Section 51: Kampung Rata

Sweet and clear spring nourishes the hanging bridge of time, Recording our Kampung Rata

In this high-tech era, apart from joining tour groups to specific destinations, who else can get up close and personal with a hanging bridge? Perhaps everyone would be captivated by the beauty and magnificence of those hanging bridges spanning grand mountains and rivers, but who remembers the outdated things in our hometown, kampung Rata?

Nevertheless, near our village of Kampung Rata, there still exists an old-fashioned wooden plank hanging bridge with a nearly century-old history.

This hanging bridge is composed of iron cables and wooden planks. Whenever someone walks or a car drives across it, the iron cables and wooden planks sway and shake, creating a terrifying experience.

A long hanging bridge, a wide river surface, the gentle flow of the river, and the swaying iron cable suspension bridge. It is said to be a relic of the colonial era left behind by the years in the Garden Hill.

It is rumored that this hanging bridge has a history of nearly a hundred years. It was built to facilitate the residents on this side to cross to the other side, simply to ensure their daily meals and livelihood.

In the past, the countless rubber forests across the bridge nurtured the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came from the south to settle nearby.

This should be the charm of Kampung Rata, as even after a hundred years, the hanging bridge still remains, not being swept away by the currents of history. It can be considered a legend.

Kampung Rata must have its extraordinary side. Our ancestors settled in Kampung Rata for farming, vegetable cultivation, pig breeding, and almost every household planted Red Bullock's Heart, Red Durian, and Kedongdong to supply the markets in Bahau and nearby areas.

The spring water from Mount Taisu nourished several generations of people in the village. The villagers not only drank the mountain spring water but also used it to make tofu, dried bean curd, raise pigs, and breed fish. When mentioning Kampung Rata, besides the hanging bridge, the mountain spring water is also a significant part of our shared history.

According to the oral history of Zhong Xuexin(锺学新), who recalls his family's memories in Kampung Rata, they once owned nine acres of land. Apart from planting rubber trees, they also planted various fruit trees such as Red Bullock's Heart, Durian, Kedongdong, and others. Of course, they had pig pens at their old home, which was a characteristic of Kampung Rata. Almost every household in Village raised pigs because no one owned more than an acre of land individually, so there were no issues of odor or pollution.

Zhong Xuexin also mentioned that behind his house, there was a sweet spring that flowed directly into his home. Whenever there was water supply, many nearby residents would come to fetch water from his house or even take showers there, making his home lively.

Of course, back then, several families in Kampung Rata also dug deep wells, which were used for large-scale pig farming and the production of tofu and dried bean curd.

He also pointed out that Village once had a rice bran factory. The processed rice bran was likely sold to various places.

In addition to the rice bran factory, Kampung Rata had more than two tofu factories, dried bean curd factories, and a cattle slaughterhouse. These were all memories from his childhood.

He said that the most unforgettable thing about Kampung Rata was the numerous clear streams. These clear flowing waters were home to fish, shrimp, and many beautiful fish species like peacock bass and tiger fish.

He also pointed out that Kampung Rata once had a bran factory, and the processed rice bran should have been sold to various places.

As for the Jempol River under the hanging bridge, they would gather together to catch large shrimp and fish for their meals when they were children, which also attracted many elderly people to come and catch shrimp for money. He also mentioned that this hanging bridge suddenly collapsed during the 1970s, causing several female workers who were riding bicycles across the bridge to accidentally fall into the river and suffer minor injuries. Fortunately, the river was not swift or deep, so it did not turn into a major tragedy.

Of course, in his memory, the Kampung Rata Community Hall also organized study classes under the leadership of the wise village head. They taught villagers to read and write at night, which was also the credit of the village head at that time. However, for some reason, these policies changed with the improvement of people's educational opportunities.

According to the words of the former village head, Lin Mingjie(林明杰), during the 3 years and 8 months of Japanese occupation, Kampung Rata had a Japanese building where many Japanese military officers lived, and there were also many comfort women coming in and out.

The former village head also pointed out that the most famous thing in Kampung Rata should be the Chinese cemetery. Every Qingming Festival, the ancestral worship would crowd the hilltop, causing serious traffic congestion and inconvenience for the villagers' movements. Apart from that, what is most unforgettable about Kampung Rata is the open-air crematorium for Indian burials. Whenever an Indian corpse was brought in, a pile of firewood about 5 to 6 feet high would be stacked. Each cremation lasted a long time, usually from dusk until dawn.

"The most fascinating thing that the villagers often talk about is that on many occasions when bodies were being cremated, some of them would stand upright, which was quite eerie."

Finally, the village head added that although the Indian cemetery in the village still had the facility for cremating bodies, those spine-chilling incidents no longer occur because it has become a modern crematorium.

Time flies, and Kampung Rata has hardly changed much. The residents still own large plots of land. The only different story is that the clear streams no longer exist. Fortunately, that ancient hanging bridge still assists the residents on this side to cross to the other side, continuing various farming activities such as planting, farming, rubber tapping, and fruit harvesting. They continue to share the smoke-like past with the newcomers.

A century ago, the British colonial government left behind an abandoned incinerator on this land, which has now become a part of our history, a silent witness.

Between Kampung Rata and Jelai, three ancient horse-mouth suspension bridges have stood for over 75 years. These suspension bridges bear witness to the passage of time, preserving memories of the British colonial era. In this location, you'll also find a British-style standalone Western-style building, showcasing typical British architectural style with an ancient and elegant appearance, harmoniously integrated into the beautiful natural surroundings.

Everything here, from the suspension bridges to the Muar River, and even the waste incinerator, contributes to the unique cultural heritage of this area.

The Jelai River is a picturesque river. It is a section leading to the Jempol River and then flows into the Muar River. This section of the river has stunning scenery, winding all the way through dense forests and peaceful villages.。

The suspension bridge of Kampung Rata, or the suspension bridge of Eatate, is an important link in our village.It's a wooden structure that spans the river and has evolved to be more than just a simple bridge; it's an integral part of the lives of the rubber tappers. Every day, regardless of the weather, villagers traverse this bridge, considering it an indispensable and essential pathway in their lives.