By Ling Hui
TELANG USAN, March 13: Adopting Christianity has granted the folks in Long Bedian total freedom after they abandoned taboos, some of which forbid them from harvesting paddy at the sight of certain birds.
Richard Ngau Jok said they are no longer tied down by the ‘old adat’ (old customs) and they live a freer life both physically and spiritually.
“Before Christianity, there were so many ‘pantang’ (taboos). We could not do this, could not do that. We could not eat deer, and so on.
“On the way to farming, if we saw birds flying in a certain direction, we had to turn back and do some ritual for several days. By then, the paddy may have already become rotten.
“If I had a bad dream about you, and I came and told you, you could not go to the farm,” he said, giving a few examples of the said taboos.
Compared to before the arrival of Christianity, when the people would often fall ill, Richard said folks here today are healthier, cleaner and even look smarter.
“Christianity has brought us a lot of health benefits. Now you see us, we look nice and clean. So, it has brought huge changes (to our community),” Richard told DayakDaily when met at the Long Bedian BEM Church earlier today.
Residents of Long Bedian gathered today at the church to celebrate the 75th anniversary of their settlement first embracing Christianity back in 1949.
It was on March 12, 1949 when a missionary named Hudson Southswell arrived at Long Bedian via the Baram River to spread the gospel at the request of the then headmen Tama Ingan Sang.
After Tama saw huge improvements in those from other villages who converted from paganism to Christianity, he, as a respected leader, convinced his people to also welcome the religion.
“This is all because our headman saw great changes in the lives who became Christians. Before this, when they did farming, there were a lot of ‘pipit’ birds (that would destroy the crops).
“But after they became Christians, big birds came and all the ‘pipit’ birds disappeared. There were big changes, so that was why the desire to become Christians were so great,” said Richard, who is also the organising chairman of the anniversary celebration and church elder of BEM Pelita in Miri. — DayakDaily
