Editing Kuching (section)

==Etymology==
The name "Kuching" was already in use for the city by the time Brooke arrived in 1839.<ref name="RingSalkin1996"/><ref name="RingWatson2012"/> There are many theories as to the derivation of the name "Kuching". It was perhaps derived from the [[Malay language|Malay]] word for cat, "kucing", or from [[Cochin]], an Indian trading port on the [[Malabar Coast]] and a generic term in China and [[British India]] for trading harbour.<ref name="RingSalkin1996"/> Some Hindu artefacts can be seen today at the [[Sarawak State Museum]].<ref name=Kuchingname>{{cite web |title=Origin of Name - Kuching |url=http://www.ata.my/swk_origin.php |website=Asia Tourism Alliance |access-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204143557/http://www.ata.my/swk_origin.php |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, another source reported that Kuching was previously known as "Sarawak" before Brooke arrived. The settlement was renamed to "Sarawak Proper" during the kingdom's expansion. It was only in 1872 that [[Charles Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak|Charles Brooke]] renamed the settlement to "Kuching".<ref name=Kuchingname/><ref>Rowthorn C, Cohen M, Williams C. (2008). In ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=vvXoC8F5Oq0C&dq=James+Brooke+named+Kuching+Sarawak&pg=PA162 Borneo. Ediz. Inglese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216135701/https://books.google.com/books?id=vvXoC8F5Oq0C&pg=PA162&dq=James+Brooke+named+Kuching+Sarawak&hl=en&sa=X&ei=dPXRVN2mOcaUuAT604LYDQ&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=James%20Brooke%20named%20Kuching%20Sarawak&f=false |date=16 December 2022 }}''. [[Lonely Planet]]. p. 162. Google Book Search. Retrieved 4 February 2015.</ref>

There was one unlikely theory based on a story of miscommunication. According to the story, James Brooke arrived in Kuching on his schooner [[Royalist (schooner)|''Royalist'']]. He then asked his local guide about the name of the town. The local guide mistakenly thought that Brooke was pointing towards a cat, and so had said the word "Kuching". However, ethnic Malays in Sarawak have always used the term "pusak" for cats (cognate with [[Tagalog language|Filipino]] ''pusa''), instead of the standard Malay word "kucing" (cognate with Filipino ''kuting'' which refers to kittens).<ref name=Kuchingname/> Despite this etymological discrepancy, Sarawakians have adopted the animal as a symbol of their city, and it features in statues as well as the municipal council's [[coat of arms]] - an example of heraldic [[canting arms|canting]].

Some source also stated that it was derived from a fruit called "mata kucing" (''Euphoria malaiense''), a close relative of the [[Longan]]<ref group="note">{{Cite web |url=http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/sites/default/files/Mata%20Kucing.pdf |title=Mata Kucing is a close relative of Longan (Euphoria longana). |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319201454/http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/sites/default/files/Mata%20Kucing.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="etymology" group="note">{{Cite web |url=http://www.doa.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/download_show.php?id=540 |title=Mata Kucing is similar to that of Longan fruit. |access-date=6 June 2014 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215543/http://www.doa.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/download_show.php?id=540 |url-status=dead}}</ref> that grows widely in Malaysia and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/727589/truly-cool-kuching |title=Truly cool Kuching |newspaper=[[The Philippine Star]] |date=17 September 2011 |access-date=6 June 2014 |author=Paulo Alcazaren |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606073025/http://www.philstar.com/modern-living/727589/truly-cool-kuching |archive-date=6 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There was also a hill in the city that was named after the fruit, which is called Bukit Mata Kuching. [[Harriette McDougall]] writing to her son in the 19th century, stated that the name was derived from a stream of the same name, called "Sungai Kuching" or Cat River in English.<ref name="RingSalkin1996"/><ref>{{cite book |author=Sarawak Museum |title=A brief history of Kuching |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a4BuAAAAMAAJ |year=1993 |publisher=Sarawak Museum}}</ref> On page 64 of Bampfylde and Baring-Gould's 1909 'A History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs', it says: "Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is so called from a small stream that runs through the town into the main river...." The stream was situated at the foot of Bukit Mata Kuching and in front of the [[Tua Pek Kong Temple, Kuching|Tua Pek Kong Temple]]. In the 1950s, the river became very shallow because of silt deposits in the river. The river was later filled to make way for roads.<ref name=Kuchingname/>

There is another theory that Kuching actually means "Ku" (古)- Old and "Ching" (井) - Well or "old well" (古井) in Chinese. During the [[Kingdom of Sarawak|Brooke administration]], there was no water supply and water-borne diseases were common. In 1888, an epidemic broke out which later was known as "Great Cholera Epidemic". A well situated in the present day China Street in Main Bazaar helped to combat the disease by providing clean water supply. Due to increased demand for a water supply, the role of the well was later replaced by water treatment plant on the Bau Road.<ref name=Kuchingname/><ref>Francis Chan, The Borneo Post, 1 September 2013</ref>