A Rubber Tapper's Memories

(This article was part of the written memories of our father. Just thought that our readers might like to read about his early life. So many people in Sarawak have this kind of childhood. And they are indeed a courageous lot.)


1959 Medamit. I was just a small boy then but I learnt that with a little bit of hard work, my father could earn a few dollars. It was called tapping rubber. The rubber tree was something new and to a small Iban boy it was quite unusual. My father just had to make a cut in the tree, and milk would flow out. My father would do that every morning and I would tag along.

My father told me that if I grew up and could tap the tree on my own, I would be able to earn a lot of hard cash. So I had to learn the tricks from him. First the knife had to be sharp and the cut must be perfect. And in the early hours of the morning, I had to learn how to cut the tree bark very carefully and lovingly so as not to hurt the inner bark. Milk or latex would ooze out, and that was money.

The latex would drip into a small cup, poised precariously about two or three feet above the root system and about ten in the morning, my father and I would collect the fairly well congealed latex. Each day my father being a very hard working man, would tap more than 40 trees and he would be able to collect enough latex to make 5 sheets of rubber.

I would look forward to the rain. That would mean that I did not have to get up as early as four. I could have a lazy morning, fish a little in the river or collect some fruits just before lunch.

For a small boy, the work was dirty, smelly and even dangerous as my father and I would encounter snakes, scorpions and wild animals. The rubber garden was not well maintained as my father was working alone, and the undergrowth was beyond his control. Later on when I furthered my studies in West Malaysia, I was very impressed by the well-kept rubber estates over there. Everything was well trimmed. There was no undergrowth. One could even cycle between the rubber trees!! How wonderful.

But then in 1959 Medamit in Limbang was really extremely far away from any major town in Sarawak. It would take me three days to reach Limbang, the nearest town. I had to walk, to paddled a small boat and then to board a big boat to reach the town.

The headman one day told my father that I could go to school. I did not know what going to school was all about. My father told me that going to school was to learn how to read, and do sums. A teacher would teach me. The headman was advised to collect a few boys from the area. Thus 6 of us were selected and our ages ranged from 7 to 11.

My father gave me a small rice pot, a sack of rice, a small bit of salt, a small pillow, a mat, a small knife, and some fishing hooks. I remember him telling me to be strong and not to miss home. I was 9 at that time. My weight was not more than 20 kg. He told me not to cry, because that could be the beginning of a better life, and that was what the government wanted. I don't even remember today, if he did give me some sugar. I don't even remember whether he touched me as a loving gesture from a father. He stood so lonely at the end of the jetty and our small boat pulled away. Thus my small band of desperadoes went to school for the first time in Medamit.

Our school was just one room, with a little kitchen for all of us to do our cooking together. Fish was caught in the river and vegetables were collected from the forest nearby. But our little group, made up of uncles and cousins, survived for several years. I remember everything very well. I was quick to learn maths, English spelling and reading. My handwriting was pretty good. All my mates worked hard to learn well and we pleased the teacher. In turn we were all transferred out to the secondary schools in Miri!! Miri seemed to be a million mile away then.

All the while, my father would drop by the school to check on me. He would bring down several sheets of rubber to be sold to the Chinese shopkeeper. From the sale of rubber, I would get some short pants, some sugar, some salt and even some sweets, which were mainly made from gula apong at that time. Until today I have a longing for this old fashion sweet. I never had a blanket during those years. None of us had.

When I was 11, I was handpicked to study in Tajong Lobang School in Miri. Again, my father was delighted by the news and he again sold some more rubber sheets to fund my first trip away from Medamit.

Until today, I still feel very grateful that the dark brown, rancid smelling rubber sheets came handy for my father. With that small amount of cash, which was in fact, all that he had, I managed to buy my first shirt on my back, when I arrived in Miri. All this while I had only worn a singlet, which was already very civilized.

In the years that followed, I picture my father bringing down some rubber sheets to exchange for cash so that I could have a bit of pocket money. What if at that time there was no cash crop? Rubber has indeed played a significant part in my life. It gave me a chance to be someone better.

I am glad I have made it first as a graduate teacher and then as a lawyer. And I have so many people to thank for in my life. But as for rubber, I think it has helped not only me, but also a lot of other people.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------