THE LEGEND OF THE LOTUD TRIBE IN TUARAN

A long time ago, there was a longhouse in Kampung Indai. According to the elders, a woman named Odu Limban from that longhouse went fishing one day and caught a baby crab. She threw it back into the water. However, she kept catching the same baby crab repeatedly, and each time, she threw it back.

After several attempts, Odu Limban finally decided to take the baby crab home and kept it inside a coconut shell. Over time, the crab grew to an enormous size, even bigger than a buffalo. One day, this giant crab saved the village by defeating a Tambuakar (a mythical creature) at the mouth of the Tuaran River.

Odu Limban collected the Tambuakar’s bones and buried them. From these bones grew a kolian tree, and its fruits turned into gold. This newfound treasure brought great wealth to the villagers of Kampung Indai.

In another event, two young men traveled to Bongawan in hopes of acquiring a valuable Tajau (a traditional ceramic jar) named Gurunon. They devised a cunning plan, painting an ordinary stone to resemble gold and using it to purchase the Gurunon jar. As they carried the jar away, they sang, "Salu salu bulawan, nokotuhun Gurunon."

However, someone by the river overheard their song and informed the people of Bongawan. Realizing they had been deceived, the people of Bongawan smashed the painted stone and, in anger, attacked the people of Indai using black magic. Many villagers perished, leading to the migration of the Indai people, who split into four groups. One group moved to Kadamaian, another to Keningau, a third to Tambunan, and the last to Nunuk Ragang. After the people of Kampung Indai left, the Lotud Guakon tribe, originally from a settlement about 7 km from Tamparuli, moved into Kampung Indai.

The man who led the Lotud people to Kampung Indai was named Turulion, and this occurred before the arrival of the Bajau people, who later settled in Mengkabong and Tasik Sulaman. According to Tuan Haji Mohd Salleh, the son of Undangan and grandson of Si Nayar, the Lotud people migrated to Tuaran around the 1700s and were once skilled seafarers. However, in the 18th century, they ceased their maritime activities when the waters around Tuaran were dominated by the Illanun and Balangingi seafarers.

According to KK Sidik Bin Sambuling from Bundu Tuhan, the Lotud people in the Togiyung/Tiung area were involved in a conflict with the Bundu tribe around the 1780s. However, due to the large number of Lotud settlements stretching from Tuaran to Togiyung, the Bundu people found it difficult to defeat them. Some theories suggest that the migration from Indai was caused by a smallpox outbreak that occurred during the war with the people of Bongawan. The Lotud people, whose history can be traced from Bontoi to Topokon, hold many stories of their struggles against various enemies.

Historical records indicate that the Suang Lotud tribe was the dominant group in Tuaran since the 18th century. Unlike many other indigenous groups, they did not go through the Nunuk Ragang migration process. Instead, they were a seafaring community that landed in Tuaran, balancing the arrival of the Illanun people, who also migrated to the west coast of northern Borneo. One major event in the 18th century was the migration of the Illanun people to Tempasuk, Marudu, and other areas due to a volcanic eruption in Mindanao.

The population of the Lotud tribe declined over time due to outbreaks of smallpox and cholera. Additionally, some members of the Suang Lotud community migrated to the northern regions. Tribal conflicts also took place, including battles between the Suang Lotud and Illanun warriors. One notable conflict was against Sultan Si Mirantow, which forced the Illanun people to relocate to Tempasuk.

Another historical event was the involvement of the Brunei Sultanate, which established Mengkabong as a naval base in the 18th century. The Sultanate stationed Pengiran Temenggung in Mengkabong. Oral history from the elders recounts that the Brunei Sultanate’s forces allied with the Suang Lotud warriors, leading to intermarriages among the Brunei, Bajau, and Suang Lotud peoples. As a result, the Suang Lotud people were granted certain privileges in recognition of their contributions.

This is a brief summary based on various sources, including oral traditions and written records. We sincerely apologize for any inaccuracies or mistakes in this retelling. Please feel free to share more stories about the notable figures and struggles of the Lotud people so that future generations may learn about their heritage.

Permission granted: The Lotud people primarily reside in Tuaran. According to ancestral legends, the Lotud are not originally from Nunuk Ragang but are instead native settlers who arrived in Tuaran centuries ago.

This history was shared by Tuan Raymond Boin Tombung in the Daily Express newspaper on February 22, 2004.

Author: Kumis Kumis

Sources: Book by P.S. Shim, images from books by Oscar Cook and Tina Rimmer