The Stone of Demong

Megaliths are common in Sarawak. Legends are plentiful. Most are oral, but this one has credibility as it was written down by Walter Unja, a former Headmaster of Nanga Grenjang School, Kiran, Kalaka.

Today, megaliths along the roads for the length of Sarawak are worshipped by the superstitious who wish to strike a fortune. They place incense and even offerings so that they can be given numbers in their dreams. Do stones have spiritual values? It is really up to you.

An Iban man, Demong had four sons by his wife Rinda. Their sons were called Klanang, Bakak, Klimbang and Bundak.

Rinda, after having given birth to Bundak, warmed herself by the fireside, following the traditional Iban after birth rites. Suddenly a very strong wind blew and caried away the roof of the house. A great tree called menuang, growing nearby was uprooted by the wind and fell upon Rinda. This killed her instantaneously.

When Demong returned from hunting, he saw the dead body of his wife. With great sorrow he buried her. Several months later, he went to Julau, leaving his four sons behind, having had slaves to look after them while he was away.

while in Julau he married Radui and had two children Drisap and Rabiah.

After many years, Radui died and Demong went back to Krian with eight slaves. They brought a huge stone with them. They planted the stone on a small hill at the side of the road, about four and half miles from Nanga Grenjang. He decided to use the stone to delineate this property. He said, "From this stone up to Julau, are the lands of my sons by Radui. And from this to Paku Laya and Krian, are the lands of my children by Rina."

Whether it is a real story, or a historical anecdote, the story behind this stone is famous. Known as Batu Tanam Demong to the Ibans of Saribas and Kalaka,it is perhaps a monument to the ancestors of the Saribas Ibans who descended from Demong.

Some of the descendants from Demong and Rinda are T.R Bungan, Suah and Rani.

Walter Unja himself is a descendant from Demong and Rinda. On his side is also Rev Fr. Senang Betie.

(Note:any mistakes we have made are entirely ours. So we do apologise for any errors. Thank you for reading. )