The Tobilung of Putatan and Papar

Written by H. Joplin Mosiun 

April 3, 2023

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Following the unrest in Danau and the founding of the Tombunan, numerous groups opted to leave the valley, among them the Tobilung. A large number of their settlements were situated in Tondulu.

Mondowoi was depicted in folklore as a colossal figure with a huge appetite who had become a burden to some communities. In response, these communities joined forces to eliminate him.¹ This tale was likely a metaphor for the discord between the Tobilung and the other tribes. It is possible that the Tobilung communities left Danau after the death of their leader, Mondowoi. 

A well-known narrative from Maang in Penampang tells the story of Marang and his brother, Marahang who left their village in search of greener pastures. As they traversed the Crocker Range, they stumbled upon Sugud, in the present-day district of Penampang. After surveying the area, they were drawn to a location situated beyond a ridge at the western part of Sugud, which was uninhabited. The brothers returned to Tondulu to inform their families and kin of the land they had discovered. The brothers then led their people to the newfound land and Marang founded a settlement which he named Tobilung (Tobihung).²  

Many of the groups that left Danau and congregated in Sugud, established their settlements in Marang's territory which included Tobihung, Dovook, Pungiton, Bakaon, Montug and Mahanga.³ The Dusun and Tombonuo communities set up communal dwellings along Maang hill and the area would eventually become known as Kg. Marang (Maang).

The Tobilung migration through Marang was just a segment of the large-scale movement of Tobilung communities towards the west coast. Tobilung communities extended to Inanam, Manggatal, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Kudat.⁴ The Putatan Dusuns were characterized by Owen Rutter, who observed their resemblance to the Dusuns of Inanam,

        "The Putatan Dusuns, who are near neighbours of the Papar group, though not so nearly akin to them as the Membakut Dusuns are. In this group may be included the Dusuns of Inanam and Menggatal on the north side of Jesselton."⁵

As some communities in Sugud and in Marang's territory moved southward to Papar, Marahang took charge leading the Tobilung, who are part of the Bangkaakon, towards Kinarut and Kawang. In due course, Kinarut was renamed Honggom, and the Bangkaakon established settlements in Kinarut and Kawang. One of the villages in Kawang was named after Marahang.⁶ 

"If you spot smoke rising in the distance," Marahang told Marang, "you will know it is me and that I am safe."⁷ These were Marahang's words to his brother before leaving for Papar. The Kadazan communities in Kinarut and Putatan have maintained a long-standing relationship. During the Japanese colonisation of North Borneo in 1942, many of the Maang villagers sought refuge in Kinarut, thereby strengthening the bond between the communities.⁸ 

The villagers of Maang were dubbed the Marang people, and they were recognized for their involvement in the markets of Tambunan and Keningau during the 1890s. Unfortunately, some of them lost their lives by drowning in the Pagalan river while en route to Keningau.⁹ It was only during the 20th century that the spelling of Marang was altered to Maang and along with the names of various villages were kadazanised, imbued with the Kadazan essence. 

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Notes
1 iron, Mr. Lagenda : Mondowoi Si Gergasi Tambunan, http://thedapurgas.blogspot.com/2013/10/lagenda-mondowoi-si-gergasi-tambunan.html. The folk story of Mondowoi shows some similarities to the story of Gondiran.^↩
2 The Origins of Kg. Maang recorded by Martin Midi Motinil published in the Sistem Profil Kampung Peringkat Nasional, 2019. The story has been told countless times to Maang youths by the elders. Sibius Kaahin of Kg. Tinduuzon, Sugud had also related the story to me but recommended Martin as the better story teller. ^↩
3 The names of the early settlements remembered by the elders of Maang as recorded by Martin Midi.^↩
4 Shim Phyau Soon, 2007, Inland People of Sabah: Before, During and After Nunuk Ragang, Kota Kinabalu: Borneo Cultural Heritage Publisher, pg:149^↩
5 Owen Rutter, 1929, The Pagans of North Borneo, London, Hutchinson & Co., pg:39.^↩
6 Maang folk story.^↩
7 This is the version shared with me by Sibius Kaahin in 2012.^↩
8 Interview with Sitaip Motinil at Kg. Maang in 2019.^↩
9 British North Borneo Herald, 1898, pg:42^↩