In early year of 1850, after the battle of
Betting Maru, James Brooke sent Arthur Crookshank to build up a fort at the
junction of the Batang Skrang and the Batang Lupar to be on surveilance and
prevent any of the warriors under Libau “Rentap” from meeting up with those
under Linggir and Aji in raiding the peaceful people living along the coast. It
was called Fort James and was strongly opposed by Rentap and the upper Skrang
chieftains. It was indeed a nuisance to the Skrang people because its purpose was
to block their passage to go to the open South China Sea. Rentap and his loyal
followers moved farther up-country to the headwaters of the Saribas and Skrang
to set up a stronghold on the mountain ridge up the Sungai Lang, the branch of
the Batang Skrang River. The fort back at Nanga Skrang was then managed by
William Brereton while at Nanga Lingga, Alan Lee but they decided to get
together to ready a newer stockade at Lintang Batang when they are informed of
Rentap's approaching attack. Thus, the two parties of James Brooke and Rentap
were at their respective posts, ready to engage in battle.
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| Libau Rentap's calm stance to get ready for the war storms |
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