In the 1900's Sarawak even exported damar and the local people used it as a sealant for boat making, fuel, and for lighting in the longhouses. It was a valuable commodity then. The Penans especially were good at looking for damar in the Sarawak jungles. Damar was traded in Marudi, Sibu, Kapit and even Kuching.
To lit up at night, the olden day Ibans would pound the damar into a powder, mix with kerosene and then burn the mixture. A small flame would light up.
In the same way, damar was pounded and melted, mixed with kerosene and used for sealing gaps in boats.
This photo of Damar, found by the Penans, is by Mujan Sakai, Bario
.Lights from damar were very pretty and the aroma left in the room was warm and soothing according to an old pensioner People would look for damar every day so that they would have extra for lighting and for sealing their boats. It was a significant essential good then.
In the 1940's and 50's many Iban hunters would drop by my grandmother's river bank house. They would tie their boats at her jetty and move inland to hunt. If they had to spend a night on the river bank, and taking shelter under her Rubber Smoke House, they would cook, and use their damar lights for the night.
In those days no one would think of stealing a boat tied to a jetty. The jetty owner was responsible for its security!! Upon their return, my grandmother would even buy some of their game, or if they had plenty, they would give a small gift. My maternal grandmother, since arriving at the age of 5 from China, in 1902 had learned to speak simple Malay.
Furthermore in those days no one had any electricity generator. My grandmother used kerosene lamps!! For occasions, she would order the pressure lamp to be lit.
Many rubber tappers also used damar lights to light their paths in the olden days. Life was hard.
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