Rentap (born Libau anak Ningkan; c. 1800–1870), also known as Libau Rentap, was a warrior and a recognized Iban hero in Sarawak (now a state of Malaysia) during the reign of the first White Rajah, James Brooke. His praisename, Rentap Tanah, Runtuh Menua translates from the Iban language as 'Earth-tremor, World-shaker'. His famous and frequently quoted slogan was "Agi idup, Agi ngelaban" which translates into "Still alive, still fighting".

Birth and becoming a warrior

Rentap was born in the Skrang area in the Second Division in Sarawak (then part of the Sultanate of Brunei). He was named Libau anak Ningkan by his father and mother, Ningkan and Imbong. They had five children, including Rentap. Not much was known about Rentap until he was appointed as a manok sabong (English: lead warrior, literally 'fighting cock') by Chief Orang Kaya Pemancha Dana "Bayang" (commonly OKP Dana Bayang or Dana Bayang). Rentap was mentored by Dana Bayang and accompanied him on major ngayau (headhunting) expeditions from south of Sarawak to the Kapuas River in what is now West Kalimantan, Indonesia. When Dana Bayang grew old, Libau Rentap took over as the commanding officer and led several similar sea war expeditions to raid Sambas and Pontianak, Indonesia. During one of these raiding voyages, Rentap attacked and killed a boatful of Sambas people including the nephew of Sultan Sambas. Rentap took the nephew's keris (dagger) which was distinguishable by its golden handle and gained fame from the incident, recognized by the Iban-Dayak Skrangs as their great war chief.

Rise of the White Rajah

James Brooke (1803–1868) was born in India and served as a cavalry lieutenant in the Bengal Army during the First Anglo-Burmese War, before retiring to England to recover from a serious wound. In 1833, he used an inheritance to purchase the schooner Royalist and began trading in the Far East. In August 1839, Brooke arrived in Kuching, Sarawak and gave his assistance in crushing a Malay rebellion against the Sultan of Brunei. In 1841, the Sultan gave Brooke the governorship of Sarawak and the following year ceded complete sovereignty of Sarawak to Brooke, the first White Rajah. Brooke reinstalled the Malay chiefs into their former positions to help him administer their people in the state, and was highly successful in suppressing the widespread piracy of the region. While Brooke was fighting pirates in Sumatra, his enemies were emboldened. Sharif Sahib gathered Arab adventurers along the Batang Lupar river and invited the Skrang Dayaks to meet him at the entrance of the Sadong River, gathering two hundred Dayak bangkongs and Malay war boats. They raided along the coast, though Brooke returned to surprise one expedition and capture several war boats. At length, the H.M.S. Dido arrived, accompanied by the company's steamer Phlegethon. It was decided to begin operations by attacking the Arab sharifs in their strongholds on the Batang Lupar river and then the Dayaks on the Skrang River.

<!-- According to a book written by Sir Spenser St. John, James Brooke was born on 29 April 1803 at Secure, the European suburb of [Benares](https://bliptext.com/articles/benares), India. He remained in India until he was twelve years old when he was sent to England to be educated. In 1819, Brooke received his ensign's commission in the 6th Madras Native Infantry and soon left for India. He was promoted to his lieutenancy in 1821, and in the following year was made a Sub-Assistant Commissary-General. When the war with Burma broke out in 1824, Brooke helped to establish a cavalry of horsemen. During an action in January 1825, he performed very efficient service with his irregular cavalry, charging wherever any body of Burmese collected. He received the thanks of the general, and his conduct was mentioned in dispatches as 'most conspicuous'. Two days later, Brooke was sent to perform reconnaissance and was shot in his chest while in action against the enemy's stockade. A slug had lodged in his lungs, and for months he lay between life and death. He recovered in July 1829 after being given a long furlough and a change of climate to Bath, England. Brooke was late to rejoin his regiment before the legal expiry of his leave because the first company's ship Carn Brae was wrecked, and the next ship Huntley Castle in the following March was delayed by bad weather while sailing to India. He consequently resigned the service and proceeded in the Huntley Castle to China and returned to England. Brooke then employed all his spare time in studying the subject of the Eastern Archipelago, finding out what was already known, and drawing attention to his plans by a memoir he wrote on Borneo and the neighbouring islands, summaries of which were published in the Athenaeum and the journal of the Geographical Society. He felt a great admiration for Sir Stamford Raffles in Singapore and ardently desired to carry out his views in dealing with the peoples of the Further East. Brooke sailed from Devonport on December 6, 1838, in the Royalist, and arrived in Singapore in May 1839. There Brooke was requested to visit Sarawak to deliver a letter and presents from the Chamber of Commerce to a Malay prince Rajah Muda Hashim who was an uncle to the Sultan of Brunei, who was then residing there, for taking care of the crew of a shipwrecked English vessel and sending the men in safety to Singapore. At the time of Brooke's first visit to Sarawak, the Malays of the country had revolted against the oppressive rule of Pangiran Makota, the governor of the district. Fearing that they might call in the aid of the Sambas Malays, and thus place the country under the control of the Dutch, the Sultan sent down Rajah Muda Hassim, his uncle and heir-presumptive, to endeavour to stifle the rebellion. Three years had passed, and he had achieved little: he could prevent the rebels from communicating with the sea, but he was powerless in the interior. Rajah Muda Hashim requested that Brooke assist in crushing the rebellion. Brooke succeeded, and the rebels agreed to surrender unconditionally after some fighting if their life, women and children would be spared. Peace was restored to the country, and Brooke was able to study the position. Brooke spared their lives and reinstalled the Malay chiefs into their former positions to help him to administer their people in the state. In return, Muda Hassim occasionally mentioned his intention of rewarding Brooke for his great services by giving him the government of Sarawak; but when the document was prepared for submission to the Sultan it proved to be nothing more than a request for permission to trade. Muda Hassim later carried out his original promise, and in a formal document handed over the government of the district of Sarawak to Brooke. This event took place in September 1841 which was a grant confirmed by the Sultan; he had gained the confidence of the former, who leaned on him for support, and who hoped through his influence to recover his former paramount position in the capital. In December 1843 Brooke again visited Singapore, and there he received news of his mother's death. Whilst visiting Penang, Brooke joined in an expedition to punish some pirate communities on the coast of Sumatra. As a guest onboard HMS Wanderer, he went with the boats that were sent to attack the town of Murdoo. A strong current swept the captain's gig under an enemy's stockade. There was no help for it, so Brooke sprang out and led a rush upon the fort, during which he received a gash in the forehead and a shot in the arm. Reinforcements came up, and the place was soon captured. On the return of the expedition to Penang, the ship's crew begged the captain's permission to man yards and give three cheers for their gallant guest. Here he met Captain Keppel in the HMS Dido on his way to Calcutta. Keppel promised to pick him up in Singapore on his return and visit Sarawak again and chastise the pirates of Skrang. Brooke therefore waited but was again disappointed, as the Dido was ordered to China. He had therefore to remain in the Straits until the end of May when Captain Hastings gave him a passage over to Borneo in the Harlequin. Meanwhile, this long absence of Brooke had encouraged his enemies, who now hoped that they were free from their troublesome neighbour. Sharif Sahib did not feel secure in Sadong and therefore prepared his vessels to remove himself and all his immediate followers to the interior of the Batang Lupar river, where he would join the other Arab adventurers who commanded the different districts of that mighty stream. In defiance of Sarawak, he invited all the Skrang Dayaks to meet him at the entrance of the Sadong River, and there they gathered to the number of two hundred Dayak bangkongs and Malay war boats. Some mischief was done along the coast, but Brooke surprised one of their expeditions and captured several of their war vessels. At length, however, the Dido came, accompanied by the company's steamer Phlegethon. It was decided to begin operations by attacking the Arab sharifs in their strongholds on the Batang Lupar river and then the Dayaks on the Skrang River.-->

War between White Rajah and Ibans of Saribas

According to the account of Captain Henry Keppel, on 4 June 1843, Brooke and Keppel organised a war expedition to attack the Iban Dayak of Saribas to take the land along the coast. OKP Dana Bayang's longhouse at Nanga Padeh was the strongest and most important, defended by two forts and a barrier of fallen trees that blocked the Batang Saribas River from being easily entered by their enemies. Brooke's forces took and burnt this longhouse on 11 June 1843. Dana Bayang, who was already old, had delegated the fighting to his three sons: Nanang, Luyoh, and Aji. Brooke's forces proceeded up the Saribas to Karangan Pinggai and on 14 June attacked the fort of Linggir Mali Lebu, a chief mentored by Dana Bayang. They then attacked the Sungai Rimbas river forts at Sungai Tawai belonging to chiefs Rekaya Antau "Linggang Neneri" and Rekaya Gun "Mangku Bumi". The defeated chiefs in Saribas and Linggi from Skrang went onboard Brooke's ship to sign the peace treaty of Saribas. However, the treaty forced them to stop headhunting (ngayau in the Iban language), and they refused to sign it.

Battle of Batang Lupar and Undop

In August 1844, Brooke and Keppel forced out the Arab sharifs, destroyed Sharif Sahib's stronghold at Patusin, forced out Sharif Muller at Nanga Skrang and Sharif Jaffar and Pengiran Indera Mahkota (deposed governor of Sarawak) at the upper Undop. Sharifs Sahib and Muller fled across the border to the middle Kapuas while Makhota was later captured in a mud at Lingga. The battle at upper Undop resulted in the First Lieutenant Charles Wade being killed in action and deposed Sherif Jaffer of Lingga, bringing relative peace to the coast. This made Wade the first white man to be a slain victim by the natives of Sarawak. The person who shot Wade with a rifle was later wounded by Mr Simpson, an officer of the Phlegethon. With this settled, Brooke was then determined to pacify the Iban Dayaks of Skrang and led a strong troop to attack Rentap.

Battle of Kerangan Peris

On 19 August 1844 at Karangan Peris in the Skrang area, Rentap first fought against Brooke's forces. He ambushed the advance trackers of Brooke's reconnoitring troop with a formidable array of war boats and thousands of men on either bank of the river, placed to effectively use spears and blowpipes. With boats and bamboo rafts blocking their retreat, the troop's white leader Mr Stewart, a Malay chief Datuk Patinggi Ali and 30 of his men were killed, and 56 others were wounded. This was the first time the Brooke officers saw how devastating the fighting and war by the Iban were. On 26 August, a Skrang chief arrived, deputed by the other chiefs of Skrang to assure Captain Keppel of their submission and desire for peace.

Battle of Beting Maru

In 1849, the Iban of Saribas and Skrang combined forces to attack those living near the Batang Rajang river mouth. Brooke quickly employed his warship to surprise them upon their return. When the Iban troop reached the Beting Maru sandbar, they were bombarded by cannon fires. Sensing danger, some of the Saribas boats stopped at the sandbar and disembarked to escape overland to Saribas with two main boats made daring attacks on the schooner but was deflected, thus escaping into the Saribas River. Brooke force chased after them upriver. At the Battle of Nanga Peka, the Paku Iban and Malay troops enticed Brooke force into a fight after which the Brooke force suffered casualties including 3 sons of their Iban chief, Jugah of Lundu. After this defeat, Brooke force returned to Kuching and sent a captive home to bring Brooke's message requesting the Iban to surrender at Kuching at once to avoid further attack. Meanwhile, the Skrang boats tried to escape by paddling to the Batang Lupar river mouth where they were unsuccessfully ambushed by Brooke's schooner, the Nemesis, which was lying in wait for their return.

Sarawak expansionism

Nanga Skrang fort

In 1850, after Linggir's defeat at the Battle of Betting Maru, Brooke had a fort built at the junction of the Batang Skrang and the Batang Lupar rivers. The establishment of Fort James at Skrang prevented Rentap's warriors from joining those under Linggir and Aji (Dana Bayang's son) and blocked their passage to the South China Sea where they might raid the people living along the coast. While primarily a defensive measure to keep the peace, this was effectively an embargo against those who had not submitted to Rajah Brooke's rule, preventing them from collecting sea salt and other essentials. Rentap and his followers responded by moving farther up to the headwaters of the Saribas and Skrang, where they established a stockade on a mountain ridge at the Sungai Lang River.

Battle of Lintang Batang

In 1853, Rentap gathered his men intending to attack the fort at Nanga Skrang and push his way to the South China Sea. In command of the fort, William Brereton learned of Rentap's approach and sent word to Alan Lee, who quickly arrived with a scratch party from a nearby fort. Lee urged Brereton to defend the fort rather than facing the Iban-Dayak warriors in the open, but Brereton had built a small stockade a few miles upriver and insisted on defending it. Brereton was lured out onto the open river, followed by Lee, but their boats were swamped by Rentap's heavy war boats. Brereton's boat capsized and he swam to the riverbank, while Lee fought on and was killed, beheaded by Rentap's son-in-law, Layang. Lee's head was nicknamed Pala Tuan Lee ti mati rugi (Lee's head who died lost). Heavy fire from the stockade then forced Rentap's warriors to retreat upriver, where they came under attack from a rival chief who had sided with the White Rajah. Twenty longhouses belonging to Rentap and his followers were burned.

Peace talks

Brooke managed to entice Orang Kaya Gasing and the lower Skrang Iban to support him. In December 1853, Rentap and Bulan Apai Jelani agreed to meet with Brooke for a peace talk on the Skrang River. While Rentap was strongly opposed to the presence of white men, Jelani was the figurehead of a party that did not support either side of the conflict but watched to see which would win. Brooke was accompanied by his nephew, Charles Brooke, the Tuan Muda (heir presumptive to the White Rajah, literally 'young lord'), who would become Rentap's opponent in upcoming battles. Despite several meetings to discuss matters between the two parties, they did not reach any satisfactory results, and Rentap, the chief of the upper Skrang Iban swore that he would never again meet the white men to talk about peace or anything else.

Continuing confrontations

Battle of Sungai Lang

Rentap and his followers continued strengthening his fort in Sungai Lang. This fort at the headwaters of the Skrang River, on a hill cleared of jungle, was surrounded by steep slopes with high stakes driven into the earth forming a thick stockade. In August 1854, Rajah James Brooke proceeded up the Skrang River with a large group of warriors, about 7,000 from the Dayak and the Malay community from Kuching. Due to poor health, Brooke stayed with a strong force to protect their war boats and baggage at Enteban, the navigable extent of the Skrang. Captain John Johnson-Brooke (Rajah James Brooke's eldest nephew), was placed in command of the war expedition, accompanied by his younger brother Charles Brooke, Brereton, and five other English officers. They marched for four days to reach Rentap's fort and began their attack. A four-pounder gun and rockets were fired at one end of the fort while three-pounder guns were fired at the other. Rentap's forces returned fire with a small cannon and shouted their war-cries: Agi bedarah, agi ngelaban and Agi idup, agi ngelaban (English: 'Still bleeding, still fighting' and 'Still living, still fighting). Early that afternoon, there was a commotion inside the fort and the women and children were seen fleeing from the opposite side. The Malay Chief Panglima Seman, a Kalaka Malay of the White Rajah's forces, advanced on the fort as the sunset. His warriors opened the stakes with their hands and jumped inside the fort, drawing swords to attack. 50 to 60 of Libau Rentap's warriors were seen racing away over the open ground, covering their bodies with shields as they fled. Rentap was said to have been wounded and carried away by his warriors to a second and much stronger fort located on the summit of Sadok Hill (a.k.a. Bukin Sadok or Mount Sadok).

<!-- Libau Rentap and his followers were prepared to defend the fort and the two Dayak Iban longhouses located on the ridge of a hill surrounded by steep grounds. High stakes were driven into the earth forming a thick stockade. The fort was situated at a place about four days' journey on foot from Enteban in the Skrang where James Brooke had established his base camp. The Tuan Besar, Captain John Johnson-Brooke (Rajah James Brooke's eldest nephew), was placed in command of the war expedition by land to Sungai Lang against Libau Rentap. He was accompanied by his younger brother Charles Brooke, Mr Crookshank, Mr William Brereton and the other four English officers to assist him in the war. Due to his poor health, Rajah James Brooke was unable to accompany them in the war expedition against Libau Rentap to Sungai Lang. He stayed behind with a very strong force to protect their war longboats and the baggage at Enteban. The war team of Tuan Besar Captain Brooke-Brooke proceeded up the Skrang River. After two days' journey, they reached a place called Tebat. They continued their journey until the fourth day, then they saw the Libau Rentap's fort standing on a hill cleared of all the thick old jungle. Their heavy armament consisted of four-pounder and three-pounder guns and rockets. When they were mounting the last rising ground on which Libau Rentap and his warriors were fortified, they found that some of the Dayak Iban leaders had braved themselves foolishly by guarding the fort. They had advanced too close and a few of them had been killed and wounded. The Tuan Besar Captain Brooke-Brooke's warriors then mounted the four-pounder gun, and rockets were fired on one end while the three-pounder guns were fired at the other end of Libau Rentap's fort. Libau Rentap and his warriors returned the fire with their small cannon commonly called bedil in the Dayak Iban tongue. The Libau Rentap warriors also shouted out loudly in their war-cry against the White Rajah with the slogan Agi Bedarah, Agi Ngelaban which means "Still Bleeding, Still Fighting". They also shouted the slogan Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban, which means "Still Living, Still Fighting", which is still commonly used by the [Royal Malaysian Armed Forces](https://bliptext.com/articles/malaysian-armed-forces). Early in that afternoon, there was a commotion among the Libau Rentap warriors inside the fort. The women and their children were seen leaving the fort from the opposite side of the hill where the Tuan Besar Captain Brooke-Brooke stroked the attack. But Libau Rentap and his braved and strong warriors stood fast and kept guarding their post along with the fort. The old Malay Chief Panglima Seman, a Kalaka Malay of the White Rajah's forces, had not yet made any move to lead an attack against the Libau Rentap. Some knew that he would act cautiously but the others challenged him. He replied, "Your words are more than your deeds." As the sun reached the horizon, Panglima Seman and his warriors moved up toward the Libau Rentap fort. They silently opened the stakes with their hands and jumped inside the Libau Rentap fort. They shouted with a loud cheer and drew their swords during the attack. Then 50 to 60 of Libau Rentap's warriors were seen tearing away over the open ground covering their bodies with shields and fleeing towards Bukit Sadok (Sadok Hill). They were followed by the defenders of the fort who rolled down the side of the hill. Libau Rentap was said to be wounded and had to be carried away by his warriors who fled down the hill to a second and much stronger fort located on the summit of Bukit Sadok. Libau Rentap's fort at Sungai Lang was defeated and conquered by the White Rajah's men. The White Rajah's forces spent a night at the Sungai Lang Libau Rentap fort. It was a mere victory for them, as Libau Rentap was wounded but did not surrender himself to the White Rajah. William Brereton died of dysentery shortly after this war expedition. In October 1854, the Tuan Muda Charles Brooke was placed in charge of the Batang Lupar district. Rajah James Brooke's advice to him was: "Encourage the good, intimidate the bad and confirm the wavering". -->

Fort at Sadok Hill

Rentap's fort at Sadok Hill was regarded by the Iban Dayaks as impregnable. In the Iban-Dayak legends and chants, the Iban-Dayak community describe Sadok Hill (Bukit Sadok) as an inaccessible mountain, protected by the legendary characters of Panggau Libau – namely, Keling Bunga Nuing, Laja Bunga Jawa and many others – that no enemy would dare to attack it. Rentap had gathered all the Iban Dayaks from along the Skrang River who were faithful to him, and those in the upper Saribas River who offered him aid so long as he occupied Sadok Hill. Rentap was given the title "Raja Ulu" (King of Upriver), and Sadok Hill became the centre of all opposition to the rule of the White Rajah. The fort stood as an unapproachable centre far removed from danger and a sanctuary to which they could all retire in case of need. The fort at Sadok Hill was about 2,725 feet above sea level and almost inaccessible on every side because of the cliff. Rentap was satisfied that his fort was very strong and could not be conquered by his enemies. The Iban Dayak thus boasted to themselves that: "The White Man are powerful, having arms and ships at sea but it is only we who are the Iban Dayak, who can walk and fight on land and clamber mountains."

Brooke's attack on Rentap's allies

In April 1857, Charles Brooke with the Balau Iban from the lower Batang Lupar attacked Aji and OKP Nanang (sons of Dana Bayang) in the Padeh for supporting Rentap and attacking people along the coast who had submitted to the Sarawak government. After a very short fight, Aji and Nanang's longhouses were burnt by the Balau Dayaks. During this period, Charles Brooke continued the work of persuading chiefs to submit to the White Rajah's rule, rewarding them with open trade and the construction of forts to defend their people while preventing Rentap's followers and allies river access to the South China Sea. Aji was likewise busy visiting warriors and war leaders, inciting them to support a fight against the Sarawak government which continued to extend its power. A sore point was the submission of Linggir, a disciple of Dana Bayang, without consulting his former allies.

<!-- Brooke then persuaded Chief Bunyau Apai Bakir and his brother Maoh to submit to the White Rajah's rule and built a fort at Munggu Senggang, [Betong](https://bliptext.com/articles/betong-malaysia), under their combined command to prevent Rentap's followers from using the Batang Saribas river to access the South China Sea. Brooke left Bunyau and Maoh with instructions to visit Linggir and persuade him to submit to the Rajah, explaining that Linggir's continued hostilities would result in the Rajah strengthening his enemies. While he was at Betong after this expedition, Charles Brooke called on Chief Bunyau Apai Bakir and his brother Maoh at Rantau Anak to persuade them to submit to the White Rajah's rule. These brothers then consulted their Malay neighbours under Datu Patinggi Udin who obliged as they were the minority. In return, the Tuan Muda built a fort at Munggu Senggang, Betong complete with cannons and under their combined charge. This fort aimed to prevent Rentap's allies from going out into the South China Sea via the Batang Saribas river and attacking people along the coast as in the past especially under OKP Dana Bayang. Finally, before his departure, the Tuan Muda instructed Chiefs Bunyau and Maoh to visit Linggir "Mali Lebu" to persuade him to submit to the Brooke government with them. He asked them to inform Linggir that the Balau and Sebuyau Iban had become loyal to the Brooke government, and therefore he should not be hostile to these people anymore. "If Linggir were to declare war against the Balau and Sebuyau Iban as he did in the past," said the Tuan Muda, "the government of my uncle will surely aid the latter with guns which he cannot defeat." At the same time, he instructed Datu Patinggi Udin to visit the Laksamana Amir and his eldest son Abang Apong of the Paku for the same reason. At this time Aji, the chief of the upper Saribas, was busy visiting warriors and war leaders including Libau "Rentap" of the Skrang at Sadok. During his visits, he incited them to support him and his warriors in a fight against the Sarawak government which had extended its power over the people of the lower Saribas River, as it had done over the people of the lower Skrang after Linggir's defeat at Betting Maru in 1849. In these intervening years, Aji continually raided the people along the coast between Sadong and the mouth of the Saribas River with a small number of warriors. On many of his raids, due to his hatred of Linggir who had submitted to Brooke's rule without first consulting him, he shouted falsely to the enemy that the warriors who had raided them belonged to Linggir of the Paku. In these days, Aji was assisted by Lintong Moahari of the Kanowit in carrying out a raid on the Malay village at Buling under Laksamana Amir and his son Abang Apong of the Paku. However, due to Linggir's intervention, Aji and his followers reluctantly returned to the upper Layar over land. But the news soon reached the Betong fort men who reported the incident to Tuan Muda at the Skrang fort. Hearing this, and with it the ceaseless reports about Linggir's regular raids on the peaceful coastal people, as falsely spread by Aji, the Tuan Muda sent out his Balau sea scouts to attack any Saribas Iban who appeared in the sea without carrying a letter issued at the Betong fort. These Balau sea scouts were ordered to wait secretly at various spots along the coasts between Maludam beach and the mouth of the Batang Lupar for the Saribas Iban to come out from their river. In revenge for Aji's attacks, during this time of unrest in the Saribas, Orang Kaya Janting of Banting came with a Balau force and landed at Betong fort to meet Bakir and Malina who were informed that they came to attack Aji's longhouse but were fiercely fought by Aji's force. During this fighting, some Balau warriors were killed in action and thus they retreated and returned to Lingga. -->

First war expedition to Sadok Hill

Charles Brooke organised a war expedition consisting of 3,500 Dayaks and 500 Malays to crush Rentap at his stronghold on Sadok Hill. By 8 June, they were building a stockade at Rapu, located at the end of Sadok Hill facing the position occupied by Rentap. Rentap's fort was formidable as it was surrounded by a cliff, and the walls were made of vertical ironwood (Tebelian) planks that could not be penetrated by rifle shots. Within the fort, Rentap's warriors had built a platform from which they could shoot at a narrow backbone of rock which was the only approach to the fort. Rentap also had muskets, small cannons and a swivel-gun (captured when Alan Lee was killed at the Battle of Lintang Batang in 1853). On 9 June, a group of Iban-Dayak warriors came to assist Rentap and attempted to attack Brooke's camp. Brooke sent a division to counter-attack them the following day, driving them back and burning their longhouses. Brooke then tried to get his men to storm the Sadok Hill fort at night but they refused the risk. At midday on 15 June, Brooke's warriors began to attack the fort under the cover of their pilan screen. At 4 p.m., the attacking party reached within a few yards of the fort, whose defenders started throwing spears and stones in addition to using their muskets and small swivel cannons. At 5:30 p.m., the leader of the attacking party, a Malay named Abang Aing, was struck by a musket ball while trying to set fire to the wall. Rentap's Warriors beat gongs and cheered in triumph, and the attacking party withdrew with their wounded leader that evening.

Broadening conflict

Death of ally, Aji

Aji, the third son of Dana Bayang, continued to fight those who had submitted to Brooke's rule in the lower Layar river, travelling by land to bypass the fort at Betong. When the fort was completed in 1858, Aji made a show of defiance by having his warriors make a few exchanges of gunfire with the fort's defenders. In response, Charles Brooke led a force from the Skrang fort to punish Aji and his supporters. When they reached the mouth of the Sungai Langit, Aji suddenly appeared charging across the shallow rapids and was mortally shot. The next day, the force divided into two columns: one sent to the adjacent Julau area to punish Mujah Buah Raya (Rentap's ally); the other, led by Brooke, would attack Sadok Hill.

<!-- When the fort was built at Betong under the joint supervision of Mr J.B. Craickshank and Bunyau apai Bakir in 1858, Aji, the third son of the late OKP Dana Bayang, fought against all who had submitted to Brooke's rule in the lower Layar River. After the Betong fort, Aji and his warriors from the Padeh and Ulu Layar attacked it with a few exchanges of fire, showing their complete disagreement with the people of the lower Layar under chief Bunyau Apai Bakir. During this attack, Aji was assisted by another warrior from Julau whose name was Lintong "Moa Ari". At this time, Linggir "Mali Lebu" and all the people of Paku were completely neutral, as they had relatives in both of the quarrelling groups. In response to Aji's action, the Tuan Muda led a force from the Skrang fort, composed of the best Skrang and Balau fighters, to punish Aji and his supporters. When the Tuan Muda arrived at Betong he was joined by the Iban and Malays of Betong under Mr Watson, the Officer-in-Charge, including Bakir, Malina and the other fortmen. The expedition was very well planned. At the request of Bunyau and Maoh, no other war boats went up the Layar ahead of those owned by the Saribas Iban. This was to save the lives of the ordinary people who were living beyond Nanga Padeh. When the force reached a big dry gravel bed at the mouth of the Sungai Langit, Aji suddenly appeared and came forward to attack Brooke's force assembled there. Seeing him crossing the shallow rapids fully armed, a Malay man from Spaoh named Bruang shot him with his gun and he fell unconscious. After Aji, the arch-enemy of Brooke rule had died, the Tuan Muda ordered his force to stay one night at the mouth of Sungai Langit. Next day the forces divided into two columns. One column was sent to the Julau to punish Mujah "Buah Raya", while another, led by the Tuan Muda, attacked Libau "Rentap" at Sadok. This later engagement was known as the Second Sadok expedition. Before the force left, no Saribas Iban dared to behead Aji in fear of becoming the enemy of his brothers and their followers. So it was decided that the Skrang should do it, as they lived safely near Fort James at the mouth of Skrang River. The latter agreed and so took Aji's head back with them to the Skrang when the expedition was over. Several years later it was taken back and buried in the Padeh, for Aji kept appearing in his own shape or in the form of a crocodile which killed a number of people in the Skrang River. In anger over the death of his brother Aji, Luyoh went to Mukah to negotiate with Sharif Masahor who was also planning to rebel against the Brookes. The Sharif assured him that he would supply gunpowders for those who rebel against the government of Sarawak. Having been assured of this, Luyoh and his brother OKP Nanang built a stockade at the mouth of the Spak tributary so that they could avenge their brother's death against the Brookes and Bunyau apai Bakir. This stockade was attacked by Mr. Watson and Bakir in 1859. Within a month of his defeat, OKP Nanang rebuilt the stockade, but it was attacked again by Mr. Watson, Bakir, and Abang Aing. Very shortly after its reconstruction, the doomed fortress was completely demolished. After these defeats, OKP Nanang and Luyoh joined Libau "Rentap" at Sadok. They brought to the mountain a gun known as "Bujang Timpang Berang" which their father had captured at Sambas many decades earlier. This famous gun can be seen today at Fort Lily, Betong, Saribas. From their stockade at Sadok, OKP Nanang and Luyoh and their followers together with Libau "Rentap" fighters supported Sharif Masahor's rebellion. They openly joined the latter in his defence at Mukah and Igan until his defeat and deportation to Singapore in 1861. -->

Second war expedition to Sadok Hill

In 1858, the Second Sadok Expedition, led by Charles Brooke, proceeded from the mouth of the Sungai Langit to the Nanga Tiga (three river mouths) at the Upper Layar River. Brooke's forces erected a stockade to leave their war boats and baggage, and advanced up-country. At Ulu Julau they defeated Mujah Buah Raya, burnt his longhouses and destroyed the surrounding paddy fields. The expedition reached the summit of Sadok Hill and erected a stockade within firing distance of a small mortar they had brought with them. They fired 50 rounds of shell to little effect. Rentap did not return fire and the place seemed to be deserted. Some of Brooke's men approached the fort and when they were very close, Rentap's warriors opened fire. Some of Brooke's war chiefs begged him to stop attacking, saying "We cannot pull up the planks with our own hands, we cannot climb over them and our small gun and musket shots make no effect on them." Thus they decided to abandon the attack. The retreat began at once. Rentap mocked them by saying "Bring all your fire guns from England and we are not afraid of you." Some shouted "Agi idup, agi ngelaban!" (Still alive, still fighting!). However, he and his men did not pursue the retreating party down the hill outside their stockade.

Alliance with Sharif Masahor

Luyoh, in anger over his brother Aji's death, went to Mukah and negotiated with Sharif Masahor. The Sharif was planning to rebel against the White Rajah, and promised to supply gunpowder to other rebels. Luyoh and his brother Nanang attempted to establish a stockade at the mouth of the Spak tributary, but it was attacked and demolished twice in a month by parties from the Betong fort. Luyoh and Nanang then joined Rentap at Sadok Hill. They brought with them a well-known cannon their father had obtained on a raid, called Bujang Timpang Berang (one-armed bachelor) as one of its handles had broken. (This gun is on display at Fort Lily, Betong, Saribas. It is marked with the year "1515", and had belonged to the Dutch East India Company in Kalimantan, West Borneo.) Luyoh and Nanang built a stockade on a ridge below Rentap's fort on Sadok Hill. From there, the brothers and their followers together with Rentap's fighters supported Sharif Masahor's rebellion. In early February 1860, Masahor mounted an assault on Kuching (then Sarawak), the White Rajah's capital. He planned his approach by the Sarawak River, but Charles Brooke was able to ambush and destroy all of Masahor's ships. Rentap openly joined Masahor in his defence at Mukah and Igan until his defeat and deportation to Singapore in 1861.

Third war expedition to Sadok Hill

It was resolved in September 1861 that Sarawak forces under the command of Charles Brooke should make a third attack on Sadok Hill. On 16 October 1861 the expedition got underway, bringing with them large twelve-pounder brass cannon specially cast for the occasion in Kuching. The cannon was given the name Bujang Sadok (Sadok Bachelor). (It is on display at the Police Museum in Fort Margherita in Kuching.) On 20 October, Brooke sent two messengers to summon Nanang and Luyoh to a meeting, at which they submitted to the White Rajah, providing 40 valuable ceramic jars named Tajau Rusa to the government of Sarawak to ensure their loyalty. Nanang and Luyoh kept their promises, and the ceramic jars were returned to them after three years. When Rentap learned that the brothers had surrendered without consulting him, he was angered and sent a party to burn their nearby longhouses. On 28 October, at 4:30 am, the twelve-pounder cannon was ready for action, but could not be used due to dense mist. When the mist cleared at 7:30 am, it was due to a strong wind which likewise prevented attack. Later, the cannon was put into action but its carriage gave way after firing 17 rounds. However, it had by then torn breaches in the stockade of fortress. Rentap had briefly returned fire with the One-armed Bachelor. According to the story, Rentap's gunner was killed by a shot from the Sadok Bachelor, and his blood soaked the gunpowder making it useless. When Rentap realised that he could not continue defending the fortress, he commanded his warriors to leave it from the opposite side of the mountain. The attackers, under cover of the musket fire, rushed over the neck rock and through the breaches made by their cannon. They discovered that Rentap and his warriors had escaped, leaving only the dead and the dying. They found the arms captured by Rentap when he fought against Lee and Brereton at Lintang Batang in 1853, a large quantity of gunpowder, and the One-armed Bachelor. That afternoon, the attacking party set fire to the fortress. A tongue of flame shot up into the sky with thick black smoke. At dusk, the summit of Sadok Hill could be seen burning for many miles away. It marked the end of Libau Rentap's power over the White Rajah and his long career as an Iban-Dayak war leader.

End of Rentap's power and death

Rentap and his warriors did not surrender, but retreated to Bukit Lanjak Entimau at the headwaters of Batang Skrang, Lemanak and Engkari. He then moved down to the Ulu Entabai, the branch of Kanowit and Julau and built another fortress at Bukit Stulak. When he retired from fighting, he moved to Karangan Panggil in Ulu Wak, Pakan, and died of old age in the year 1863. He was not buried, but his remains were kept according to the symbol of the Iban-Dayak warrior which was honourably laid down to rest in peace in a mortuary known by the Iban Dayak as Lumbong. Later, his remains were installed inside a jar in a traditional ceremony known as Ngerapoh. His tomb, the Lumbong, is intact. It is located at the summit of Sibau Hill (Bukit Sibau) at the headwaters of Budu/Kabo River of Saratok and Wak River of Pakan. His remains were placed inside a strong wooden coffin under a shrine after the reburial of his remains in October 1989. This was done by the Sarawak State Government in the Iban-Dayak traditional hero's burial ceremony named Gawai Ngelombong. Libau Rentap's arch-enemy, Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak, retired due to ill health in 1863. He died at Burrator, England on 11 June 1868 at the age of 65 and was buried in Sheepstor Churchyard. Sir Charles Brooke was proclaimed Rajah in place of his uncle on 3 August 1868. He died on 17 May 1917 at the age of 88 and was buried beside the tomb of his uncle. The marriage of Layang to Rentap's daughter Tambong begot a granddaughter, Subang, who was married to Penghulu Dalam Munan Anak Penghulu Minggat of Awik. Munan was a loyal Iban-Dayak chief who led several punitive expeditions on behalf of the Sarawak government. Rentap's principal enemy, the Sarawak government, placed much trust on Penghulu Munan who was married to a granddaughter of the rebel, Rentap. Munan was rewarded by his appointment as the first and only paramount chief with a Penghulu Dalam title, a fixed monthly salary, an office in Sibau (now Sibu) and a member of the Sarawak Supreme Council.

Legacy

Libau Rentap was a man of principle (kih in Iban). He was met with several victories and defeats but never once surrendered, even at expense of losing his homeland in Skrang after being forced to migrate to the further away northeastern region at Lanjak-Entimau Hill. He had been branded as a great rebellious Iban-Dayak war leader, and survived despite being hunted several times. When he retired from active fighting, he swore that he would never see the face of a white man again in his life, and managed to live until he met his natural death. He fought gallantly, defending his country and his people from several attacks made by intruders until his power was broken on 28 October 1861. His name is remembered in Sarawak and Malaysia as a great Iban-Dayak chief and war leader, and the hero of Sadok Hill. He continues to inspire some Iban Dayaks, especially those who joined the military initially as trackers like decorated war heroes Kanang anak Langkau and Awang anak Raweng. The heroes in the Malaysian Armed Forces are 21 holders of Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) (the bravery medal). Of the total, there are 14 Ibans, one Bidayuh, one Kayan, one Malay and two Chinese army officers. The majority of the Armed Forces are Malays, according to the book Crimson Tide over Borneo. A book about Rentap entitled Rentap: Warrior, Legend and Enigma was written by James Ritchie and Edmund Langgu Saga.