Intoduction
It is a sad reality that the true account of our Kadazandusuns’ origin and historical background has been buried and lost in the unwritten past. Today all that remain are social scientists’ theories and legendary tales which are yet to be married to produce focal points of dependable commonalities.
Tahe purpose of presenting the following theories and legendary tales regarding the Kadazandusun’origin is for us to have at least a basis to re-visit our past possibilities wherein perhaps some scientists will burst into the unknown to clarify our origin identity crisis.
Theory 1:
The Mongoloid Stock Theory
It has been said the Kadazandusuns are of the Mongoloid Stock, that once came from Mongolia. During one of the migratory waves they move southwards towards the Sundas, traceable only today to include the Philippines and Indonesian Archipelagos, Borneo Island and Pennisular Malaysia with South China Sea en-blocked within the present Sunda Shelf.
As the great Ice Age ended, Land mass movement and erosion altered the face of the earth into its present state, thereby scattering survivors of human communities. Although this is only a theory, socio-anthropogical studies have today established major cultural commonalities of the inland tribes of South East Asia – Burma, Upper Thailand, Central Taiwan the mountain provinces of the Philippines and Borneo. Similarities in physical features, mode of farming, socialization processes, compotition of diet and even terminologies in the varying languages further inclinations to be validated before making conclusions.
Theory 2 :
The Kadazandusuns as Indo-Malayans
About 15,000 to 20,000 years ago there was a series of migration some times called Indonesians, others Malayan out from South China into South East Asia and offshore islands. It appears that most of the native Borneo populations today are derived from several Indo-Malayans migrations of the Island. Blood-group studies show the Borneo Indo-Malayan people to be marked by a particular blood type.
The Indo-Malayan people probably became more adapted physically to life in the tropical forests of borneo. The Kadazandusuns may well be of the Indo-Malayan theoretical origin.
Theory 3 :
The Half-Chinese Hybrid Theory
Perhaps the Half-Chinese theory pertaining to the Kadazandusuns’ origin arose from supposed references made to the Chinese in certain bornean names of places, mountains and rivers and legends of former Chinese invasion of North Borneo. Ivor H.N. note that:
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The Dusuns used hats and ploughs similar to those of the Chinese.
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The men of some Dusuns tribes wear a pigtail.
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The Dusuns look rather like Chinese.
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There are accounts of Chinese embassies sent to Brunei.
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There is a legend of a Chinese expedition going in search of the jewel guarded by the dragon supposedly existing on top of Mt. Kinabalu; and that a party of Chinese who are left behind settled in the country.
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North Borneo is a land of jars, beads and fragments of ancient Chinese pottery.
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Several names of mountains, villages and rivers begin with KINA which is strongly associated to mean Chinese or China.
Godfrey Hewett vehemently advocated beyond the hybrid theory that the aboriginal race (Dusuns) existence in Borneo cannot be accounted for, exept by the explanation that they are of Chinese Origin.
Owen Rutter debated that the invasion by Kublai Khan, the union of Chinese lady with the Brunei Prince, the irrigation works, the Dusun claim to be Chinese, the dragon legend and derivations of names like Kinabalu do not prove more than Chinese influence in North Borneo in the past is true enough. Owen concluded that in times gone by there were considerable Chinese settlements at points or near the coasts of North Borneo and Chinese and Dusun intermarriages did occur and left behind traces, both racial and cultural.
Theory 4 ;
The Kadazandusuns as a descent of Madai man
The present position of Borneo as a whole with regards to human anthropology is that the first proven presence of man is about 35,000 years ago in Sarawak’s Niah Caves. The Niahian man was more or less in his developed modern form homosapiens and in some major respects resembles the Dayaks living in the vicinity today. So far concrete findings of the Niahian contemporary in Sabah has not been uncovered yet. But common sense suggestes that the wonderful shelters and abundance of food supply provided by the Madai caves of Sabah must have attracted and sheltered early hunters just as well as Niah (Sabah Society Journal 1969-1970 Vol IV, P.7 )
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 am
i’m quiet fond of the mongoloid theory.i have a friend from the north-eastern part of india whos tribal costumes ,customs and traditions are similiar to ours.i asked her where she thinks her people come from and she said probably mongolia.
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