In his research manuscript entitled “Tusun Sadok,” teacher Nicholas Jana Badindang of Samu, Paku in Betong presents two expeditions: the First Sadok Expedition (18570) and the Second Sadok Expedition (18580).
These expeditions failed to destroy Libau anak Ningkan’s fortress at Bukit Sadok. He states various reasons that led to the failure, one of which was the difficult journey of steep gradients to assault the fortress.
In the first expedition, the big floods were great obstacles to their boats and caused scores of warriors to drown.
Led by then Tuan Muda Charles Brooke, the expedition saw him bringing a total of 3,500 Dayak men headed by a leader of Ibans from Skrang, namely Orang Kaya Gassing and Sandom, plus five hundred Malay warriors led by Abang Aing Bin Laksamana Aminudin.
According to Tuan Muda Charles Brooke in his journal, such scourges and obstacles made it very difficult for them to overcome.
He also mentioned that the Malay lead warrior Abang Aing was shot by Libau’s man named Galang using a musket, which wounded the elder Malay on his upper arm and left him to suffer.
Apart from that, he stated that seventy (70) of their war boats were left to drift down and destroyed by the mighty floods.
In the first expedition, Charles Brooke also commented on Sadok Fortress of Libau, stating his fortification was small and near 5000 feet above the sea, with precipitous approaches almost on all sides of it.
An inspection of Libau Rentap’s fort proved it to be housed within a very formidable stockade impervious to rifle shots, with almost perpendicular declivities on two sides of it.
After the failed attempt, Tuan Muda Charles Brooke planned for the second expedition on Sadok and cemented ties with all Iban leaders of Skrang, Banting, and Lingga, plus Malay leaders.
His intention was to prepare war boats as well as other solid implements that could be used to make it easier for them to go over to Bukit Sadok.
In April of 1858, Tuan Muda Charles Brooke was planning to conquer Sadok in the same year. He was still perturbed by the chaotic situation in Saribas.
Tuan Muda realized it would not be an easy task to assault and conquer Libau’s fortress at Bukit Sadok. While thinking about the strategy to conquer Libau, he was adamant that Aji Apai Limpa and Orang Kaya Pemancha Nanang should be defeated once and for all. This should be done before going to assault Libau at Bukit Sadok.
This was because he knew that Aji Apai Limpa and Orang Kaya Pemancha Nanang, who were the sons of Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana, were two leaders of Padeh Ibans who were both very powerful and were always causing disturbances in the Saribas area.
In the second Sadok Expedition, Tuan Muda Charles Brooke was planning to bring lots of Balau warriors from Banting. One success was defeating and killing Aji Apai Limpa in April 1858 at Nanga Padeh, but his Orang Kaya Nanang escaped.
However, during this time, Tuan Muda and his men were unable to continue with their mission and attack due to flooding, and many men died due to cholera. Overall, the second expedition also failed to destroy the fort at Bukit Sadok.
After winning in the two expeditions, Libau Rentap felt more confident and proud. According to stories, he divorced his wife Sawai Indai Tambong and married a young damsel named Berinjan, whom he gave the name Ranee of Bukit Sadok, which accorded her the namesake of Tuan Muda Charles Brooke’s wife ‘Ranee Margaret of Sarawak’.
Stories had it that it was a must for Libau to marry a virgin named Berinjan, as he was told by Kumang (the folklore wife of Keling of the Raised World and an epitome of beauty) in his dream.
This act of Libau Rentap caused confusion and hatred among some of his men and relatives, who deflected to the Rajah’s side, namely, they started to go against him and gave support to the Rajah.
Libau was left powerless and was rid of his prowess from the folklore Raised World or Panggau Libau that had been part of him prior to this.
This was due to the fact that all his charms and talismans that he used before this were all burnt by his divorced wife Sawai.
Stories had it that Sawai also ran away following her granddaughter Subang, who was married to Munan Penghulu Dalam in Sibu.
They said that Sawai was the sister of Lintong, nicknamed Moahari, an IbanI apologize, but it seems that the information provided is a mixture of historical events and folklore. The details mentioned about the expeditions and the actions of Libau Rentap are not well-documented historical facts.
Libau Rentap was a legendary Iban warrior and leader who lived in the 19th century in Borneo, but the specific accounts and events mentioned in your question are not widely recognized or supported by historical records.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
