Tracing the origin of the name Kanowit
Published on July 4, 2015 | by theborneopost.com
Kanowit – a quaint town with a name that has colourful origins.
Fort Emma built in 1859 by Rajah James Brooke. It was named after Emma Brooke, sister of Rajah Charles Brooke.
A longboat plying the river.
Street snacks are common in Kanowit town.
Kopitiam owner Chua proudly presents his ‘GS-Tea.’
Lalip Sagon (left) and Geeman showing the cannon presented to the village by the Brookes.
Lenya relating the story of Sawing.
IT is certainly a liveable town – one by the name of Kanowit, the capital of a district with the same name.
Hardware shopowner Sung Jing Jing, 40, recollected: “The town is called Kanowit because when the Brookes first arrived here, they said the place ‘can-not-live’.”
So from ‘can-not-live’, the name ‘Ka-no-wit’ was derived – or so it is believed. Anyway, that’s the local Chinese community’s version on how the town got its name.
Though amused, we from the BAT 5 team were eager to verify and confirm our own research – that the town takes its name from the language of the ethnic group of Melanau called Rajang who speak Kanowit.
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