The Story Of Mandau, Bandau,Marudu

MANY VERSION ABOUT THE MEANING OF MANDAU

The local communities including the Dusun’s version about Mandau is that it is a kind of ‘creature’ that was alike a buffalow but could change appearance into another form or another kind and they make some noise everytime there were some happening like fighting or war. This could imply to mean people who were very fierce and shout the battlecry everytime they go to war.

THE STORY OF BANDAU

Bandau, a town in Marudu Laut also comes from the word ‘Mandau’. It is possible that Mandau also comes from the word ‘Mundu’,which is the word for pirates. Bandau is about 30 minutes upriver from Kg Marudu Laut by boat, but you may now reach this place on your way to Kudat.

THE STORY OF MARUDU

Marudu is said to have come from the word Mandau. History told us that Marudu’s history is about piracy and the encounter with Rajah Brooke that had resulted in the handing over of Sarawak by the Sultan Of Brunei after Rajah Brooke succeeded in subduing the pirates. At that time it was the British who was in the power.

It was also told by the Ketua Kampong of Kg Shariff Osman that the Bajau in Darau also had come from Marudu and that the Bajau Laut in Kg Marudu Laut had fled Pulau Jambongan in the East Coast to settle down in Kg Marudu Laut. They could have come in support of the local cause (Shariff Osman)

MANDAU IN MENGGATAL

Mandau is also the mountain in Menggatal that is not very far away from Kg Darau, Menggatal where the Dusun settled down as they moved inland from their ricefield at Darau upon the arrival of the Bajau Darau into their area.