Nang Chong History : Bandong Boats

Life in the 50's and 60's along the Rajang was slow.

Diverse cultures existed side by side and trade was simple , based on supply and demand in the old sense. the main means of transport was by river boats.

This post is about a peculiar product, sago pith which was a significant food source for domestic pig rearing among the Foochows. This trade was a fine example of economic symbiosis between the Melanau and the Foochows along the lower Rajang.

 Thus came about small wooden motor launches which were first introduced by Rev James Hoover in the 1920's,  Along the Igan and the Rajang Rivers were found small motor launches converted to mobile sundry shops or bandong boats run by Foochow men who went to the coastal towns like Dalat, Oya, and other sago producing villages to buy sago by products. the most valuable was the sago pith which they would pack into gunny sacks. Those were sold at 40 to 50 cents a sack and were delivered house to house or rather jetty to jetty when they made the return journey. Most of these bandongs or Mang Dong were manned by a single Foochow trader. There have been stories of these Foochow traders being murdered in the history of Sibu.

The Melanau houses in those days were by the river side so it was easy for the boatman to load his purchases. He at the same time would have sugar, salt, oil and other basic goods for sale. Thus this travelling sundry shop was God sent in those days. He might even sell some medicine. But his most important good was sago pith for the Foochow farmers.

Melanau Houses in the Lower Rajang

Old Foochow wooden Mandong found in Bintulu.

It was a great moment for my aunts to be at the jetty to buy the sago pith. The Mang Dong boat man would help carry the gunny sacks of pig food which was quite heavy to the rubber smoke house near my uncle's jetty. The boat would pass by once a week without fail, so  the supply was very consistent. 

Local pigs fed on Sago stumps (they love the pith) and grow really fast.

The sago pith was good food for the Foochow pig rearers. It was added to the hot food cooked over a large fire in kerosene tins. Added to water lettuce, and food scraps the sago pith really bulked up the meals. This hot food was called PUNG, a very economical way of rearing local pigs.

The pigs reared in this style, from the olden days until the 1960's were specially tasty.

My mother, her sisters in law and nephews all reared pigs in this way at Nang Chong .

I remember the sourish smell of the hot food and had helped feed the pigs during my holidays in the village. But what was most memorable was the slaughtering of the pigs by the river and we had tasty meat for a few days. The aunts would be happy to have some money saved for the Chinese New Year.

Pigs were slaughtered three to four times a year, sold and shared. Pork was an  important source of protein for the Foochow villagers.

In reflection this kind of food for the pigs was really eco friendly and organic. It was truly a full  food chain in the Rajang and Igan River.

(Note : I have found several Foochow domestic pig rearers in Miri who buy lots of freshly logged sago palms for their pigs. These black haired pigs are especially tasty too. Fast forward to 2021.)