The story of a war boat used by the Gensurai Iban,Saribas,Second Division to join th Rajah's forces against the rebels in Bukit Salong in 1915.
In December 1969,The Sarawak museum acquired as a new exhibit an Iban war boat which had accompanied one of the Rajah's punitive expeditions more than fifty years ago.This war boat had originally belonged to a Malay named Ate who lived near the mouth of the Rimbas. A roght tributary of the Saribas River.
In 1912,The boat was purchased from ATE by Tuai rumah ANDING ANAK MANJA and nine members of his longhouse at Gensurai on the layar.In May 1915,tha Rajah organised a punitive expedition against the rebels at bukit Salong on the upper Mujong in the third division.
Anding received an official notification from the government to participated in the expedition and with the help of his brother Menggin and firends Gaun and others,prepared the boat for war.
After the preparations were completed and teh night before the boat was dragged to the river.A small feast was held to give offerings in the long house and for the warboat.A bard was called in for the feast to chant a long house song called Renong Kayau so that the Gods of war would come and bless the boat and its crew.
The war boat was paddled by a crew of twenty five who were equipped with swords,shield and spear.At the bow sat Gendang Ak Menggin,Impin Ak Lindom,Baul Ak Ugat and his brother Wok Ak Ugat.Near the kitchen sat the two brothers Liman Ak Landon and Umpi Ak Landoh,who were responsible for distributing rice to the crew.At the stern of the boat were Pengarah Ak Dundang,Anyan Ak Menggin and Bunyau ak Machop,who are still alive now,sitting between the stern and the middle part of the boat.
