Narrative Text : Boat Race In Sarawak

Long ago, boat races were held annually in Sarawak. They were first started and encouraged by the White Rajas. At that time, there was a lot of fighting quarrelling among the different tribes in Sarawak. In order to stop the bloodshed and to keep peace in order, the White Rajas  suggested that the tribes should settle their quarrels by racing their boats along the rivers.

Boat-racing became very popular with the Sarawakians. Many races were held and the tribes soon forgot about revenge as they became more interested in practicing to win.

But as time went by and tribal wars stopped, the people began tolose interest in boat races. Some were still held at important places, but fewer and fewer people took part. If nothing had been done, the boat races wold have stopped altogether.

Then, the Sarawak Governement began to encourage people to restart the races. The Chief Minister, Datuk Pattinggi Haji Abdul Rahman bin Ya’kub, asked his people to help make boat-racing a national sport. Slowly but surley, boat races became popular again.

In 1971, dragon-boat races were held at the Sarawaj River Regatta for the first time in ten years. Each boat that took part had a dragon’s head attached to it, thus giving the name ‘dragon boat’ to the races.

Another boat races, called the Jong Regatta, was restarted after thirteen years. Longboats were entered in this competition. In the past, longboats were dug out of huge tree trunks and were very heavy and lasting. Now, they are made from wooden plans.

Of all the present regattas, the best known is still the bi-annual Barram Regatta held at Marudi in the headwaters of the Baram River. Here, as in the old days fierce looking warriors race their boats, waving battles-axxes, blowpipes and parangs.

(Taken From : Stepping More for Junior High School, 2005)