Map of Punan villages in Sarawak 2020

Fig 1. Aerial photo of Punan Sama village, the uppermost Punan village along the Rejang.

By the end of 2020, there are a total of 14 Punan villages, home to estimated 6,000 people distributed in Kapit and Bintulu Division. This is a six-fold increase from merely 600 people, scattered 7 longhouses in 1950s (see Rodney Needham 1955). Subsequently, Ida Nicolaisen in 1975, also tabulated 7 longhouses with population of 1,750 people - triple Needham's figure.

In 1948, Punan Kaku, administratively known as Rumah Keseng, for example, was already a 48 doors longhouse (Leach 1950), with a population exceeding 400 people. But in Needham's estimate, the two longhouses Rh. Gisak and Rh. Keseng in the Kakus population was about 71 persons (Needham 1955). 

A much reliable data become available about two decades after Needham. Ida Nicolaisen (1976) estimated total Punan population in 1976 was about 1,750 persons. It should be noted that both Needham and Nicolaisen excluded the Punan found in upper Kakus. 

In 1950, there were about 20 Punan households scattered among the Beketan (Bagatan) longhouses in the Penyarai basin. In fact, two of the six Beketan longhouses in the area continue to be led by headmen of Punan descent.

Map showing distribution of Punan villages in 2020

Punan villages and longhouse in the Rejang

Along the middle Rejang, tucked between two rapids, Bikei rapids and Tukok rapids there are five Punan villages. A short distance above Bikei rapid is Punan Ba village. This village is separated from Jelawing's house (Rh. Jelawing) by an Iban longhouse, Rh. Lat Tuyang. 

This is the uppermost Iban settlement along the Rejang. It was a broke away section of Rh. Jelawing, formed in 1990s. Further upriver, is Punan Biau, followed immediately by Rh. Dari Jelawing another broke away section of Rh. Jelawing. Then Punan Sama, a few kilometers downstream of Tukok rapids.
Punan Ba village
Fig 2. Aerial photo of Punan Ba village, along the Rejang, Kapit Division.

Punan Ba village is the oldest, continual existed on the same location Punan villages today. It predates all the major towns along Rejang, Sibu, Kapit and Belaga. 

In 1882, Rejang a then Rejang Resident Hugh Brooke Low spent overnight at the village, he identified as Taman Balieng Mering house. A few decades earlier, in 1863 and 1896, during the first and second punitive expedition up the Rejang Punan Ba village was set on fire by Brooke forces.

In both occasion the villagers had to flee upriver near Belaga with the rest of other villagers.


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