The peoples of Sarawak and Sabah earned their living from the land, the rivers and the sea. Their economic activities matched the rich natural surroundings of forests, coasts and highlands.
Farming, fishing and forests
Many communities grew hill rice (padi huma) on cleared hillsides, while others farmed on wetlands. The Melanau of Sarawak were especially known for producing sago (sagu). Coastal peoples such as the Bajau of Sabah lived by fishing and sea trade. Communities also collected valuable forest products such as rattan, damar and gaharu (agarwood), as well as edible birds' nests (sarang burung) from caves like those at Niah.
Trade and exchange
Goods were exchanged mainly through barter, where one product was swapped directly for another without money. Communities traded with Brunei, Sulu and China, often meeting at river mouths and small ports. Chinese traders were especially eager to buy birds' nests, sea cucumber and forest goods. In Sabah, marine products such as trepang (sea cucumber) and pearls were highly valued. Later, cash crops such as pepper (lada hitam) became important in Sarawak. Rivers were the main highways, so most trade and travel followed the waterways from the interior down to the coast.
Key idea
The economy of Sarawak and Sabah rested on farming, fishing, sago, forest and marine products, exchanged by barter and traded with Brunei, Sulu and China.
Remember
- Sago (sagu) — a Melanau specialty.
- Forest products — rattan, damar, gaharu, birds' nests.
- Marine products — trepang, pearls (esp. Sabah).
- Trade by barter with Brunei, Sulu and China.