Kerbaus (Water Buffaloes)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T53KQPBmGCY


The above (decoration) video is just to show what a 'kerbau' looks like, not (by any mean) representing the 'kerbau' of Lipat Kajang.

In the kampong life, one of my favourite topic is ‘kerbaus’ (water buffaloes). When I was a small boy in Lipat Kajang I virtually lived with them. Firstly I remember my grandfather owning many ‘kerbaus’. He traded in them, I saw him doing selling of ‘kerbaus’ to many people. I saw the money being exchanged for ‘kerbaus’ and I saw them taking away the ‘kerbaus’ after they have paid the cash (in those days every transaction was done only in cash). Not much then, say Ringgit 150.00 or Ringgit 200.00 but in those days it was a lot of money. Maybe by todays standard it is RM 1500.00 or RM 2000.00 or maybe more (USD 1.00 = RM 3.3 now).

I have heard a lot stories about ‘kerbaus’ and the trading by Lipat Kajang folks of ‘kerbaus’. It seemed that in the days of my great-grandfather (and maybe before that) they traded ‘kerbaus’ with the people of Selangor (the neighbouring State). They used to go up the Semantan River (in those days the Semantan River was still navigable somehow then), while dragging (?) their ‘kerbaus’ behind, I suppose, or maybe walking along the river bank, I have no correct information on that, the upper reaches of the Semantan River or one of its tributaries reaching the upper reaches of the Kelang River (in Selangor) somewhere after Janda Baik where they traded their buffaloes with the Selangor folks who came up the Kelang River to what today is probably Ulu Kelang. That was distance of about 80 km by my estimate, through small navigable rivers and jungle tracks. Those relating the stories to me always say Kelang but to my mind it must have been Ulu Kelang. Such trading was even mentioned by my father and my uncles. So it must have been quite recent really that such tradings were done by the folks of Lipat Kajang with the folks of Kelang (Ulu Kelang, Selangor?). What nobody told me was how many of them went at a time, how many 'kerbaus' they brought with them and how they got from Lipat Kajang to Sungei Semantan. (Lipat Kajang is about 20 km from Sungei Semanatan). In those days Lipat Kajang folks were strong physically, mentally and spiritually.

Of ‘kerbaus’, I even had a couple of ‘kerbaus’ given to me by my grandfather but I did not know what happened to them when I went to school out of Lipat Kajang. And when I was in Lipat Kajang as a small boy I could even identify my ‘kerbaus’ .

My father and my uncles then still have enough ‘kerbaus’ (after my grandfather passed away) to keep them busy in the evening, they had to go looking for them in the secondary jungle nearby or in the water holes to get them to ‘come home’ and be pened up at night (in their ‘kandang’ ). ‘Menurut kerbau’ (going searching after your buffalo) was the common lingo in my family then. I followed them once or twice but I found such job too straineuos, not my kind of job if I can help it. But my father who was a sickly man did the job well enough, well he had to show that he was a man man.

I like ‘kerbaus meat, its different from cows (lembu) meat. There is a certain sweet aroma about them unlike cow’s meat where it’s a bit pungent. And ‘kerbaus’ are clean internally, they only eat greens, where as cows will eat anything. But of course ‘kerbaus’ are dirty outside, they like to cool themselves in mud especially in hot afternoons. Then Lipat Kajang have many ‘kerbaus’, most of them belonging to my family or close relatives, the decendents of Derahim.

Then ‘kerbaus’ roamed free, there was a lot of ground for them to roam to get their greens. Occasionally they get into other peoples fenced up areas, like a padi field where the padi folks fencings have weak spots. Otherwise they are quite harmless, unless in their mating season when they can be quite aggressive.

Today ‘kerbaus’ are few in Lipat Kajang, and those that are still around do not roam as free anymore. Once upon a time they had grazing grounds (padang ragut), a gazetted area for ‘kerbaus’, by the Govt. but today there is no more padang ragut. All lands have been given to the people. For example in Lipat Kajang there was a 50 acre of land at Cerok Ara (which I was informed rightly or wrongly) being the ‘padang ragut.’. Would not it be proper if that lad is given or gazetted at ‘kerbaus’ grazing out instead of subdividing it into housing lots to the given to the people of Lipat Kajang?. After all Lipat Kajang folks already have enough land for their houses, and their existing land are observably not attended to. Why should they be given more land. Maybe the Power That Be have their own reasons, for which I may not comprehend.

Back to that 50 acre land at Cerok Ara, if it is not used as ‘padang ragut’ (as there are not many people owning ‘kerbaus’ in the kampong nowadays), the next scenario would be to propose to Institutions like a University or a College where the buildings of such Institutions will create values to the community not only will it make Lipat Kajang more well known, but increases the economic values of the society and of the local properties.

Am I out of focus now, first talking about ‘kerbaus’ and ending with talking about a University (or College) branch in Lipata Kajang?. It’s a strong possibility if the folks of Lipat Kajang voice their intentions to the Power that Be ………. if ever.

I shall take a rest now.


Lipat Kajang people (or decendents) are encouraged to participate& contribute (Orang Lipat Kajang, atau keturunan, di jemput memberi sumbangan idea)