LEGEND AND ORIGIN OF THE MAKIANG TRIBE, KINABATANGAN, SANDAKAN, SABAH

The Makiang Tribe inhabits a village in Kuala Tongod, located between Kampung Koromuok, a settlement of the Sukang Tribe, and Kampung Ulu Malagatan, the original settlement of the Mangkaak Tribe.

Origin of the Makiang Name

In ancient times, the Makiang Tribe had no specific name. Their tribal name originated from a legend. The village of Kuala Tongod was surrounded by wild fruit trees, making it easy for villagers to collect and eat the fruits.

One day, during fruit season, a villager harvested a large amount of wild langsat fruit, filling his entire basket. Upon returning home, he sat on the floor, bending his knees and placing all the langsat between his legs.

As he ate the fruit in this unusual posture, passing neighbors laughed and uttered the word "Polangkiang." From this word and the incident involving the langsat fruit, the tribe eventually adopted the name Makiang, which became their official tribal identity.

Branches of the Makiang Tribe

There are several different versions regarding the origin of the four branches of the Makiang Tribe. One version states that the Makiang Tribe is divided into Makiang Sogo, Makiang Pingas, Makiang Sugud, and Makiang Liwogu.

Makiang Sogo

The origin of the Makiang Sogo name comes from a story about a hunter who, while hunting, discovered a baby girl inside a cluster of Sogo rattan (Calamus caesius).

The hunter took the baby home and lovingly raised her as his own daughter. As she grew up, a young man from the Makiang Tribe fell in love with her and wished to marry her. His family sent a delegation to propose, and the proposal was accepted. After marriage, the young man moved into the Sogo girl’s home in the Kuamut settlement. Their descendants later became known as the Makiang Sogo lineage.

Another version of the Makiang Tribe states that there are four branches:

• Makiang Apod (residing in Kuamut, Kuala Tongod, and Pinangoh)

• Makiang Pingas (living in Pingas and Kuala Pinangoh)

• Makiang Kaintanao (residing in Pingas and Molikob)

• Makiang Karatan (residing in Ulu Kaintanao)

  
  

The Legend of the Giant Bird "Bugang"

A long time ago, a giant bird called Bugang lived in the area and laid a massive egg. Before the egg hatched, Bugang warned the Montis Bird (a type of Kingfisher) not to fly over the egg, or else it would not hatch properly.When the egg hatched, two human figures emerged. One, named Aki Silam, successfully crawled out. However, as the second figure, Aki Sumbol, tried to crawl out, the Montis Bird suddenly flew over the egg, causing it to close again, severing Aki Sumbol’s leg.

Aki Silam and Aki Sumbol

Aki Silam grew up to become an explorer and an expert builder. He traveled to China, where he became renowned for constructing buildings, including a city known as Lam King, also referred to as Nanjing.

Later, Aki Silam journeyed to Turkey, where he built a long bridge connecting two continents. In honor of his contributions, the locals named their city Lam Bull, which is now known as Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Aki Sumbol, who had lost his leg, searched for a giant bamboo to use as a prosthetic leg. He eventually found a Suluk bamboo, which he fitted onto his stump. With his bamboo leg, Aki Sumbol traveled from village to village, carrying a gong around his neck, which he used as a bride price to marry local women. He became known for having many wives and children. His descendants are known as the Makiang Apod, who settled in Kuala Tongod and Pinangah.

Legend states that wherever Aki Sumbol stood for a long time, large Suluk bamboo would grow. This is why Ranau and Tambunan are known for having large Suluk bamboo.

Aki Sumbol’s Descendants Aki Toworo

One of Aki Sumbol’s sons, Aki Toworo, lived in Kuamut. One day, his young child was swallowed by a giant "Tapa Fish" while swimming in the Kinabatangan River. Enraged, Aki Toworo placed ironwood logs along the riverbanks from Kuamut to the lower Kinabatangan River, setting up traps to eliminate the Tapa Fish. Although the traps may have disappeared, remnants of the ironwood logs might still be found along the riverbanks—unless they have been removed by others. Aki Toworo vowed that no Tapa Fish would ever survive in the upper Kinabatangan River.

Aki Alon

Another son, Aki Alon, settled in Imbak and was renowned as a mighty warrior with a huge, towering physique. His weapon, a mortar, is said to have turned to stone in Imbak, and his tomb is located inside Imbak Cave.

Other Makiang Tribal Lineages

A descendant of Aki Sumbol, a woman named Adu Ruvai, lived for five generations before passing away. She bore many children, and her lineage formed the Makiang Pingas tribe, which resides between Pingas and Kuala Pinangoh, bordering the Murut Pingas Tribe.

• Makiang Kaintano people inhabit Pingas to Molikob.

• Makiang Karatan is known as a warlike group living in Ulu Kaintanao.

• The Makiang Karatan believe that when their children are young, all their front teeth must be removed. They also believe that if a black cat steps over the body of a deceased Karatan, the body will rise and attack the living.

Encounters with Other Tribes

In Kuamut, the Makiang Apod lived alongside the Tapukon and Tika tribes. The Tapukon Tribe was unusual as they only ate rice husks instead of actual rice.

A woman named Siangsagai doubted that such people existed, so she visited their village. Upon arrival, she found that rice was discarded everywhere while only husks were consumed. She then taught the Tapukon people how to properly cook and eat rice, abandoning their husk-eating habits. Today, the Tapukon people no longer eat rice husks.

Historical Records of the Makiang Tribe

The Makiang people of Kuala Tongod originally came from Parutawoy near Ulu Sungai Milan. In 1907, a British Assistant District Officer, Tuan Pritchard, mediated a blood feud between the Rumanau Allap Tribe and Makiang Bikudong Tribe, relocating them to separate settlements.

In 1886, British explorer Daly recorded that the Makiang Tribe built wooden tombs instead of burying their dead in caves. He described these tombs as made of ironwood, elaborately carved with animal motifs and designed to hold up to twenty to thirty bodies in a single vault.

Written and Edited by:

1. Kumis Kumis

Sources:

1. Ringkisan Obou, Bukit Garam

2. Marasim Bin Galinsu, Batu Putih

3. Daly, 1886

4. P.S. Shim, 2007