Shamanism is the oldest form of communicating and healing. It probably resides in all of us.
— Amy Hardie, film producer
In the late 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, I came across a number of special individuals who were eminent for their special skills.
Thanks to their expertise, they were contributors to the wellbeing and general contentment of the local Iban community in their respective dwellings and surrounding areas. Most were not born with such skills but were chosen by the spiritual beings who granted them the capabilities conveyed to them via dreams.
My own mother, who died in 1988, aged 72, was one of these. But it wasn’t until she was around 50 that mom had a dream meeting the Iban farming deity Simpulang Gana who granted her with the ability to massage and cure limbs due to severe muscular and joints pain.
Since the mid-70s, our humble bilik at the old Kedap longhouse in Saratok was a popular visit destination by local men, women and children who sought her help pertaining to their ailments related to her skill. At times, I remember it was like patients seeking treatment from a doctor or physician — except that mom charged no fee.
She only asked them to give her a coin as kering semengat (to strengthen her spirit). However, I noted that most of those who came to seek ‘treatment’ did not leave without handing over a small amount to her. She said it was the Simpulang Gana’s wish that she gave treatment free-of-charge except for the kering semengat.
It is a pity that she took her special skill to the grave. This was because the skill was not innate — even if she passed the ability to massage limbs and joints to others, it would not be effective. Mom was not told, but only implied about this by the deity in her dream.
Another person from our longhouse who also possessed special skill granted by the spirit in his dream was my granduncle Ngelambai Rembuyan who passed on circa 1971, aged around 80.
Ngelambai, a first cousin of my maternal grandma Kejuang Meling, was well-known for his ability to makai burung and makai mimpi — neutralising bad dreams and bird omens. He would cut a bit of the hair and nail of the patient (one who encountered bad bird omens or having bad dreams) and put them together inside a small bowl with water. He would then utter some puchau (chants) while mixing the said items in the bowl.
Thereafter, the items would be thrown to the ground outside the longhouse. Quite well-known for his story-telling ability, Ngelambai was also granted such skills by a spirit in his dream when he was a teenager.
He also performed such deeds free of any fee but instead insisted that he be given a small blade as kering semengat. But just like in the cases attended by my mom, our amiable granduncle also received cash contributions from grateful individuals.
Based on the responses from those coming to see mom, most if not all were cured of their muscular and joints ailments whereas pertaining to people consulting the granduncle, there was no report of any calamity due to bad omens and dreams.
Another relative Ujih Untan, a paternal first cousin of my dad, was famed for his skill in curing shingles, locally known as kayap. Uncle Ujih, who was a peer of my dad, passed away around aged 90 circa 2000 — dad died, aged 92, in 2002.
Nicknamed Baya Mangah Nyamah Ruang Kemudi (‘Ferocious Crocodile That Attacks Boat’s Rear’) for his exploits against ‘intruders’ in the early 1930s, Ujih made use of his saliva to cure kayap.
What he did was to rub the shingles with his saliva. That was exactly what he did to me in 1973 during a school land sport at my alma mater Nanga Assam Primary School, Saratok — I came all the way from Methodist Secondary School, Sibu as I was suffering from shingles on my right thigh.
Then studying Lower Sixth Arts, I happily left Uncle Ujih with a 10 ringgit note.
By the time I left Saratok the next day, my thigh was cured of the condition but I forlornly experienced another very painful attack of the dreaded skin disease circa 2017.
At that time, I sought the help of another man here in Kuching who also received his skill after having a dream granted by the spirit to cure skin ailments, including shingles.
He made use of betel nut excrete to rub the wounds due to shingles on my back. An ex-serviceman, he also had slain some enemies as in the case of Ujih.
All these special individuals shared one thing in common — each respective skill would die with them.
