Kalimantan where they first came from.
Bukit Krian as locally called. Around 1830, Liew Shan Pang and his partners settled here and because the mountain looked like the shape of a hat ,they named the place as Hat-Mountain(Mau San: 帽山 ) Lim Tou Chien
Lim Tou Chien was one of the heads of "Sam-Tiam-Hueh (三点会)" or "Three-Point Society" stationed at Mau San. This secret society was a branch of the West Kalimantan-based triad known as the "Sam-Tiao Kiau Hueh (三条沟会)“. Being a leader, he had to travel between Sambas, Mau San and Marup, Engkilili where the " 15 Kongsi (十五份公司)”was, taking with him the latest development of the Hueh. As soon as the anti-Rajah movement by the 600 Chinese Kongsi men failed, Lim Tou Chien led about 2,500 Chinese, of whom above a half were women and children, back to Kalimantan. On the way to Gumbang, many Chinese perished as the Rajah's troops -- comprising mainly Ibans who came all the way from Batang Lupar -- attacked them from the thick under-growth.
At Siding, the miserable fugitives, reduced to 2,000, sat down and wept not only for the loss of friends and relatives and goods but also over having to relinqish their claim to Mau San.
The late Chin La(陈拉)，3rd from left, of Pangkalan Tebang, related the story of the then Chinese up-rising movement and in particular, the work of Lim Tou Chien after he and his men fled to Sungkung. Chin La travelled occasionally between Sambas, Pangkalan Tebang and Sungkung doing some trading business when he was at young age.
Bong Tze Ko(黄志高), centre, of Kota Sambas told us how he and his family lived far up-river of River Sambas. He was told by the natives from Sungkung that all natives living at Sungkung considered themselves "siang Lim"(姓林)。
Here, the discontent of those who had been forced to join the movement erupted, so that from words they soon came to blows, and the remaining 150 resolute Kongsi's men were reduced by another 40.
At this point, some argument arose. Some of the leaders insisted on retreating to Sambas where they could face the unfriendly Dutch officials either for good or bad while the others, led by Lim Tou Chien, decided to walk south-wards to Sungkung and from there, they could make preparations to return.
Sungkung (宋宫) ,as it was named by Lim Tou Chien, a mountainous region, in Kabupaten Sambas, Kalimantan Barat, consists of six dusuns, namely, Sungkung Luu, Sungkung Akit, Sukung Medeng, Sukung Senoleng, Sunkung Senebeh and Sungkung Daun. Panglima Tugiman was the native chief in the nineties. It takes at least 48 hours to walk from Sungkung to Gumbang or to Seluas and 18 hours to Padawan. Nowadays, the natives of Sungkung still comes to Pangkalan Tebang or Padawan for barter-trade. It is not suprising that Sungkung people use more Malaysian Ringgit than Indonesian Rupiah and futher more, at Sungkung, they follow Malaysian time.
Panglima Tugiman Panglima Tugiman, Indonesian Education officer and visitors from Bau, Sarawak
Lim Tou Chien at Sungkung
Legends and stories had it that Lim Tou Chien was a kind-hearted man who always cared about the welfare and interests not only of his Chinese-followers but also of the natives in Sungkung. After sometime, he became the community leader. Under his leadership, the living standard of the people there improved tremendously. However, Lim Tou Chien's dream of returning to Mau San never came true as he died of sickness in Sungkung. His magnificent tomb and clothes, kept by one of the natives, it is said, still remains at Sungkung.
To commemorate Lim Tou Chien, the natives of Sungkung adopted the surname "Lim" for their decendants and this practice has been preserved to-day. No wonder, a vivitor to Sungkung likes to declare himself "Siang Lim" because he would be most welcome and would enjoy special treatemnt over there.
Strange as it is, one can notice from some of the Chinese tombstones in Bau and Simanggang that his native wife or husband bore the surname "Lim" ,so much so that both husband and wife have a Chinese surname.Bukit Pelandok --- Bong Ja San
According to the elders, when the Kongsi men escaped to Sambas, they left behind the censer of "Shak Bong Ja". Lim Tou Chien instructed one of his men to knock down two of its three legs so as to lessen its magic power. The censer was later on found and kept by a native from Gumbang and named " Tajau Pelandok" because it was taken from Bukit Pelandok. It is believed that Tajau Pelandok has mysterious healing power and can only be taken out for healing purposes at midnight!
Conclusion
From historical records, gold-mining enterprises in Bau began more than 170 years ago and just before World War II until the late 1970s, the production of gold has dwindled to its lowest point. Then in 1984, it was revived by the Bukit Yang gold-mining company owned by the late Lim Beng Siew, who, nevertheless, had turned Bau's gold-mining industry from a "sleeping" beauty into reality.
"No one,except the Siang Lim people can 'dig' the gold with big profits in Mau San..." so prophesised Lim Tou Chien before he left for Sungkung. Believe it or not!More Photographs Related To The Topic
Tombs found in the unattended old grave-yard at Mau San. Traces of roads to elsewhere around Mau San are still existing
Mau San "Hero Temple"将军庙
It is believed to be the one of the oldest temples in Sarawak and is situated about 50 meters from the old grave-yard
Flag-post stand at Mau San
From Serukam to Sungkung which took almost 45 minutes and its landing site on both places is merely grass runway. The air-plane is owned by the U.S.A. methodist mission.
"The plane!The plane!" the children rushed to the spot and shouted as the plane landed
Listening to the story of Siang Lim in Pak Manggir's house
Ever-flowing water, as cold as ice, from the hill-top of Sungkung
Akit.
Akit.
With Sungkung boys and girls
Left: Pak Suparto, Education Officer from Sanggauledo Right: A young Chinese dresser from Singkawang
Mr. Chin,from Bau,Sarawak, with Kepala Dusun Manggir at Sungkung Akit
A giant durian tree at Sungkung
Fare Thee Well, Sungkung!
Our pilot, Mr. Brown, is standing on the 2nd right
Borneo Post: September 9, 1990
Edited: July 1, 2010
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