A Folk Story from Terawi

Written by H. Joplin Mosiun 

April 8, 2023

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In the 19th century, when the Brunei Empire was in decline, Si Limpay emerged as a significant figure among the Dusun and Bajau communities in Putatan. She is believed to have led the rebellion against the Brunei tax collectors, which led to the Kulintangon Buis Revolt. 

According to her descendants in Terawi, Si Limpay or Lim Pei, also known as Mantri Babu, may have been of sino-descent, as her name's first syllable suggests. Limpay's parents were among the first settlers of Kg. Terawi. Her mother was a Dusun and a Bobolian.  

A grandfather of Limpay was a Pranakan Sina (sino-native), who was said to have come from Kinabatangan.¹ He supposedly accomplished a remarkable feat by obtaining a Kumala Naga (dragon's pearl) near Pulau Gaya (Gaya Island), which earned him quite a reputation in the Putatan district. 

Upon his return to the mainland, he collapsed under the weight of the pearl's magical powers. The Terawi villagers devised a plan of passing the pearl from one person to another until it reaches the longhouse. For 40 days and 40 nights, nine Bobohizans performed a ceremony to overcome the pearl's magic which was said to be potent and could kill anyone who attempted to harness its powers. 

Following the Bobohizans' advice, Limpay's grandfather went in search of the Rantai Babi (full circle pig's tusk), which was said to provide control over the pearl's magic. 

After hiding in a tree for days, observing packs of wild boars until he eventually spotted one. With a swift blow, he breaks off the circular tusk from the boar's jaw. The Rantai Babi is believed to possess magical powers when worn as a talisman that endows the wearer with immense strength and invincibility.² 

There are other versions of this popular story. This is one of them. 

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Notes
1 Interview with George Doivin in 2005 at Kg. Terawi^↩
2 Interview with Francis Mansah in 2005 at his home in Kg. Guunsing^↩