June 19, 2010

Sibu Tales : The Ensurai Tree

The ensurai is a tree that is often standing precariously over the water edge and overlooking a river. When the berries of the tree are ripe schools of fishes would be below waiting to eat them. This fabulous tree is found in Ulu Medamit, near Rh. Aling.

Having known about ensurai trees for years, I must say that this should be the origin of the name of Ensurai, or Wong Su Lai, the place where Wong Nai Siong allocated to the Kutien pioneers when they first arrived in Sibu in 1901. According to some relatives, there were indeed a few ensurai trees growing along the banks of the Rajang near Hock Chiong Shop, the shop owned by the family of the Foochow headman, Lau Kah Tii, which was operated by Uncle Lau Sing Chiong. In fact there was a huge ensurai tree right in front of the shop. Many students who rode the motor launches from Bawang Assan remembered the nice shop and the ensurai tree.

Generally, in the past a fruiting ensurai tree in Sarawak would always attract Iban fishermen who lived in the vicinity to sit below it. Today, with lots of development and progress, it would be hard to find ensurai trees on the banks of rivers, unless you travel really up to the ulu.

Some times two ensurai  trees would grow on opposite banks of  a small river.  And I can imagine that this tree and its neighbour across the river saw plenty of fishermen in their lifetime. I would also imagine that they would salute each other when they started to fruit and say let's see how many people come and fish this season!! Or if they could see better they might even say let's see how many fish come by!!

So these two trees would say..."There's a semah there...."

And one of the trees would say .."That's a mengalan there..."

And the other one would..."Hey...there are so many Ikan Padi there and a few prawns too with their bright eyes...."


And I wish I could speak tree language and hear their conversation. Trees do communicate with each other.



This is the ensurai tree standing on the right bank of the Ulu Medamit river where the old hanging bridge ended. (The bridge was washed away in 2009 and has not been repaired.)

Its leaves are so beautiful. Two older ensurai trees have been washed away by the flood together with the second bridge as they held that bridge. These trees usually take 100 years to grow to full size. So it is a pity to cut down these trees recklessly.

Ensurai trees usually keep the banks of the river very neat and tidy. Prevent erosion!!
 Neram fruits


Neram fruits

12 comments:

Ah Ngao said...

dear Sarawakiana,how's the taste of the fruit?
must be sappy,eh

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2010/06/sibu-aka-sibau-fruit.html

CY,

you remember the Sibau fruit?

Lee said...

Hello Sarawakiana, always learning something new or exciting drop by here, ha ha. This is an interesting tree....must remember it if I go fishing where you are.
Have a pleasant week, Lee.

Ensurai said...

Dear Ah Ngao..
The ensurai fruits are reddish and small..and birds eat them too. I heard some kids eat them for fun but it is actually too minute for humans...Will go to visit these trees especially next year to make a study...They usually fruit early in the year..but with global warming their fruiting has changed.

Ensurai said...

Ann
Hi yes I remember the Sibau fruit...lots of them in Sibu...very sour..

Sarikei Time Capsule has written about them too.


thanks...

Ensurai said...

Hi Uncle Lee
thanks for dropping by...yes..it is good to fish under an ensurai tree when it is fruiting... I hope that environmental feature will be true for years to come..Protect flora and fauna for our future generations!!

You are welcome to Ulu Medamit! May the forest continue to be our supplier of food and good health! Cheers.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

The grafted ones were sweet but not as nice as the rambutan. When I saw them last July, I bought them for nostalgic reasons. They were also very difficult to twist to open. Full of sap, so I put my hand in a plastic bag, and used a knife to cut it open.

My West Malaysian friend teased me that my Sibu fruit was of inferior quality.

Ensurai said...

Hi My family does buy and eat Sibau be there sweet or sour.
We are rough...just twist the fruits..
We consider them our ancestors' fruits not fruits of inferior quality.Look at the old type of guava...they are just so nice!! Stay tuned for this upcoming article on old guava.

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Naomi said...

this tree must take long to grow big.

Ensurai said...

The seeds when fried is Nutty, better than peanuts.

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