Tutong people

The origin of the name 'Tutong' has been explained through various oral traditions. One version tells of a Murut man named Tutong who protected the people of Kampong Lurah Saban from headhunters (ayau) of the Kayan tribe. In gratitude, the river where he lived was named Sungai Tutong, now in Kampong Suran, which became the early settlement area for the Tutong people. Historical evidence supports this, including the discovery of human bones in jars (tajau) at Kampong Penanjong, believed to be an ancient Murut burial site. Additionally, remnants of Murut fruit plantations in Kampong Kiudang and Lamunin strengthen the link between the Murut and the Tutong region.^[3]

Another story suggests the name comes from Si Letong, a figure from Celebes, who initially lived in Sungai Papakan (now Kampong Telisai) before moving to Kampong Suran due to the ocean's noise. The river there was subsequently named Sungai Tutong. A more mythical account involves Tutong marrying a shark that could transform into a human, creating a pact of mutual safety between humans and sharks in the river or sea. While considered a myth, this tale highlights the significance of Tutong in local Malay traditions.^[4]

From these traditions, it is clear that the name 'Tutong' originated from an individual. Over time, the river where this person lived became known as Sungai Tutong (Tutong River), and those who settled there became known as the Tutong people. Initially, 'Tutong' referred not to an ethnic group but to the people living along the river, a common naming convention in Borneo. Similar examples include the Kelabit, named after the Labid River, and various river-dwelling groups in Sandakan and Kinabatangan.^[4] The Murut, for instance, derive their name from the Bajau word belud, meaning 'hill', while the Iban, whose name means 'travellers' in Kayan, reflect their nomadic nature.^[5]

The name 'Tutong' itself, like many Borneo ethnic groups, is often derived from external sources rather than self-designated. The Tutong are also known as Sang Keluyoh by the Dusun people, which means "people of the Keluyoh River," reflecting their historical presence in the area before the Dusun settled there. However, the name 'Tutong' has become more widely recognised, overshadowing the more specific Sang Keluyoh. This pattern is common among other Borneo tribes, where names often refer to geographic locations, and such labels can be fluid, depending on who is doing the naming.^[6]

The origin of the Tutong people remains unclear,^[7] but linguistic research suggests a potential link to the Baram Hilir (Lower Baram)^[8] region in Sarawak, Malaysia. The Tutong language, closely related to the Miri language spoken by the native people of the area, supports the hypothesis that the Tutong people may have originally come from this region. This theory is based on the observed linguistic similarities between the two languages.^[9] In their own language, the Tutong people refer to themselves as Bunu Tutong.^[10]

The migration to these new inland villages not only fostered new settlements but also created an economic pattern. In the early to mid-20th century, the rubber industry became a key economic driver, with the price of rubber increasing significantly. This led the Tutong people to plant more rubber trees and acquire existing rubber plantations owned by the Dusun people, as the British government at the time prohibited villagers from planting new rubber trees. As a result, many Tutong people moved to areas such as Kampong Padnunok and Kiudang, which were rich in rubber plantations. Notably, one of the earliest settlers in Kampung Padnunok from Kampong Bakiau was Serudin bin Ahmad in 1938, who bought several acres of rubber land from a Dusun man, Taris bin Ikas. Additionally, the Penembang area became a hub for rice cultivation and other economic activities, including the harvesting of jelutong rubber and rumbia (sago palm). Early settlers in this region included Awang Taat and his wife, Dayang Jamilah, in the late 19th century.^[11]

Not all Tutong people who moved to the inland villages stayed there permanently. Some returned to their original villages when they found the new areas unsuitable for their livelihood. For example, Simpul bin Ghafar and his wife, Dayang Fatimah, originally from Kampong Penanjong, settled in Kampong Santul in the upper reaches of the Sungai Birau but eventually returned to their hometown as the area became less viable for settlement. Despite not residing in these areas, many Tutong people from Kampong Panchor, Suran, and Petani still maintain land in areas like Kampong Birau, Sambatang, and Santul, where they cultivate rice and raise buffalo. These lands continue to serve as a source of income for the people, even if they no longer live there.^[11]

The economic migration and settlement patterns of the Tutong people helped establish their dominance in the Tutong District. They not only controlled the Tutong River, which served as the region's main trading port, but also the surrounding hinterlands, which were rich in forest resources and fertile soil for rice cultivation. Furthermore, the Tutong people acquired large rubber plantations that had previously been owned by the Dusun. The results of their economic activities, particularly rubber, were traded through the Tutong River, cementing their role as central players in the district's economy.^[11]

The Tutong people are the traditional speakers of the Tutong language (Basa' Tutong), an Austronesian language. It is considered endangered.^[12] Notable initiatives to revitalise the language include the publication of a bilingual dictionary between Tutong and Malay by the Language and Literature Bureau, the Bruneian language authority, and the introduction of Tutong as a language subject in Universiti Brunei Darussalam.^[13]

The population is recorded to be 16,958 in Brunei.^[1] Majority is in Tutong District at 64.7%, followed by Brunei-Muara District at 24.5%, Belait District at 10.5% and Temburong District at 0.2%.^[1]