Princess Mikawel was the daughter of  Raja Kidau or Togung Kidau, the legendary Bisingai warrior King who ruled Singai in the early 18^th Century. Legend has it that Togung Kidau has mystical powers and could fly like a bird and throw objects for miles. The King was both feared and respected by his enemies, but worshipped and loved by his people.

Togung Kidau has two daughters, Princess Mikawel, the eldest and Princess Sibayak.One night, Togung Kidau summoned his daughters. He told them to move out of Mount Singai and establish new settlements at the foot of the mountain where land is  plenty and fertile.

Princess Sibayak, being the youngest, left first with her warriors and followers and settled at a fertile valley. There Princess Sibayak established her settlement where they prospered and multiplied. Her followers named the place Sibayak, after their Princess. Sibayak flourished  and grew into what is known today as Kampong Tanjong Bowang.

After many moons passed, Princess Mikawel left Mount Singai and journeyed with her warriors and followers through deep jungles, valleys and rivers. They finally setteled at “Paya Munyuong” or Munyuong wetlands which they cultivated into wet padi fields. The first harvest brought bountiful padi and Princess Mikawel was overjoyed that her people have plentiful to eat.

However, Princess Mikawel was in for a dangerous surprise. About a cock’s crow away (3km in today’s measurement) off Paya Munyuong reigned another Princess called Nokea, the daughter of the feared headhunter King of Siluas in what is known today as Sambas in West Kalimantan. Her territory covered Paya Munyuong stretching  far and wide for as long as the human eye could see.

Seeing her territory encroached, Princess Nokea summoned her father. Enraged, her father dispatched his warriors to attack Princess Mikawel. Princess Mikawel lost the battle and retreated to a hill overlooking Nokea’s settlement.

Nokea was not satisfied. She wanted that hill. She launched another attack. After a gruelsome and inconclusive battle, Princess Mikawel dispatched her messenger to Nokea offering a truce – No more wars, live peacefully side by side. But Nokea was in no mood for peace. She murdered the messenger and sent his head back to Mikawel. The messenger was Mikawel’s husband.

Grieving, Mikawel gathered her warriors to plan for an all out assault on Nokea.

One moonlit night when Nokea and her people were celebrating the end of a harvest, Princess Mikawel launched her attack. Taken by surprise, Nokea’s warriors who were highly intoxicated on “tuak” or rice wine made from the recently harvested rice, deserted Nokea leaving her at the mercy of Mikawel’s warriors. Nokea was finally caught and beheaded. The war was over.

Princess Mikawel returned to her fort and decreed that that Nokea’s followers would be free to settle at what is now known as Tabong, living alongside her people in peace and harmony.

To remind them of the wickedness of war, she named the valley where the final battle was fought “Barouh Nokea” or Nokea’s valley.

Legend, again, has it that Princess Mikawel reigned over Tabong for almost 100 years. Today, the hill is called “Bung Mikawel”, named after the Princess. Evidence of the settlement can be seen to this day – a giant jack-fruit tree behind the longhouse – planted by Princess Mikawel nearly 100 years ago. 

Today, it is the Site where Rayan Deer Farm-stay is located