In the olden days in Sibu, the Foochows used a lot of belian wood to make buckets and huge water receptacles to collect rain water for cooking, washing, etc.
It was truly a great skill to make these belian wood buckets which never leak. When leakage started, the craftsman would even come to the house to do repairs and the bucket would be as good as new.
Some belian wood buckets were so good that they were even used to contain large amounts of soups and rice during festivals and banquets.
After more than 100 years of the Foochow settling in Sibu, the art of making belian buckets and wooden tanks is lost as the wood has disappeared, modern technology has taken over the culture of the Foochows and the local people.
One of the Tiong families in Sibu which made belian wood buckets today can still remember how their grandfather made them. Life was tough but because of his skill they have made a success of their lives through sheer hardwork and frugal life style.
They used to live in the rubber garden they owned, which at present is part of the Rajang Park, Sibu.
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