Orang Ulu Parangs Reunited with Sarawak After a Century

via Dayak Daily, 28 November 2023: Two Orang Ulu parangs, initially taken by Brooke administrative officer nearly a century ago, have been returned to Sarawak. These parangs, part of a larger collection of 43 Bornean objects repatriated this year, reflect the Sarawak Museum Department’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

“Among the returned objects are two Orang Ulu parangs originally obtained by Mr Duncan Shimwell McDougal, an officer during the Brooke era in the 1920s,” he said when presenting his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.

It was previously reported that the two parangs were obtained by McDougal who lived in Sarawak from the period of 1924 to 1927. Upon his resignation from his government post in 1927, he brought the items with him back to England.

The two parangs were believed to have remained in England for 67 years until they were put up for auction and bought by J.B. Lim from Penang, a collector of Borneo tribal art.

The items then stayed in Penang for 29 years until Lim decided to donate the parangs to the Sarawak Museum through American Dr Louise Macul, a member of Friends of Sarawak Museum (FOSM).

Source: After nearly 100 years abroad, 2 Orang Ulu parangs returned to Sarawak this year | DayakDaily