Tawau Started At The Tawau River

There used to be an island at the mouth of the the Tawau River, but it is no more there now. The Bugis Community said they were the earliest as 'tawao' in their language means 'it is theirs', but the Tidung Community said they were the earliest, where 'tawau' means the hook and it was the answer given to the British traders who had asked them where the Tawau River was. Thinking that the British was asking what they were doing, they replied 'tawau' which means fishing.