Echoes of the Past: The Last Stand of Tamparuli's Head Hunters

Ref:  My late grandfather, Guduh Gurindow & My Brother Mr Harry George 

• Not everyone knows about the existence of Head Hunters

My Tiktok link: History of Tamparuli Sabah

About 100 years ago, Tamparuli was known as the land of the Head Hunters. The locals inherited the tradition of headhunting from their ancestors. As a native of Tamparuli, we called this activity "Pangait" or "Songorib," which were terms related to headhunting. My grandfather used to share many stories about these activities from years ago. He was one of the founding members and a village leader in Kg Kionsom Baru Tamparuli, which is about 5km from Tamparuli town. Back then, there were no established roads like we have today, just small paths made by humans, known locally as "denai."

Travelers from Kiulu, Tuaran, and Ranau used these denai to reach Tamparuli for essential goods like salt. These journeys took about a week, and travelers usually moved in groups of five to ten people. My grandfather and his father originally came from Kiulu (Kg Payaoon) and possibly from Tambunan or Ranau. My great-grandfather was a follower of the legendary Mat Salleh, who revolted against the North Borneo Company in the late 1900s. Standing at 7 feet tall, my great-grandfather, Petrus Gurindau, received the British Medal and the Bintang Seri Kinabalu. He passed away in 1986 at the age of 120. Some say he might have also joined Albert Kwok's horde in fighting the Japanese during World War II and was awarded a medal by the British Government. His story will be published later once I gather more evidence and proof. For now, my story is based on my grandfather's accounts of the Pangait activities.

My grandfather told me that the Pangait would wait along the denai like predators, armed with long homemade sabits. A sabit is an iron, C-shaped sharp weapon used to decapitate human heads. This headhunting activity was common around the Island of Borneo about 200 years ago. While the Dayak people are often associated with this practice, in Sabah, it was also common among locals living in Tambunan, Pengsiangan, Tuaran, Ranau, Tenom, and Penampang. The main reasons for headhunting were ritualistic and to show off. The Pangait believed that the spirits of the heads they collected would protect them if kept inside their houses. They would build houses to display these heads as trophies of their bravery. Examples include the Monsopiad House of Skulls in Penampang and the Sinsuran House of Skulls in Tambunan. In Tamparuli, there were no such houses, but locals kept the heads in their homes as lifetime collections.

During those years, having heads meant being respected as a brave person. Today, such actions would lead to arrest and imprisonment. What a barbaric habit! After World War II, this activity was gradually stopped, and no one practices it anymore. My grandfather also mentioned that if a bridge were to be built, the Pangait would reappear. I believe his story, but we lack enough evidence to support it unless we see it with our own eyes. Thanks to the British Government for banning this activity 100 years ago; otherwise, many people would be losing their heads nowadays.

There are many stories my grandfather told me, but this one stands out. One fine evening around 5 o'clock, my grandfather was traveling alone from Kg Kionsom Baru Atas, called Pinolobu, to Tamparuli to visit his paddy field. He passed through Kg Kionsom Baru center and took a little rest there. Suddenly, a big man appeared with a sabit and tried to attack my grandfather. In a panic, my grandfather shot the Pangait in the head with his Stephen shotgun. This incident happened in the late 1950s, and my grandfather was one of the few people who owned a shotgun. His shotgun was registered and had a valid license from the British government, and he used it to protect himself. My grandfather buried the body somewhere beside the old cemetery in Kg Kionsom Baru. What a story from my grandfather! He lives in Kg Kionsom Baru Sook Keningau, Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away in 2011.  He took the Pangait's weapon and continued his journey, never making a police report because he believed the Pangait had already signed a "Dead Sign" by engaging in this activity. This is just one of the 100 stories I've heard from the old folks in Tamparuli.

Brief history of the SASS / SMAT Tamparuli Sabah

A Brief summary of the article from the Encyclopedia of Seventh-Day Adventists (ESDA) dated January 31, 2021, written by Konis Gabu and Abednigo Yau Shung Chow:

The article discusses the history and development of the Sabah Adventist Secondary School (Sekolah Menengah Advent Sabah), a private Seventh-day Adventist school in Tamparuli, Sabah, Malaysia. Established in 1939, the school offers education from Grade 1 through high school, focusing on physical, mental, social, and spiritual growth.

The article covers the early missionary work in British North Borneo (now Sabah) starting in 1913, the events leading to the establishment of the school, and its development over the years. It also highlights the challenges faced during World War II, the societal impact of the school, and its contributions to the Adventist Church in Sabah.

Read more about this article from this link ESDA

1. The search for a site began in 1933, either in Tamparuli or Keningau.

2. In 1935, a new proposal was made by BNBCC to establish a training school.
3. In 1936, the new director, Pastor Gustavus Benson, directed the search for a new location for the training school around the Tamparuli Bridge.
4. In 1939, the training school began operations.
5. In 1966, the training school was given a new name, Sabah Adventist Secondary School (SASS)

6. The first batch of SPM students was in 1980.

Walk down memory lane.

That's me on the right during the Form 6 farewell ceremony... haha. 

Sekolah Menengah Advent Tamparuli (SMAT), formerly known as Sabah Adventist Secondary School (SASS), changed its name to better represent its expanded educational goals and its connection with the Seventh-Day Adventist Mission in Sabah.                      

Note: The picture below was taken before the farewell ceremony for Form 6 when I was studying at SASS Tamparuli during the 91-92 session. The principal at that time was Pastor Konis S. Gabu. 

Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to meet again in the future.

SDA's Tamparuli School Magazine in 1974. Credit to Jonee Hiew

Robinson and Solungkoi

Who is the person in the picture below? Is it Robinson, who is often talked about by the elders in the old stories about his romance with Solungkoi? Oh no!

Baker and his beautiful wife Bella

The left portrait is of a person in formal attire, specifically a suit with a tie, and the text "E. R Baker 1914" is written at the bottom. The right portrait is of a person wearing a sleeveless dress and a necklace, holding a bouquet of flowers, with the text "Bella" written at the bottom.

According to my mother, his wife, Belle, was very attractive -please see the attached photo which must have been taken on their wedding day, in Newcastle. I think I met her when I was small, but I found out she died in 1965. Richard Rose via email, dated 2020-12-02 04:22

Ernest Reginal Baker and his wife Bella once visited North Borneo. Starting as an assistant engineer in Sandakan under Mr. Budden and eventually becoming an Executive Engineer under the Public Works Department (PWD), he was assigned to lead the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge in the 1930s.

Starting with the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge during that era, the local residents and their ancestors have shared many stories about the romance between the British officer and a beautiful Dusun woman. This love story eventually led to a sacrifice that made the bridge more durable and sturdy, as we see it today. Most of the locals are familiar with this tragic story, as it has been passed down from generation to generation by the elders. 

Mr. Baker led the construction of the Tamparuli Bridge in the 1930s and was responsible for finding contractors until the bridge was fully completed. Interestingly, the name Robinson was not mentioned during the construction of the bridge. If Robinson was indeed the foreman at that time, we will try to uncover the truth behind this tragic story.

Indeed, stories and legends passed down through generations often require tangible evidence, whether physical or digital, to verify their authenticity. It's possible that some aspects of these tales have been hidden from public knowledge, making them either true or otherwise.

FYI, "BORNEO HERALD" dated 16th December 1933. It invites tenders for the construction of a Low Level Concrete Bridge across the Tuaran River at Tamparuli, mile 22½ Tuaran-Tenghilan Road. The notice specifies that tenders must be made on a printed form available at the offices of the Executive Engineer in Jesselton or Sandakan, with further particulars obtainable from 20th December 1933. Sealed tenders are to be received by the Executive Engineer in Jesselton by 12 noon on 3rd January 1934. The notice also states that the government does not bind itself to accept the lowest or any tender. The notice is signed by E. R. Baker, Executive Engineer, Public Works Department, and dated Jesselton, 13th December 1933.

Completion of Tamparuli Low Level Bridge

The low level bridge across the Tuaran River at Kampong Tamparuli was completed during the month. The structure appears to be a most massive one, and reflects credit on Mr. E. R. Baker, Executive Engineer Public Works Department, who was in charge of the construction. There is already the nucleus of a small township springing up at the bridgehead, and we wonder if the prophets who foretell of the eclipse of Tuaran town by Tamparuli are wise in their generation. Land speculators beware.

Jesselton British Colonial

Sources: Information Department. British Colony Report 1958

The image uploaded is a historical photograph titled "View of Jesselton — 1910." It shows an aerial view of Jesselton (now known as Kota Kinabalu), a town in Malaysia, as it appeared in 1910. The photograph captures a coastal settlement with several buildings, roads, and vegetation. The buildings appear to be a mix of residential and possibly administrative structures, with some larger buildings and smaller houses. The coastline and the sea are visible in the background, indicating the town's proximity to the water. The image is interesting and relevant as it provides a historical perspective of Jesselton, showing its early 20th-century development and layout.

Text in the image: "View of Jesselton — 1910 (From the collection of the late Mr. G. C. Woolley.)"

The image uploaded is a black-and-white photograph showing an aerial view of Jesselton in 1937. The photograph captures a town with numerous buildings, including large structures with pitched roofs and smaller houses. There are trees scattered throughout the area, and some open spaces are visible. The town appears to be well-organized with streets and pathways. The image is credited to "Mei Hua Studio—Jesselton." Text in the image: "View of Jesselton — 1937 (Mei Hua Studio—Jesselton)"

The image uploaded is a historical photograph titled "View of Jesselton — 1945" taken by Mei Hua Studio in Jesselton. It shows an aerial view of Jesselton (now known as Kota Kinabalu) in 1945. The photograph captures a landscape with buildings, roads, and vegetation. There are several structures in various stages of construction or repair, indicating post-war rebuilding efforts. The image provides a glimpse into the historical state of Jesselton during that period, making it interesting and relevant for historical and cultural studies.

The image you uploaded shows an aerial view of a coastal town or city with numerous buildings, streets, and some greenery. The buildings vary in size and architectural style, with some appearing to be residential while others look like commercial or industrial structures. The coastline and water are visible in the background, indicating that the town is situated near a body of water, possibly a sea or a large river. The image appears to be historical, possibly from the mid-20th century, given the architectural styles and the quality of the photograph.

Students from SMK Tamparuli create a flood warning device.

SMK Tamparuli Students Innovate Life-Saving Flood Warning System. 20 students of SMK Tamparuli here in developing a flood early warning system and its installation on the Old Tamparuli Bridge affects positively 12,000 locals. This project consists of the establishment of a warning system on the bridge and this bridge is considered to be risky and can lead to disasters such as accidents which may lead to the loss of lives if safety measures are not well taken especially in a flood situation.

It's truly amazing what the students from SMK Tamparuli have accomplished with their innovative flood warning system. Winning RM50,000 in the Petronas All About Youth 2015 competition and an additional RM20,000 in the National Innovation Competition is a testament to their hard work and creativity. This system, installed on the Old Tamparuli Bridge, not only improves safety during floods but also highlights the incredible ingenuity and dedication of these young minds.

This image was taken in 2020, and the flood warning system has been repaired since then

New photo - Flood warning system. Photo: Farid Aziz

Baker's journey to Singapore in 1914

 

1. Name of Ship: BULOW

2. Steamship Line: North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd or NDL)

2. Bound: Via China & Japan

3. Port at which passengers have contracted to land: Singapore

4. Future permanent residence: British North Borneo

5. Year: July 25 1914

Sources: Norddeutscher Lloyd - Wikipedia

Based on the information (passengers list) provided by Richard via email, the name Baker appears on the passenger lists for the ships Bulow and Hitachi Maru in 1914, for two journeys in July and August. The short duration between these long voyages suggests that something might have happened during that time, possibly the first journey being canceled or some other event. We are aware that 1914 marked the beginning of World War I.

1. Name of Ship: Hitachi Maru

2. Steamship Line: The Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line)

2. Bound: Via London & Japan

3. Port at which passengers have contracted to land: Singapore

4. Future permanent residence: British North Borneo

5. Year:  August 29 1914

Unexpected incident

The German liner Bulow, operated by the North German Lloyd (NDL), was involved in a notable incident on June 25, 1914. The ship was on a voyage from Yokohama to Southampton, carrying around 400 passengers and a crew largely composed of Japanese. Due to thick fog, the Bulow ran aground near Blacknor Point, west of Portland Bill. Despite efforts to refloat the ship, it remained stuck, and the passengers were transferred to other vessels for conveyance to Weymouth and then by rail to Southampton. It was that on Thursday morning.

The German liner Bulow did not have a notable incident on July 25, 1914. The significant incident involving the Bulow occurred on June 25, 1914, when the ship ran aground near Blacknor Point, west of Portland Bill, due to thick fog. Despite efforts to refloat the ship, it remained stuck, and the passengers were transferred to other vessels for conveyance to Weymouth and then by rail to Southampton

It is very likely that all journeys in all directions were canceled at that time, and it is also very likely that travel bookings for July 1914 had already been made before the incident occurred.

Ref: DCC: 25/06/1914; Transcribed by K. V. Saunders by Deeperdorset UK

BULOW

I am certain that in 1914, Baker was already in North Borneo after boarding the ship 'Hitachi Maru' on August 29, 1914. I also sent an email to Richard in 2021, including a photo of Baker dated 1914. 

The photo was obtained from the Flickr National Archives UK. The photo was labeled SABAH (Malaysia). Therefore, it can be confirmed that the photo is of one of the British officers who were already in North Borneo at that time.

The photo can be found at this link. Ernest Reginal Baker

List of Tuaran District Officer

The table below lists the names of district officers from the British colonial era to the present. Visitors may be able to help update the names of the current district officers, especially for the year 2024. The data was received two years ago, and I only recently had the opportunity to include it in the blog content.

Ref: Heartfelt thanks to Ms. Sabrina Hj Mansur, PPP/Team Webmaster of the Tuaran District Office, for the information provided

Officer's Name	Years of Service
J.P. Rutherford	1949
H. George	1949 - 1949
J.P.C. Burbroke	1949 - 1951
E.A. Pascoe	1951 - 1952
I.C. Peck	1952 - 1953
G.F Douglas	1953 - 1954
H. George	1955 - 1955
M. Pike	1955 - 1956
Leong Ah Koon	1956 - 1958
D.W. Eisenhauer	1958 - 1959
John D. Dusing	1959 - 1960
J.A.G. Roberts	1960 - 1962
Peter L. Regis	1962 - 1964
Goh Bee Leng	1964
Peter L. Regis	1964
Paul Lai Kui Seong	1964 - 1967
Dzulkifli Abdul Hamid	1967
Dato Bistari Dato Jinurain	1967 - 1968
A.O. Pangiran Rauf	1968 - 1970
Mohd. Yusuf Yahya	1970 - 1973
Hj. Pauzi Kou	1973 - 1974
Hj. Abdullah Hj. Mohd. Arshad	1974
Hj. Shamsudin Liew Syn Su	1974 - 1975
S. Mohd. Abdillah	1975 - 1976
Mohd. Zulfikar Musaffar	1976 - 1978
Patrick Micheal	1978 - 1980
Masidi Manjun	1980 - 1982
Yahya Ahmad Shah	1982 - 1985
Abdul Rahman LO	1985
Jahid Jahim	1985 - 1988
Ariffin Gadait	1989 - 1992
Udin Dullah	1992 - 1996
Hj. Uda Hj. Sulai	1996 - 1997
Awang Shamsi Hj. Jamih	1997 - 31 ogos 2010
Madiyem Layapan	1/09/2010 - 6/01/2014
A.M Ibnu Hj. A.K. Baba	Jan 2014 - 7/10/2017
Mohd Sofian Alfian Nair	Okt 2017 - 12/01/2021
Sadan Hj Hussain	12/01/2021
Hadzlan Jablee	2024 - present

Yapton Sandakan in UK

Ref:  Photo provided by Richard and Allen - Yapton Local History UK

• Not everyone knows about the existence of SANDAKAN in the UK.

In 1949, they made their way to Yapton and purchased 'The Lodge,' which they renamed Sandakan to commemorate their time in Borneo. They operated it as a Guest House. Visitors could experience 'a small but exclusive Guest House, offering quiet comfort and good food.' The local climate was deemed healthy, and each bedroom was equipped with hot and cold water, as well as an electric fire. The cost of a double room ranged from £11 0s 0d to £13 13s 0d per week. Guests were invited to relax in the attractive gardens and use the hard tennis court. Reg and Belle managed the Guest House until 1954, when it was sold again and renamed 'The Limes.' The house eventually fell into disrepair and was demolished around 1960, with a small housing estate named 'The Limes' built on the site.

Some years ago, in 2020, after successfully contacting Richard, he provided me with some additional information about SANDAKAN obtained from Mr. Allen from Local History. The information included pictures of the house used as a guest house, location maps, house plans, facilities, and much more.

The Birth of the Place Name SANDAKAN in the UK

Chronology:

1. The Lodge residence was owned by John and Sarah Sparks Engineering from 1885 to 1960.

2. In 1881, The Lodge was used as a girls' school for 10 students aged 11-18 under the supervision of Miss Annie Scott.

3. Sarah Sparks moved back to The Lodge for a short period in 1891 before it was rented by Captain Gerald M. Brooks of the Royal Navy in 1899 and Major Cecil Dudly in 1920.

4. In 1931, The Lodge was sold again, and after a few years, in 1938, it was once again used as a school under the supervision of Miss E.B. Davis after WW2.

5. Richard Rose's uncle, E.R. Baker, and his wife Belle, who worked under PDW (JKR) Sandakan, returned from North Borneo before WW2 and bought the residence as a 'Guest House' in 1949, naming the place SANDAKAN.

6. In 1954, Sandakan changed ownership and was renamed 'The Limes.' It was then renovated, and several buildings in the area were constructed in 1960.

Note: The Lodge is a fairly large residential area with several houses around it, including underground.

I have conducted some research and searched for the location of Yapton Sandakan in the UK based on the information provided by Allen and Richard. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate the house on Google Earth because it was demolished some years ago. In its place, a small housing estate called 'The Limes' was built. The location was on Church Road, which connects to Church Lane at the Church. On the map, it is labeled as Yapton Lodge and marked as number 1 in pink.

With a little effort in searching, the location and position of Yapton Sandakan on Google Maps.

This is SANDAKAN in UK...