A few friends of mine from outside Limbang posed me this question, "Why is this called Limbang?" It was definitely difficult for me to answer that "simple question". I cannot give them the answer. I do not know the answer. I was really so embarrassed especially during the Sunday TAMU with lots of people.
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| Limbang Map (Source from: Google Map. com) |
The crowd around us may or may not have heard of our conversation. However, it is my duty for being a "Limbangian" to find out why Limbang is called LIMBANG and not something else. It was what began with that simple question that prompted me to gather some historical facts pertaining to why Limbang is called LIMANG.
From Where The Word Limbang Derives
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| Journey to Limbang (Photo taken by J.C. Bunsuan) |
According to the Hokkien dialect, if we were to translate and separate and separate the word LIM BANG, it simply meant more or less "Jungle Dream". This could be further substantiated through the following writings in Malay.
"Mengikut terjemahan daripada Surat Cina bangsa Hokkien, jikalau diceraikan Lim Bang, ianya bererti mimpi hutan atau mimpi dalam hutan."1
However, according to some old informants, prior to the arrival of the Brookes, Limbang was called as Padian in the Tabun language and Kubu in the Bisaya language. It was then the centre of trade for areas around the Brunei Bay; where Chinese traders used to doing trading with the local populace.
1. "Limbang Seratus Tahun", Tuan Haji Rahamdollah Bin Majid. Unpublished article.
*** The above writer is a Councillor with the Limbang District Council since 1989.
Marriage of Lim's Brothers
As time went on, some of the Chinese got married to the local people. This was particularly so in respect of the four Chinese brothers with the surname Lim. They were Lim Pak Siong, Lim Pak Kong, Lim Pak Kee and Lim Pak Koo.
The elder brother named Lim Pak Siong got married to a Bisaya lady and resided upriver. Due to the way the Bisaya speak and their guttural sound, it was difficult for them to pronounce the word Lim Pak Siong. The bisaya could only pronounce "LIMPASONG". Thus, up to this day, the village is called Limpasong. This could be further justified by the following writing:
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| Limpasong View (Photo taken by J.C.Bunsuan) |
"Ada sesebuah kampung di Batang Limbang (Sungai Limbang) sebelum Rajah Charles Brooke (Rajah Kedua) menduduki Limbang di mana semua penduduknya orang Bisaya. ada seorang cina bangsa hakka bernama lim pak siong berkahwin dengan gadis Bisaya. Orang yang mendiami kampung itu tidak dapat menyebut nama Lim Pak Siong. Mereka hanya menyebut "Limpasong". Dari itu, lekatlah nama kampung itu sebagai Limpasong."2
On the other hand, the second brother, Lim Pak Ong got married to a Malay at the village downriver. Like the Bisaya, the Malays at the village downriver, too, were having difficulty pronouncing the name Lim Pak Ong. Instead they pronounced the name Lim Pak Ong as LIMPAONG. Thus, up to this day the village is called Limpaong.
The third brother Lim Pak Kee got married to a Kedayan lady and settled down in the village at the interior. The Kedayan, though having no difficulty in pronouncing the word Lim Pak Kee, but they shortened it to "LIMPAKI". Thus, the village Limpaki, was called after his name till this day.
2. "Limbang Seratus Tahun", Tuan Haji Rahamdollah Bin Majid. Unpublished article.
The youngest brother, Lim Pak Koo, however, got married to a Malay fisherman daughter and settled in the village situated at the estuary of the Limbang river. Like the Kedayan, the Malays in this village also shortened the name Lim Pak Koo to "LIMPAKU".
Being the youngest brother, Lim Pak Koo was always teased by his elder brothers by calling him "Lim Pak Koo meminang". Which is loosely translated as "Lim Pak Koo offers a hand of marriage". As such, as time went by, the word "pinang" was added to Limpaku. Henceforth, the villlage is called Limpaku Pinang up to this day.
Conclusion
Rajah Charles Brooke and his entourage were so intrigue with the story about the four Lim brothers who settled down and married the locals that he decided the place called LIMBANG which is directly translated as "Lim Brothers". therefore, no where else in Sarawak will be find villages beginning with the word "LIM" except in Limbang. This, I think, will at least clear the doubts, questions, views of most of my friends about the "origin" of Limbang, how it come about and I will definitely have a peace of mind.
