Nang Chong Stories : Mandong Boats

Before the roads in Sarawak were developed, most people depended on the rivers for transport , food, washing and agricultural development.

The interior of a Mandong Boat, Fort Alice Museum, Sri Aman

One of the services provided by traders was the floating shops or grocery shops in the form of Mandong Soon (Kapal Bandong).

These boats ply up and down the river Rajang especially and in other rivers of Sarawak bringing fresh supplies of groceries and at the same time, help farmers sell whatever they had.

It was actually a floating house, as the operator would have a kitchen at the back. His toilet would be the little box room sticking out at the back. The engine room would be at the back and all the goods would be on the shelves in the middle portions. His living room would be where he steered his boat.

This one man operated grocery boat would be the kind of dream life many men would like to have these days if the market is still available.

A special item which would bring a lot of memories to friends of my age would be the ice cream potong and ice blocks sold by the trader. We would be so happy to get some in the evening when Mr. Ho came back to berth his boat at Pang Sing Jetty in the 50's and 60's.

Mr. Ting , another Mandong Soon owner, who plied between Bawang Assan and Ensurai served the Foochows and Ibans for many years, selling items like Aerated water, dried fish, dried goods, salted vegetables, biscuits and kerosene.

Kerosene was a valued commodity which most people needed.

Kerosene came in tins, and a small aluminium pump would be used to pump up kerosene into glass bottles. One bottle of kerosene in those days would be 30 cents if I remember correctly. It was so essential for every day life.

The boat operators would also be the mail men and even match makers.

The Mandong Soon have their own specific areas/markets to cover so the operators did not have much competition.