One version tells of a Murut man named Tutong who protected the people of Kampong Lurah Saban from headhunters (ayau) of the Kayan tribe.
Historical evidence supports this, including the discovery of human bones in jars (tajau) at Kampong Penanjong, believed to be an ancient Murut burial site.
Initially, 'Tutong' referred not to an ethnic group but to the people living along the river, a common naming convention in Borneo.
Similar examples include the Kelabit, named after the Labid River, and various river-dwelling groups in Sandakan and Kinabatangan.
As a result, many Tutong people moved to areas such as Kampong Padnunok and Kiudang, which were rich in rubber plantations.
Additionally, the Penembang area became a hub for rice cultivation and other economic activities, including the harvesting of jelutong rubber and rumbia (sago palm).
Early settlers in this region included Awang Taat and his wife, Dayang Jamilah, in the late 19th century.
For example, Simpul bin Ghafar and his wife, Dayang Fatimah, originally from Kampong Penanjong, settled in Kampong Santul in the upper reaches of the Sungai Birau but eventually returned to their hometown as the area became less viable for settlement.
They not only controlled the Tutong River, which served as the region's main trading port, but also the surrounding hinterlands, which were rich in forest resources and fertile soil for rice cultivation.
The results of their economic activities, particularly rubber, were traded through the Tutong River, cementing their role as central players in the district's economy.
This transition from living on the river to settling on land marked a significant cultural shift for the Tutong people, particularly in the late 19th century, when they completely abandoned their life on the water.
[14] The exact point in time when they converted to Islam is not known, however it is thought to be related to the migration of the Muslims from Brunei proper and Sarawak and their marriage with the Tutong locals sometime in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Raja Temanda was the son of Penglima Guntur, the chief of the Dusun tribe who resided in Kampong Merimbun.
To confirm this, he decided to secretly observe the area at night, hiding in a makeshift shelter called sawang ripau, to discover the culprit.
Although the princess had long searched for it without success, upon finding it, she quickly wore it and prepared to return to her homeland, Gunung Mulu.
Her beauty captured the heart of Bendahari Julak, a messenger from Brunei, who came to Raja Temanda's residence and eventually married the princess.
[16] After many years of marriage, a tragedy struck their household when the princess had an illicit affair with one of Bendahari Julak’s warriors who lived in the village.
These descendants later contributed to the Dusun and Tutong tribes living in Kampong Tanjong Maya.