S ] V E T C !i E S IN W U N E 0. 
 
 IIV III 10 
 
 UEV. A. IIOllSBURGir, A.M., 
 
 I.A'IMC i\llSSII)NAi:V IN .SAIIAWMC. 
 
 ANSTllirni !•:!{: 
 ri{! NTRD r.Y L. 1! U SSK I; 1,. 
 
 Miu,'(.'ci,vin. 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 ITHACA, NY. 14853 
 
 John M. Echols Collection 
 on Southeast Asia 
 KROCH LIBRARY 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 3 1924 078 409 632 
 
 CJrAl^TEU 1. 
 
 TlIK (JUUNTIIV. 
 
 On llio lull of Augiist 1852, I embarked at Singapore in a small 
 (.vailing Rcliooiior lioinid for Sarawak ; and aided by a favourable 
 breeze and a rapid tide, wo were Boon carried past tlio verdant 
 nbores of tlio Straits of Malacca, into the China Sea, across which 
 we stretched direct for Borneo. After four days' sail, tlie outlines 
 of the mountains of tliat island appeared in tlic distant horizon, 
 blue and bright through the clear atmosphere, gradually rising up 
 froui the water, and darkening iii colom*, and shewing more clearly 
 their spurs and valleys as wc closed in with the land. Next 
 appeared the low level coast-line, black "with the forests of centuries, 
 ■whose dark and hcavj'' verdure stretched in unbroken mass over 
 the whole face of the country, far away over and beyond the tops of 
 tlie liighest and most distant mountains. As wo passed along, the 
 coast-line was seen to be occasionally broken by the mouths of 
 large rivers, which discharge their waters through gaps iu the 
 ceaseless and apparently impenetrable jungle, and which, by their 
 broad and stately streams, afford access to the interior of the 
 country. AVe Avcrc becalmed for some time off Capo Datu — a high 
 bold promontory th.at projects far into the sea — till, a heavy squall 
 coming down from the top of the bluff, necessitated a rapid reduction 
 of sail, but bore us at the same tune gallantly over tlie waves. As 
 the night closed in, the clouds gathered in masses ; but the almost 
 incessant play of sheet-lightning around the horizon afforded a 
 sndicicncy of light by which to continue our course ; and about 
 midnight wo cast anchor off the Santubong entrance of the Sarawak 
 river. 
 
 Next morning the weather was stormy and hazy ; but unpropi- 
 tious as the day was, it gave us a favourable idea of the picturesque 
 character of the country. On one side of the river, close to its 
 mouth, and close also to the beach, Santubong mountain sliot up 
 almost perpendicularly to the height of neaidy 3000 feet, stretching 
 away seaward in a long, irregular, broken, and picturesque range, 
 and terminating in a bold bluff cape, round whose base the waters 
 of the Cliina Sea heaved and broltc. On the other side rose a 
 lower and less striking liill, between Avhich and Santubong the 
 river opened, like the open gate of an avenue, inviting us to explore 
 the country. There wc entered with tlie flood tide, and in duo 
 time arrived at Kuching, the capital of tlie world-famed Sarawak. 
 
 1 do not inleiul to repeat tlie story — so well known tlirough the 
 works of Caplains KeppoU and Mundy — of the manner in which 
 
fV'S'/5 
 
 5n 
 
 <5«— 
 
hiir .luiiics Hi'oolio IjccaiiKS I'lijali of S»i"a\viil< ; I 111113', Itoivovcr, Ik; 
 piirdoncd giviiij^ Uic fuUowiiiy illu.stnilidii of tlic. cool iiuiiuii-.r in 
 which ho hxilcH dauf^or in llic, face aiul prciuircs ai^aiiisf i(. 
 
 AVhcii ]\Ii- IJrookc firKt arvivod at Kiichiiif;- ia Ihc lliyalisf, lie 
 landed and paid liis re.spoclH to Miidti llaHnim, Iho Malay rajali of 
 the place ; and in niUirn invited that piiiici", wilii several of liia 
 nobles and l.hoir foUowei-s, to visit, him on hoard hin 3'aclit.. I have 
 shaved in the sm-prisc which 1 have often heard ex[M'essed, tlial. iMi- 
 Bi-0(dce shonld have invited on hoard hi» yacht, a iNlahiy prince and 
 his followers, of whom he knew comparaflvely nolhliif;^, except that 
 they belon{^ed to a race whose name is Hyin)nymon8 in the east 
 with feroeIt,y, trencher)', and hlood--thirstInesK, und who, wherever 
 they are known, nre. noted tor their addiclion to piraey- JL is true, 
 they are hy no nicians ho bad as they are represent,e(l t.(» be; and it 
 ia eipially true tiuvt tliey possess many line (inalitics, which are 
 discovered upon closer acqnaintance ; Imt still the general charac- 
 ter they bear, and by which alone ISFr Jirooke conld have known 
 them, is that of treacherous jiiratcs. Mr Brooke, however, resolved 
 to return Muda JIassim's hospitality, without exhibiting eitlier fear 
 01* suspicion, while at the same time he took cllectual measures I0 
 baflle any attcm[)t at treachery, should such be made. On deck, 
 the crew were drawn up mnler ai'ms, acting ostensibly as a guard 
 of honour to receive tin; prince, but pi'cpared for hostilities in ease 
 of n<>cessity ; while at the same i.iine, the ship's guns ivere loaded 
 with grape, and trained so as to sw(^ep the deck at tlie, lirst dis- 
 charge, [n the cabin, where Air Brooke was to receive his visitors, 
 lie was seated on a sofa with a broad table placed beiore hlin, in 
 order to j)revent any suddcm stab Avilli a kriss, and under the 
 pillow, Avhich lay carelessly beside him, a pair of loaded pistols 
 were conccaleil. Above the sofa, a large mirror was jdaced, and 
 behind the jnirror were stationed four men, each with four loaded 
 muskets, Avho on a given signal w(!re to throw down the mirror, 
 and shew themselves armed. Thus fortified, Mr Brooke sat at his 
 ca.se, and received his distinguished visitors with gentlemanly 
 covu'tesy. No attempt at violence Avas made ; and IMiida IJassim 
 remained till the day of his death ignorant of the precautions 
 taken against his possible treachery. 
 
 On another occasion, after t,he present Sarawak govcirnmcnt was 
 established, a chief of the Sarebas Dyaks, hy name LIngire, made 
 an attempt to take Mr ]5rooke's head, lie came to Sarawak with 
 several war-boats, ostensibly to jiay a visit to the Mala}' Dadis or 
 magistrates of that place, and moored his boats in the riveropposltc 
 their eampcnigs, a few hinidred yards above K'ajah [{rooke's house. 
 At length, one night when the tide suited his jmrpose, he dropped 
 silently down the river to the Jtajah's wharf, fastened his boats 
 there, and landed with eighty armed men. Jle then walked up to 
 the Jiouse, entered t.he hall where t,he Knjah was seated at dinner 
 entertaining all the lOuropcan Inhabitants of the seltlenu'.nt, and hii* 
 
'^. 
 
 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924078409632 
 
5 
 
 luen, pliiciiig llicinsclvcs in a seniicirclo rouml tlio liiblo, H([iiaLtc(l 
 cIdwii, intciuling to spring; upon their viotima in tlio confusion of 
 clearing away tlic dinner. As soon as Mr lirooke saw Lingire enter 
 witli so many men, lie suspoctcil liis object, and calling a Malay 
 servant who fortunately nnderstood English, he ordered hiin to 
 cross the river and tell the JJatus to bring over their men as quickly 
 as possible. This being spoken in English, was not tmderstood by 
 the Dyaks, who, thinking that the lu'ijah had merely given sonic 
 order about the dinner, saw the servant leave the room without 
 sus])icion, and sat still, quietly and intently surveying the scene 
 before them, and waiting the signal of attack from their chief. In 
 the meantime, the Europeans continued their dinner Avitli the best 
 appetite they could, and knowing that their safety depended on 
 their prolonging the meal as much as possible, they were in no 
 InuTj'^ to conclude it. From the painful state of suspense in which 
 they were held, they were at lengtii delivered by tlie arrival of the 
 J)atu Tummang-gong — a brave old pirate, who, in his day, has 
 carried on his depredations within sight of Singapore — who entered 
 the room at the bead of thirty Malays, lie at once placed himself 
 between the Ein-opeans and Dy.aks; and turning upon Lingire, lie 
 applied to him many epithets the reverse of complimentaiy, told 
 bini that he knew Avliat he had come for, and ordered liiin instantly 
 to go down to his boats. The Dyak paused ; the odds were eighty 
 to thirty, and lie seemed inclined to try the cliances of a combat ; 
 but while he hesitated, the Datu Bandar entered with fifty men, and 
 he then slunk off to his boats like a beaten dog. When he arrived 
 at Sarebas, he gave it out publiclj' tliat liia object was to have 
 taken thclinjah's head, and he further expressed his determination 
 still to liave it; nay, he even went so far as to make a basket for 
 the R})ccial purpose of containing it after it should be cajttnrcd. 
 Ife now appears, however, to have thought better of the matter ; 
 for when I last saw him, lie was seated at the Rajah's table, talking 
 and laugliing and drinking arrack. 
 
 Tlie (Sarawak territory, as seen from the sea, presents a long low 
 dark coast-line, covered with trees to the water's edge, and occa- 
 sionally intersected b}'' the mouths of rivers, or broken by bold 
 rocky promontories that project far into the sea. Behind the 
 coast-line, the ground rises in many places into hills and moun- 
 tains, some of them i-ound and swelling, and covered, like all the 
 rest of the country, with dark jungle ; others abrupt aud craggy in 
 the extreme, Avith trees and bushes sliooting from every crevice, 
 and creepers and parasites hanging from every clilV and from every 
 tree. 
 
 On entering one of the rivers whicli cleaves its way through the 
 apparently impenetrable jungle, the traveller tinds himsolf in a wide 
 opcm channel, l)otIi sides of which arc crowded with tlio same dark 
 and lieavy foliage that covered the coast, and which, not content 
 with the possession of the land, seems to aspire to that of the water 
 
too, by HCiuliiiq forests of nuiiif^'i-ovcs hr iiilo llic river. In ollit-r 
 l)arl.a, Llio biiul^s Jiro lined Uy LlioiiHjind.s of uipa p.'ilnis, wliosu loiif^ 
 bomliiig leaves, fringed willi llieir dark and sharp-poinled Icadels, 
 Avavc graeefidly in Uic breeze, forming tlic lorcgroinid of tlie 
 niiglil,y jnnglo Uiali lowers np bebind. lligber up Uic river, wbero 
 the banks arc no longer swampy, tlie mangroves and nipas disap- 
 pear, bnt the primeval forest still eontiniies in undiminished and 
 luichanging magnilieonce ; and as the sih'nt stream Iteai's us swiftly 
 onwards over its still and phicid waters, glowing willi llie tints of 
 a tropical evening sky, wc pass ])oint after point, and traverse roach 
 after reach, each bank and every change of scene presenting the 
 same Avild and lonely grandeur and luxuriance. If a pigeon iliea 
 overhead, a moidcijy leaps from a bongh, or the loud and discordant 
 note (jf soni(! feathered deni/.en of the forest rings through the air, 
 it is th(! only sign of life the vast jungle e>;hibits, excejit Ihe shrill 
 chir])ing of tins tree grasshoppers which have commenced their 
 cvcning-song, or the irritating attacks which compel attention to 
 the existence of saiul-dies and niostputoes. 
 
 As we ascend f.he river above llic induence of the tides, llic 
 channel, though it still continues deep, becomes ver^r iijutow, and 
 often a])pears almost over-arched by the vegetation wliich clothes 
 its banks. Not oidy do enormous t.rees shoot u]) their giant forii\8 
 to the height of hundreds of lect, but the margin of the river be- 
 tween t,ho trees and the sli-eam itsislf is lined with a dense mass of 
 vegetation, as think and impenetrable, and Um times as high, as a 
 quickset-hedge. One of the most remarkable of the ]dants that 
 form this fringe to the margin of the stream, is calhal by the 
 Dyaks mudiavg, and exactly resembles the jjlaiit of th(>, pine-applo, 
 onl}'- that it grows upon a stem some twindy feet high, its fruit, 
 al.so, has much the ap])earance of the pine-apple, but is hanl and 
 woody Avithin, and iU.terly unfit for food. TJiese plants grow in 
 great nundjcrs in the luud that forms the margin of the stream, and 
 arc the resort of troops of monkey's, which hiap, grin, and chatter 
 among them during the day, and at night hang asleep upon them 
 within oars-length of the passing boat. 
 
 Higher up the river still, it again changes its appearance; 
 instead of being deep and muddy, it becomes shallow and clear, 
 assuming to a considerable extent the character of a monnlaiii 
 stream. The bottom is sandy or stony, and the fish arc seen jday- 
 ing in the pools ; the banks arc dry and free from mud, allowing 
 the large trees of the jungle to spring np from (he margin of the 
 stream, and (o interlace their giganlnc branches high overhead. 
 Then it is that the forest is seen in all ils beauty and in all its 
 grandeur. Tall trunks, straight ns an arrow, support themibroken 
 shade of verdure which clings to their boughs, Avhile long and fan- 
 tastic creepers embrace the vast columns with their tangled net- 
 work, and hang lik(" festoons from one to another. Oi'casionally, 
 accident may havi! el(>arcd a cinisidcrable space al^ng the banks. 
 
leaving one vast Lrcc sljintling in coinpftralivc soliLiulc, iintl then I'a 
 seen l,lic nionjircli of the forest in all his gloiy. A vast, niagsivc 
 trnuk rlH(!S straiglit as a 3hip':^ mast, and without a single branch, 
 to the height of sonic 200 feet ; and from the top of this gigantic 
 column diverge the spreading branches, covered witli their heavy 
 masses of dark-green foliage, the whole forming as fine an object as 
 the eye can rest on. 
 
 )Somctimes these large trees arc found in inconvenient proximity to 
 the traveller ; they fall across the stream, and bar his progress. If 
 the trunk is immersed so deeply as that there are three or four inches 
 of water on anypart of it, the canoe is unloaded, and the crew, jump- 
 ing into the water, drag lier over the impediment; Avhile if it 
 happens to be resting at a licight of five or six inches above the 
 surface of the stream, she is again unloaded, and pushed under- 
 neath it. 
 
 As the trees seldom fall iterfectly flat across the surface of the 
 Avatcr, o)ic or other of these methods of passing them is generally 
 practicable; but sonu'.timcH neither of them can bo followed, in 
 which case there is iio other resource than the laborious ami tedious 
 process of cutting the triuilc through. As there are also shallows 
 and rapids, as ivcU as logs of wood in the rivers, it will easily be 
 imagined that ascending these smaller streams is a toilsome method 
 of journej'ing I and so numerous are impediments of one kinder 
 another, that 1 have sometimes seen the crew wading or swinnuing 
 continuously for several hours. 
 
 I have thus endeavoured to give an idea of the country as seen 
 in going up one of the lai'ge rivers. I shall now ask the reader 
 to take a walk with me into the jungle. Jungle is of two kinds — 
 old and young. Old jungle is simplj'- the forest, young jmigle is 
 the vegetation which springs up wherever old jungle has been cut 
 doAvn. J t consists of a dense mass of grass, reeds, and bushes, 
 impervioiiH to man; and when necessity compels him to take his 
 com-stj through it, he must cut his wa)'^ with his parang or chop- 
 ping knife, hewing out a path as he goes along. Walking in old 
 jungl(>,, however, is very different. There, there is comparatively 
 little underwood; the ground is moist and soft with decaying leaves; 
 the air is cool and pleasant; and the enormous trees whose foliage 
 completely Icceps oil the sun, form a ' leafy labyrinth' of the most 
 imposing and extensive dimensions, livery tenth tree is a giant, 
 Avhosc vast stem, straight as a ship's mast, shoots up aloft till its 
 almost uiuliminished diameter is bid l)y the foliage of those around 
 it and from the visildc height of the lower trees which conceal 
 its to[), we are left to imagine the size of the higher. Some of them 
 are covered with the strangest-looking creepers and parasites which 
 clothe the stem and festoon the boughs ; and occasionally wo come 
 to a tree in fidl flower, which, if it be partially isolated, so as to 
 admit of its being seen from below, alVords one of the most beautiful 
 spccladcs Avhicli (he veii;c.lable creation can prcf-ent. Altogether, 
 
8 
 
 (lioiigh tin; <^(iiior!il apponraiico of llie lorcst is, except as regards 
 tin; size of lli<; trees ^Ylli^!ll eoniposo it, very iiuic.li like lliat of a wood 
 at liome, still tiio iiiont ciirflory (^xiiiiiiiiatiou will not fail to sliew 
 Eouiething veiy iiiilil<(; any of llie ve<^olal)le ])i'0(luetioiifi of the 
 temperate zone. I'erliajis, however, one of (he most slriking 
 features of the jmii^le. h (he almost enlin; ahsence of animal life 
 ■\vhieh it displays — an ahsenee p(;rfeelly snr[)risin<!^ (o the ICin'opean 
 visitor, Avhi), from tlu; Jungle's Iteing nnfre(|ucMle(l and almost un- 
 trodden by man, is pre[)ared to lind it iilled with tenants of one 
 kind or otiter. Hut no ; lie walks along amidst this luxuriance of 
 vegc.ladon, and scarct^l}'^ sees an animal. Almost the only signs of 
 life, he discovers are (lie h.arsh ery of the hornhill, the ])laintive wail 
 of ihiMvairn orlong-ai-mcd ape, and the loud hut nudaneholy groaning 
 of the jvfsso)?^^ or long-nosed monlcey; or ])(n'haps Ihe sightof a lizard 
 ascending the rough trunk of some v.'ist Irei'., or a snake rustling 
 among the fallen leaves or twining among th(>- hranehes. It is true, 
 that wiiere there are numy fruit trees, the seene is dilfiM-ent ; there 
 troojis of monkeys abound, and leap and sport anu)ng the houghs, umv 
 Bhaking Ihe forest in vcny Avanlonness, again sitting gravely on 
 sonui lower hough, grinning secure delianee on their two-legged 
 brethren heh)w, treating Avith nuijestie eontcnnpt the ellbrts of the 
 Dyaks to frighten them, and gazing with the bliss of ignorance on 
 the terrors of the gun. 'J'hey are of many hues and of all sizes, 
 fr(nn the oi-ang-oulang, whose body is as largo as tluit of a (all 
 man, to the smaller sjiceies of a sp.-in long. Tiuiro are many birds, 
 too, of dilVere.nt kinds, generally Avitli harsh voices and brilliant 
 jdumage, Avhieh conceal tlnnnselves among tin; thick leaves, or tiit 
 uway oil too near an ap[)roaeli. Such assemblages of ainmals, 
 liowever, arc the exception; the rule in the forest is, as 1. havo 
 already stated, great luxuriance of vegetation, and great scarcity of 
 animal life ; and in this rcs])eet, I'orneo at present, [ should 
 imagine, somewhat resembles the account given bj-^ geologists of 
 England during the formation of the coal. If it be so, it is strange 
 to lind the .state of our own island man)'' thousaiul ages .ago 
 paralleled liy the present state of another island many thousand 
 miles distant. 
 
 There is yet another view of the country which I ."^hall endea- 
 vour to])resent — )iamely, that Avilnessed from the summit of a lofty 
 iiionnlain. I'^rom such a position, .-is far as the spectator's eye can 
 reach, he looks down upon a generally flat but somewhat imdidat- 
 ing country, Avitli hills of v.irious forms and sizes scattered around, 
 some of them rouml and Rwelling, some Avilh shar]) peaks and 
 r.dges, ami sonu-. abrujit .'iiul ci'aggy in llio extreme, but all of them 
 covered Avith the same dark and heavy verdure Avhich over-spre.ads 
 the face of tin; coimtry, except Avhere sonu; limestone elilV gleams 
 through the m;iss of vegelation wiii(di elsewhere shrouds it. in 
 the low ground, he. sees the Avinding riv(!rs pursuing Iheir torl\iou3 
 co.irse through Ihe uidn'oken forest, tunv .appearing lustrous and 
 
sUviM-y ill tlici lif;lit, now red :in(l umdily as tlicy roll iiloii/j uliiiost 
 at his foot, now buried in tlic tall trees wliieli clothe their banks, 
 and again roai)[)earing at a distance brighter and more lustrous 
 than ever. The vast expanse of forest spread out before him, in- 
 duces ideas somewliat akin to lliose awakened by gazing on the 
 ocean from a sea-side elilV. There is the same extent of prospect, 
 the same monolony of scene, and the same feeling of solitude in 
 the one case as in the other; and this similarity of landscape in- 
 duces a similarity of ideas, cutting oft' the soul, as it were, from 
 immediate contact ^vith his fellows, and opening it to the great- 
 ness and the majesty of that Tower who created alike the ocean 
 and the forest. 
 
 CHAP T 15 R I I. 
 
 THE VliOVLE. 
 
 The inhabitants of Sarawak arc of three different races — Dyaks, 
 ^lalays, and Chinese. The Dyaks arc the aborigines of the island; 
 the ilalays, a sea-faring race who have settled on the coast, and 
 liavc to a considerable extent compelled the IJyaks to rctii-c 
 inland; and the Chinese are immigrants who have settled in the 
 country, and form a distinct connnunity in the midst of cither the 
 Malays or Dyaks, as chance may have placed them. The Malaj's 
 and Ciiinesc are so well known, that 1 will say little concerning 
 them, but shall merely reproduce a parallel which I have sometimes 
 mentally drawn between these two races on the one baud, and the 
 Scottish Highlanders and Lowlandcrs on the other. 
 
 The Chinese, like the Lowland Scotch, arc cautions, clear-beaded, 
 pei"scvcring, industrious,' and frugal without being niggardly. 
 They lay hold of every opportunity of bettering their circumstances, 
 turn everything to account, and stick all together. They have a 
 keen relish for the humorous, are very hospitable, and excessively 
 proud — proud of themselves and their attainments, proud of their 
 country and its greatness, reckoning themselves the first people, 
 and it the first nation by manj'^ degrees on the face of the earth. 
 They emigrate in great mmdjcrs to all the countries with which 
 they arc acq\uiintcd ; and though they strive to return to their own 
 land with a competence, they often settle permanently abroad. So 
 far, 1 think, the characters of the two nations run parallel ; but 
 beyond this point the comparison turns into a contrast. The 
 Chinese are utterly unprincipled and mendacious, and thoroughly 
 selfish ; and, though many of them know that " honesty is the 
 
best policy, " il luny hr. h:\1'v]\ I'.ii'nl lli;\l llicy arc lu'vor limu';;! IV3111 
 l)riii(',i|)l(i. 
 
 Tins iMsiliiyH, on (Ik; oIIkh' IimikI, nvc yvond, hot-l)l<ii)(l(>(l, nnd 
 revengeful; experl; in llic use of nrinH, foml of wiir, and uiifond of 
 work ; (icrec and ferociuns wlion cNcilcd, Inil jjoHIc and gculleuianlv 
 in llieir ordinary condncl., always (iivii, and oflon o])lii;in!;'. 'I'licy 
 are very fond of llicir children — so fond, lliaf llic.y never eorrcct 
 tlieni ; and the indnlgence willi which Ihey are Irealed \vlien young- 
 is prohal)!}'' one cause of (he high sense of personal diguily which 
 they ])osaeHs, aiul Avhy they so (U',c[dy fe(d anytliing like slight or 
 insult. If (hey (piarrel, they never apjily abusive c])ifh(;ts to eacli 
 other, lilco (liincse or Jiindoos; they arc (,00 proud to scold, and 
 their resentineut is (00 deep to be vcii(.cd in words. Tlui^'' arc not 
 exactly brave, in our sense of the word ; that is^ ihcy have not the 
 cool calm courage of Avcstern nations, at least of disciplined men ; 
 but wh(>-u (hear blood is roused, ihcy lose all regard for personal 
 consecpicuccs, and tight like furies to the deadi. " Vouuiust surely 
 give your men soine(;hing to inspire courage," said a Malay who 
 witnessed Keppell's attack on Patusan to one of (be li;uro])Cii.ns, 
 " for (.he,}'- rush up right in face of the caniu)ns. Now we Malays 
 are brave, ))nt we cannot do tba(.." Yet this uuiu bears a high 
 characler fiir courage, and was (.be first (,o scale the enemy's palisade 
 at Simgc Lang (Kite's Jviver), preceding even Europeans in the 
 attack. 
 
 The Dyaks are a branch of (he Malay race, and differ litde from 
 the ordinary Malay ty))e. 'i'hey have broad faces, Hat noses, 
 thickish lijis, black eyes, and coarse lank black hair. They arc 
 fairer than the Malay's, sonui of them when young bcfmg as fair as 
 a ]']nropean ; but as (hey grow up and expose! (hemsclvcs to the 
 sun, they l)cconm of a reddish brown, like the savages of the 
 Amazon, Avhom, I have been (old, (hey much resemble in many 
 resi)ec(H. The3' are smaller, ami possess less physical s( renglh than 
 I'juropeans, but (hey have great powers of endurance, and great 
 bodily aetivi(y, clind)ing rocks and (rees like cats or monljcys 
 Their countenance is, as i have said, of the Malay type, and it con- 
 sequently (;ake3 some time before a l'>uropean becomes accustometl 
 (0 their appearance; but when his e^'e has been reconciled to their 
 cast of leatures, be soon discovers in (Iumu iu(elligene{>., oi)enness, 
 fiprigbtlincss, and good-humour. These ipialllies nevin* fail to eoni- 
 mend (.hcmseives to the favourable consideration of the Rpecta(or, 
 and he soon begins to consider them handsome, according as they 
 approach (be ideal of (he Malay type, just as he considers a 
 l']urop(;au liandi'.onie, according as be ajjproaclK^s (,hc ideal of (he 
 (!ancasian type. The ordinary dress of (ho nu-n <'(nisis(s of a 
 cJunnat, or piece of clodi, about six inches wide, and six or eight 
 f(H',t long, ]i;\ssed once bi!(.\vc(;n (he h\gs, ami wrapped several (inuis 
 round the wais(., 01m (uid of i(. hanging down in fron(, the o(her b<',- 
 liiud. 'i'bey .'il-;!) Avcar a jiicke( of thi(dv co((on clodi nf (heir own 
 
II 
 
 nmniifacthrc, and a liandkercliiof or piece of bark-cloUi lied like a 
 t urban avouiul tlie licad. TIic women wear a petticoat of much 
 Fcanticr dimensions than a lliglilander's kilt, together witii a jacket 
 like that of tlie men. Few of either rcx, liowcver, wear the jacket, 
 except in cold wcalhcv; the men, if on a journej', generally carrj'- 
 ing theirs in a basket, Avhlle the women hang theirs over one 
 slioulder. I\lany men Avear their hair long like the women, but 
 most of them wear it short, wliile a few shave the head completely 
 bare. IJoth sexes are fond of adorning their hair or head-dresses 
 with flowers, generally large bright red and yellow blossoms, which 
 become their dark complexions exceedingly well. 
 
 Of national ornaments, as they may be called, there are no great 
 variety, and nmst of them, though still retained by the inlaiid tribes, 
 are being abandoned by those who have come much in contact with 
 ICuropcans. The most striking to the eye of a stranger ai-e the 
 large and numerous ear-rings worn by the tribes of Sarebas and 
 Sakarran, and which are inserted not only in the lobe, but also in 
 the cartilage of the ear. Five or six large brass rings — the 
 largest being sometimes four inches in diameter — arc suspended in 
 the lobe of the ear, and eight or ten more, in regularly diminishing 
 order as they ascend, arc inserted in the cartilage. The women do 
 not wear these enormous car-rings, their peculiar ornament being a 
 circlet of ])aiuted rattan lioojjs around the Avaist. lioth sexes wear 
 numerous bracelets and anklets of brass-wire, and frequently also 
 nrmlets of polished white shell, which contrast well with their 
 dusky forms, p On one occasion, I saw the daughters of several 
 Sakarran chicrs clothed in loose dresses composed of shells, 
 lieads, and polished stones, arranged witii great care and considcr- 
 ;ible taste. The dress, which was A'^ery becoming, hung as low as 
 tlic knee, and as the young ladies ivalked along, the stones of Avhich 
 it Avas composed rung upon each otiier like the chime of distant 
 bells. These dresses are very expensive, costing some seventy 
 or eighty reals a-piecc (about i^l2), and are therefore not common. 
 .Some of the young men Avcar head-dresses composed of the hair 
 of their enemies, dyed red, Avith Avliich they fvlso ornament the 
 heads of their sjjcars and the handles and scfibb.irdg of their SAVords.! 
 <)ther3 adorn themselves with the feathers of the argus pheasant, 
 and many Avith fantastic artificial plmncs. At Samj)ro, 1 saAV a 
 Avonnm Avearing a long round hut, somewhat rcHcmbling the head- 
 dress of a Parsen, b\it narroAA'er, and mnch more lofty. The !Malo8 
 and Kyans tattoo themselves slightly, and generally each tribe 
 lias some trilling distinction in dress or ornament peculiar to them- 
 seh'cs. 
 
 ' jn dis])Osition, the Dj'aks arc mild and gentle; they are quiet 
 jind docile Avhen avcU treated, but proud and apt to take oft'cnce if 
 Ihey think themselves slighlc.d. They are industrious, frugal, and 
 accumulative, and, were they not so ]ioor, might even be reckoned 
 ''iinirv ; but as eafli knows that, if from the failure of his crop, or 
 
 )! 
 
1 2 
 
 from jiiiy oLIum- imavoidiihlo civiisc, he, m1ioii1<1 I'iill iiiUj (liil)(., it will 
 accuniiil.'Uo sd ni[)i(ll3', finiu tlic liiyli rule of iiilorost, lli;it lie, M'ill 
 probably never get IVeo from it, I he circf'iiliiosa aiul frugality wliicli 
 tliey disj)lay caiuint, be regarded a.s odierwisc tlian Icgitiinale. 
 At tliesame time, lliey are lios]ii(a])le lo llie extent of tlieir means, 
 and eonsid(!r tlieniPcdves Ijonnd to place bt^tbre a visitor the best 
 they ean alVonl. 'I'liey have a Klrong iierceitlioii of (he distinction 
 b(!tween nicvni and Itium, and seiireely ever violate it either among 
 tlicmselvefl or towards l'inro|)eanH. They iic^ver alteiu|it sneli thefts 
 and robbericM as the Honlli Sea ishmdcrw were in the habit of com- 
 mitting nj»on the early iiavigalorM; for tlu.'ir great self-esteem, their 
 high sense of jxjrsonal and family dignity, ami the Intense keen- 
 ness with which tUo.y feel anything like degradation, would alone 
 prevent their doing anytiiing to ■which infamy was attaclied. 
 As they are tluis lionest, so are thej'' to a gi-eat extent trnthfnl, 
 thoiigli to t,hi.4 general eharaeter there are, of eonrse, exceijtions. 
 On one occasion, a Dyak said to a missionary: — ''Yonr religion ia 
 for sinners, is it notV" " Yes," he replied, " it is for all men to 
 teacli them to be good, and to do Cod's will." " V<'.ry well," was 
 the answer; " you slionld try and convert that man," [lointing to one 
 who passed by, " for he is a thief." But tliongh the J)yaks do not 
 steal, they are great beggars ; for they have been so aecustonved to 
 receive things fron\ white men, that they think they have only to 
 ask for anything tlnij'' may want. '.PlnMr pride, liowevcr, is so 
 great, that a few rebufls elVectnally eheek llunn ; and they have, 
 besides, a delicacy of feeling, and an innate sense of the becoming, 
 Avhicli prevent flnnr doing anything improper or contrarj' to natural 
 good )nannerfl. AVImn they receive a present, they never say 
 " Thank yon," but next day they will bring in return a litt,le fruit 
 or some such trifle : it is their method of making an acknowledge- 
 ment. 
 
 When young, the Dyaks are acute and apt to learn, Imt as the}' 
 grow older, their intellect seems t;o become deadened, and incapable 
 of rising bej'ond familiar subjects, i The cause of this seems to be, 
 that having neither religion nor poetry, having nothing that ean 
 elevate the mind above the routine of ordinary life, or cause the 
 past, the distant, or the future to ])redominate oV(n- the ])resent, 
 their faculties an; bowed down i;o the daily wants of tluiir daily 
 existence, and become incapabh; of cx])anding bej'ond them, I 
 have observed that those lads Avho are in the habit of associating 
 with the missionaries, and have been by them instTuetcd in Chris- 
 tianity, a\-e much nmre acute and intelligent than their companions ; 
 .and 1 think it not unlik(dy that they may retain through life that 
 mental superiority which they now uufiucslionably possess. Let 
 us hope, then, that (.'hristianity, Avhicli has done so much for ever}' 
 other luition by ^vhom it has been received, will do as much for 
 them, and that they will be elevated both morally and intellectuall}'- 
 by being (aught (he sidtlinic. and atVeeting narrative of (he Saviour's 
 life and death. 
 
13 
 
 riiere nre in the Sarawnlv territory inuny diflureiit tribes of 
 Uyaks, nainnd from Mio rivers on which they live, many of them 
 speaking distinct languag'(^s, and ahnost all of thorn habitually 
 regarding eaeh other as enemies. These tribes, prior to the coming 
 of Sir James Brooke, lived in a state of chronic hostility with eacli 
 other. AYhcncvcr they met, they fonght. They either fitted out 
 numerous fleets to combat on a large scale, or they went out in 
 small parties of one or two boats, stealing upon their enemies by 
 surpri.'ic, and relreating as suddenly as they came. The object of 
 all these expeditions was to procure hunum heads. The head of an 
 cneni}'- is the most valued prize a Dyak can liavc, ami is not only 
 esteemed as a trophy of valour, but is also intimately connected 
 with their superstitious customs. The death of one of their tribe 
 entailed an ulat or ban upon the whole country ; and until this ulat 
 was removed, Avhich it only could be by tiie capture of a head, 
 various i-estrietions were placed upon the whole community — for 
 example, no widower could marrj' again, nor could the approi)riate 
 ofl'erings at the tombs of their deceased relatives be made till tiie 
 ulat was removed. T'hcre were, therefore, many excuses for head- 
 hunting. If the near relative of a chief dieil, ho immediately 
 organised a head-hunting expedition, viewing the heads captured 
 probably, though now unconsciously, as an offering to the manes of 
 the deceased. At other times, they went out to avenge former 
 attacks by hostile tribes, and often again, merely for the love of 
 war and the glory of taking heads. Nor were they at all particu- 
 lar whose head they took. Primarily, of course, their expeditions 
 were directed against enemies ; but with them, every stranger was 
 an enemy ; and a disappointed war-party would sooner take the 
 head of a friend, than return without one. Thus head-hunting 
 became with them a passion, and in its palmy days, before it was 
 so much put down by Sir James ]3rooke, a young man could 
 scarcely get married before he had taken a head. If they fitted 
 out a large fleet of war-boats, they would swiftly and silently 
 approach a village, surround it at night, or rather just before morn- 
 ing, set fire to the houses, and massacre indiscriminately men, 
 women, and children, and then depart in triumph with their heads ; 
 or if a small war-party of six or seven men embarked in a fast 
 boat, fhcy would conceal it in the umbrageoiLS creeks near au 
 enemy's house, and then prowling about in the jungle, would 
 pounce upon any unfortunate who might stray near them. Some- 
 times they Avould even get into the wells of their enemies, and, 
 covi'.ring tlicir heads with a few leaves, sit for hoiu-9 in the water 
 wailing for a victim. Then Avhon any woman or girl came to draw 
 water, they Avould rush out upon her, cut her down, take her head, 
 and flee into the jungle with it before any alarm could be given. 
 Sometimes a war-party would decoy a party of traders, and mur- 
 der them for the sake of their heads ; while a trading-party, if 
 opportunity offered, never failed to act in a similar manner. TMuis 
 
[.[ 
 
 no party of'Dyaka was over safe from any utlicr party : they lived, 
 us i said before, in a Htatc of chronic hostility with all their neij^h- 
 bourH, attaekin{^ and being attacked by all around them. 
 
 ThiH was tbe general state of J3yak so(Mety befon; the coming of 
 Sir James Jirooke; but there are two tribci.s who, from the atroci- 
 ties they perpetrated, from the extent of country they devastated, 
 and from the attacks to which Sir James Brooke was sid)jccted, 
 for having broken t,heir power, merit a peculiar notice. 'These are 
 the IJyaks of Sarebas and Hakarran. 
 
 TliCHC tribes were n\orc numerous, more powerful, and better 
 organised for purposes of aggression than an}' of the others, being 
 to a considerable (extent muler t,he authority of Malay chiefs, who 
 employed the licad-lumting propensities of tlie Dyaks to furtbei.- 
 their own piratical inclinations. Tlicy Avould call out a flccst of 100 
 or 200 war-boats — each containing on an average; about thirty-live 
 men — and with this formidable force tluij' would plunder and 
 devastate the whole coast from I'ontianak to Harrani, a distance of 
 400 miles. Villages were surrounded and whole tribes cut olV. 
 Many communities were broken iip, and tlicir families forced to 
 flee, some to more powerful tribes, otJiers to remote fastnesses and 
 distant countries. Men at their fishing-stakes, and Avomen and 
 cliildrcn in their rice-fields, were snrprised and murdered, and tbe 
 country Avas fast becoming depopulated and desert. These fleets 
 were led by tbe Malays, who appropriated tbe plunder that was 
 captured, wbllc the Dyaks received what tbey prized most — the 
 beads. Of tliosc bloody tropbics, great numbers were taken, some- 
 times as many as 400 in a single expedition. Nor did they confine 
 their attacks to other Dyaks against Avhom it might be supposed 
 they had cause of war : they fell upon all who had plunder either 
 to gratify tho Malays, or heads to satisfy llunnselves. All whom 
 th(!y met they attacked, Dyaks, JMalays, Chinese, and Europeans ; 
 villages ashonj, or vesscds afloat, all were equally subject to their 
 indiscriminate ravages. To put a stop to these ravages, and to 
 break their aggressive power, w.as the first step toAvards the pacifi- 
 cation of the country ; a step as abaolnt,cly indispensable as avouUI 
 be the destruction of a den of tigers in the vicinity of an Indian 
 village. No (Ither tribe could cultivate the arts of peace, or do 
 anything else than prepare for war, Avhen liable to be attacked any 
 day or night by the men of Sarebas and Sal<arran. 
 
 Such were the tribes Avhoni Sir James lirooke attacked, and 
 whose power he broke; and it Avas on account of the severe chas- 
 tisement Avhich ho inflicted upon them that he Avas branded in tliis 
 country as a mercenary and bloodthirsty murderer. Fortunately 
 for the interests of humanity lie Avas not deterred b^"- the attacks 
 made upon him from pursuing the line of conduct bo had marked 
 out for himself; but after having cIVectually broken the aggressiv<i 
 poAvcr of the Dyaks, he took measures to pacify the country and to 
 give pccuritv to life and property. 'I'liis he has succeeded to a 
 
15 
 
 great extent in doing, and the conaequences have been moaf 
 gratifying, and almost Avoiulcrful. The lato outbreak of the 
 (Jiiincse has of course given a shock to the prosperity of the settle- 
 ment, and probably thrown it back abont tlirce years ; but I ain 
 sure it will not really injure it, though I can only speak of the 
 country as I saw it previous to that event. At that period, people 
 from neighbouring districts had flocked, and were flocking, into Sir 
 James's territory to enjoy the benefits of his government; the re- 
 sources of the country were being rapidly developed ; trade had 
 increased, and was increasing, to an astonishing extent; tribes of 
 savages whoso oidy delight was in bloodshed, and who regarded 
 the possession of a human head as the summum bomtm, have to a 
 great extent been turned from their bloody courses, and taught to 
 devote their superfluous energies to the increased production of the 
 fruits of the earth. Larger breadths of laud arc being brought 
 into cultivation, yet all the crops are consumed in the country, and 
 it is necessary often to import rice for the increasing population. 
 Pepper and gandjier, and many other crops, are being introduced ; 
 sago is largely produced and manufactured ; mines are wrought, 
 and smelting establishments erected; gold is found in tolerable 
 quantities, and antimou}'', and, above all, coal will soon be wrought 
 on a large scale. In short, Sarawak h.as become the empoi-ium of 
 trade and the centre of civilisation to the whole north-Avest coast 
 of IJorneo, and so far as man can presume to look into the future, 
 Sir James J^rookc seems there to have laid the foundation of a 
 great, and, let us hope, a durable and a Christian empire This 
 has he done, and thus has he earned for himself a place in the 
 noble list of the benefactors of mankind, while in the government 
 of his principality he luis diajdayed a tact and an ability that have 
 extorted the commendation even of his enemies, lie is one of her 
 sons of whom IGngland may Avell be proud, one who in his lesser 
 Bpliero has exhibited a courage and a capacity akin to that dis- 
 played by the founders and. restorers of our Indian Empire. 
 
 CHAT T lil II T 1 1. 
 
 SOCIAL LIFB. 
 
 The Dyaks live in commmiities of from ten or twenty to forty 
 families, all of them residing in one liouse uiuler the headship of 
 one Tuah, or elder, whose influence anmng them depeiuls very much 
 on his personal qualifications. If he is brave and otlierwiso popular 
 he will have many followers, and will be able to exercise great 
 auLborily over them ; but if, from any cause, he makes hiuisclf un- 
 
j)Oj)iiliir, lui will I)u de.Hcrlcd by nil Iiln iidlioreiilH, ;vritl from Ijciiig- ii 
 (Jliiof lie wjll Hiiik down (o tlio i-oiidilioii of ii coiimioii uiiiii. 'I'lu; 
 Jioiiac ill wliic.li cicli coiiniuiiiify li\'('H, is i\\\ cdilicc, of from fifty to ;i 
 Jiiiiidrcd y;irdn in length, imd r;dst;d on ]io.sIh eight or ton feet high. 
 Ita fnimeworlv ia coiistnieted of jioMts lushed together witli Hplit 
 riittiins ; whih; the roof iuid |)iir(itioiiH iire composed of altaps, a 
 kind of tli.'itcli, ho fiimi)[e ;iiid useful :is to imu-It a distinct descrip- 
 tion. It ia iiiude of the hiiives of the Nipii, ;i pnliii \viii(rli grows iii 
 t.lio mud oil tlie luinks of tiio ri\'er.s, and dilVera from most other 
 lialms in having no trunk, being merely a colleelimi of fronds pro- 
 ceeding from one root. J'laeli frond consist.s of a sleiii or midrib, 
 about twenty or lldrl^' feet in lengt.h, on each side of wideh grow a 
 series of leaves, two or three feet long, and two or three inchcM 
 broad. 'J'o form atlniis, the Dyaks ent oil" those leaves, and doidilc 
 tlieiu ov(!r a slick a yard long, making tlnuu overlap cacdi oflu'r, so 
 aa to bo impc^-vioiis to rain. They then sew or interlace tlieni all 
 firmly wit.li split rattans; thus forming a sort of leaf-tile, at once 
 strong and light, and well adapted for oxeludiiig lioth sun and rain. 
 The house is divided loiigitndiiially in the middle by a partition, 
 on one side of which ia a series of rooms, and on tlie ot.lier a kind of 
 gallery or hall upon which the rooms open. In these rooms, each 
 of which is iiihaliited by a distinct I'amily, the niarricid conples and 
 children sleep 5 the young iminarrled women sleep in an apartment 
 over the rocnn of their parents, and the J'omig men in the gallery 
 outside. J 11 lliis gallery likewis(;, which serves as a common hall, 
 their principal oceu[ialions are carried on, the planks of their war- 
 boats, their large mats, and all their more bulky articles are kept, 
 and the grim trophies of their wars, tiie scorched and blackenccl 
 lieada of tlusir enemies, arc suspended in bniulles." The floor is a 
 kind of spar-work, composed of split palm-trunks, and raised ten 
 or twelve feet from Ihe ground, access being given to it by a lad- 
 der, or more frequently by a log of wood cut into the fin-in of steps. 
 Connected with the gallery, atul running along the Avhole length of 
 the house, there is a broad platform on tlic same level as the floor, 
 upon which the Dyaks spread out their rice after harvest, and 
 ex])osc such other articles as they wish to be dried in the sun. 
 
 Thus, a Dyak house is rather a singular structure; and when 
 imbosomed, aa it often is, among cocoa-nut, jdantain, and ot,hcr 
 fruit-trees, forms a (piictl^'^ pleasing and i)icturesf|ae object, sug- 
 gestive of much social happiness enjoyed in a simple state of society. 
 It .aw.iko.ns, moreover, ideas of a higher kind, for it ia a sign of the 
 presence of all snbdning man on the conflm^s of the jangle that is 
 yet to fall before his a\(«,. 
 
 The ni.-iteriala of Avhich those edilicos are constructed are so fra- 
 
 *Ain(iiiff tlic iS:irawnk DyakH tlioHkiilln iiniuot huhiicikIimI in tlioliouHO in wjiidi 
 tliu Cdiriniiniily lives, \n\i in 11 hiiiuII He|iai'.'it.ci Iiduho orcctiMl for tlm |iiir|i<iKC, 
 i-allfid tilt! Jiiiad-lioiiHi', iin<l which lilcmviHn H(;r\ i'm iw a carav.'uiKora fur thi^ n^ccp- 
 lion of HtraiigciM. 
 
17 
 
 gile tlmt they require to be rebuilt every five or six years, ami 
 when this necessity occurs, the Dyaks, instead of erecting the new 
 houKc in liio iiiiiiiediiite vicinity of tlie old one, generally remove to 
 a considerable distance. Thus they place themselves in the midst 
 of a. new country in which to recommence their farming operations, 
 and arc tlms probably the most nomadic of all the races of men 
 who devote themselves to agriculture. 
 
 From the above description, it will bo seen that a Dyak house 
 may witli more propriety be called a village, as it is the residence 
 of about a score of families wlio live in a scries of rooms xmdcr one 
 roof, and all of whom look up to one Tuah, or Elder, as their head. 
 These house arc sonu-limes in groups of two or three, but more fre- 
 quently they stand alone ; and thus it ha])pens that if the tribe is 
 pojjulous, it uuiy be scattered over a very great extent of country. 
 
 liesides the Tuahs, there is another and superior class of chiefs 
 called Orang Kaija (rich men), grave steady old men of good family, 
 who, when j'^oung, jiavc distinguished themselves by their courage; 
 and Avho, in their riper j'cars, are regarded as discreet judges in 
 weighty matters of the law. Even the power of an Orang JCaya, 
 lio\vevor, is extremely limited. lie lias no actual authority over 
 his followers, so as to compel tlumi to do anything against their 
 will; his sujieriority is siiown only in leading them to battle, and 
 acting as a judge in conjimction with other chiefs. In otlicr 
 respects, the chiefs arc scarcely to be distinguished from other 
 Dyaks. They work at their farms and their boats as hard as tlieir 
 own slaves; tiiey wear the same dress, and live in the same man- 
 ner as the rest of the community ; their only token of chieftainship 
 being the respect which is voluntarily accorded to their personal 
 qnalities, and the deference which, in matters of deliberation, is 
 paid to tlieir opinion. To an assembly of chiefs, all disputes are 
 referred, and their decisions are given in accordance with their own 
 customs, which, besides guiding the verdict, generally settle the 
 ' penalty which shall be inllieted on the aggressor. Cases which, 
 from want of evidence or from uncertainty of any kind, cannot be 
 thus decided, are settled by an appeal to supei-ior powers in an 
 ordeal by diving. 
 
 AVhen both parties in a dispute have agreed that it sliould bo 
 referred to the diving ordeal, preliminary meetings are held to 
 determine the time, place, and circumstances of the match. On the 
 evening of the day previous to that on which it is to be decided, 
 each party stakes in the following manner a certain amount of pro- 
 perty, which, in case of defeat, shall come into the possession of the 
 victor. 'JMie varioiis articles of the stake are brought out of the 
 litigant's room, placed in the verandah of the house in which he 
 lives, and arc there covered up and secured. One man who acts as 
 a kind of herald then rises, and in a long speech, asks the litigant 
 whether he is conscious he is in the right, and trusts in the justice 
 of his cause ; to which the latter replies at equal length in the 
 
IS 
 
 jilliriiiiUivc, .'I'lid refers (.lie. niatlcr lo (Ihi (li.'ciHioii of (lio npirilK. 
 (Several more spoecliea and replies lollow." and l.lie ceroiiioiiy coii- 
 cludeH by aii iuv()eaf.ioii of jiislice upon I lie side of riqlit. In tlie 
 iiicantinic, (.lie respondent deposil.s and seeureH liis slalce Avifli like, 
 ceremonial in the vcrandali <if his own house ; and early in the 
 i\iornin{r, l>"lh parlies, aeeonipauied b}'' their respective friinids, 
 repair to the bank of Ihe river to decide the contest, i'lillier i>arty 
 may appear by dopnty, a ])rivilej;c M'hich is always taken advan- 
 tage of by women, and often even by men, for there are manj' 
 professional divers who, for a triiiinj,' sum, are willinj^ (o miderfro 
 the Rtillin}; eonlcst. l're[)arations are now n\ade ; the artiehis 
 fltaked are broiif^'ht down and ])biccil on the bank; each party 
 lights a (ire, at wlneli to recover tlieir ohanipion, should he be- 
 nearly drowned; and each provides a roughly constructed grating 
 for him to stand on, and a pcdc.to be thrust into the mud for liim 
 to hobl on by. 'I'lie gratings are then placinl in the river within a 
 few yards of each other, where the water is dee,]) enough to rea(;h 
 to the middle; the poles are thrust firmly into the mud; and the 
 champions, each on his own grating grasping bis pole, and sur- 
 rounded by bi.s friends, plmigcthcir heads simultaneonsly under waler. 
 Immediately the si)ectators chant aloud at the top of their voices 
 tlie mj'stic, and perhaps onee intelligible word lobon-Johon, whicb 
 they continue repeating during the wliole contest. When at length 
 one of the cliampions shews signs of yielding, bis friends, with the 
 laudable desire of preventing bis being beaten, hold bis head 
 forcibly under water. 'I'lie excitement is now great; lobmi-lohdn 
 increases in intensit.y, and redoubles in rajjidity; thcsliouts become 
 yells, and tlio struggles of (bo unhappy victim, who is fast becoming 
 iLsphyxied, are painful (o wi(.ness. At length, nature can endure 
 no more : Im drops scmiscIcss in tlie water, and is dragged ashore, 
 npparently llfidess, ])y his companions ; while the friends of his 
 opponent, raising one loud and prolonged note of triinnpb, burry to 
 the bank, and seize and carry otf the stakes. All this, however, is 
 uidcnown (o the unhap])y vanrpiisbed, wlu), jiallid and seus(dess, 
 hangs in the arms of bis frieiuls, by whoi\i bis fae(' is plastered with 
 niuil, in order to restore animation. In a few niinules, in spite 
 rather than in conscfpienco of this treatment, respiration returns ; 
 he opens his eyes, gazes wildly aromul, and in a short time is per- 
 haps able to walk honu!.. Next day, be is in a high state of fever, 
 and has all tlie other symptoms of a man recovering from apparent 
 death by drowning. 
 
 This manner of settling disputes is well suited to tlie Dyaks, for 
 it affords a nujtbod of deciding mat((M"S regarding which there is no 
 evidence, and on which there Avould be no other mode of coming to 
 a conclusion, 'i'he result of the trial, whatever it be, is regarded 
 as the verdict of a higher power, and is never questioned, l^ven 
 in cases where (he loser knows he is right — when, for example, a 
 man is unjustly nciuised of theft, and <'onseious of innocence, ap])eals 
 
Ill 
 
 <o l.lic onloiil, iiiicl loses his ciiuse — he novcv tliliilig of bUuniiig Uio 
 decision, but altvibules liis defeat to some prcviouH sin, for which tho 
 superior jjowera arc now inflicting punishment. 
 
 I may here mention a nictlioJ of divination employed by iho 
 Malos, or tinkcra, of J5(n-nco, a race wlio, from their skill in working 
 metals, travel and arc widcomed almost everywhere, and by whom 
 — for they arc the most siii)erslilioiis race with whom wcliavccomo 
 in contact — arc told stories wild as any in the Arabian Nights.^ In 
 a case of theft wliicli happened at JJanting, suspicion Avaa divided 
 among tliree persons, and the principal Aialo man of the place, by 
 name IJaniha, nnderlook to discover which of tiicm was tlie culprit, 
 i'\)r (his purpose he took three bamboos, partially lillcd with water, 
 and, assigning one to cacli of the suspected persons, arranged them 
 round a fire with mystic I'ites and barbaric spells, in the full belief 
 that the bamboo assigned to the culprit would be t,he first to eject n 
 jiortion of its contents liy ebullition. One of tlieni at length did 
 so, and it so ha])pencd that it was the bamboo nsBigncd to liini 
 against whom the little evidence that could bo collected l)oro bardcst. 
 iShorlly afterwards, another also boiled over, Avhilo the third 
 would not do bo at all. 'J'he possessor of the first was accordingly 
 declared by Kamba to bo t.lie culi>rit, while tlio possesHor of the last 
 was declared to bo certaiidy innocent. Fortunately for tlic credit 
 (if the Dyaks, they Avould not act upon the information tlnis 
 obtained ; and unfortunately for the credit of the diviner, it was 
 afterwards discovered that he whose bamboo would not boil over at 
 all was the thief. 
 
 Next to the chiefs, the most important class among tho Dyaks 
 are the Mannangs, who combine tho functions of doctor and priest, 
 ,nnd who aro in great request in all cases of public or private 
 calamity or rejoicing. They are of both sexes, some of the males 
 being dressed as women — an innocent relic of some forgotten 
 custom. ^lannangfl marry and work at their boats, bouses, and 
 farms, in all i-cspccts like other Dyaks, from Avhom they would be 
 undistinguishable, but for their appearance on public or important 
 private occasion.^. They are paid forthcir services by tboao wlioemploy 
 tliem, and their rankrf are recruited by 3'oung men Avbo desire to enter 
 the oi'der, and who, with various ceremonies, are admitted into the 
 fraternity. Many of these young men are blind, and depend upon 
 their profession for their subsistence, while others aro flattered by 
 tbat consideration which intercourse Avith the spirits gives them 
 among their fellows, Mannangs, howevei*, arc not held in much 
 I'cspcct; they arc looked ujion in a great measure as a set of pre- 
 tenders, whose principal object is to exti*act money from those who 
 employ them ; and aro regarded as tho degenerate descendants of a 
 former race of powerful ghost-expellcra, soul-compellcrs, prophets, 
 priestH, clairvoyants, and healers of bodily ailments, whose mantles 
 have not fallen upon IJieir successors. Still tluiy aro much employed 
 
 c 
 
20 
 
 for tlic hmnaii niiiul, ami caiiiiuf, do wiflHUit r(;li^iun, or at Uiixat 
 Bomc BiiJjstiUito, for it. 
 
 I cannot from iny own knowlcdf^c, dcscriho tlic inanncr of making 
 n Maimani^, as 1 purposely avoided ^^•ilncHsinf^ it, l)ut I Ijolievo 
 the ceremony to bo as follows : — A iiumlior of ftfaniiangs assemble 
 at the bouse of tlici candidate's fallier, and scalini^ tbomRcIves in a 
 circle, with the candidate in t.be centre, one of them be,j;ins a low 
 monotonous and dreary (diant, wbieb ibe rest at slated intervals 
 take np, joinin}^ in a sort of eborna. 'J'liis ebant, wliicli consists of 
 an irref;uhirly allileraled versincation, ■\\illi little or no meaning, is 
 uttered in a monotonous and dismal tone, to which it is most dreary 
 and irrilaling to be eompelh;d to listen. 'J'his portion of the cere- 
 mony takes place in the ])resenee of a large number of s])ectatora, 
 wlio on its conclusion are excluded from liie room, and the subse- 
 quent inilialory ril('S art; jxirlbrmed in private. The, door is sliut, 
 tlie apartment is davkeiuMl, and a solemn sib-nce ]ii-evails ; a fowl is 
 sacriliced, and lis blood sprinkled around the room. 'J'be bead of 
 the candi(bit.e is s[dit open with a sword, in order that his brain 
 may be cleansed from that obtusoncss Avbicb, in the generality of 
 mankind, precludes the knowledge of fuluri; events, (.{old is placed 
 in his C3-CS, to enable him to see the spirits; hooks arc inserted into 
 liis lingers, to enable him lo extract, from the bodies of the sick, 
 fish-bones, stones, and olber foreign substances ; and bis senses 
 generally are in like manner suijcruaturall}'^ sl.renglbened. lie then 
 emerges a ])erfect Mamiang; and in order loeomplele his education, 
 requires only io be taught the tricks and (diants of the brotherhood. 
 'J'lumgh th(' Dyaks believe in the exislcncc of superior powers, 
 and perlia])s in (jne "wlu) is supreme over all the rest, thej'' have no 
 very consistent, mythology. I'iio following account of the creation 
 is given by (he Dyaks of Sakarran : — 
 
 In the beginning, existed in solitude, Kajah Giinlallab, possessed 
 of a soul -with organs for hearing, speaking, and seeing; but desti- 
 ' tutc of any other limbs or members : he rested upon a Inmhu. 
 Lembu is the Malay word for u bull or cow; but it -was not upon 
 this animal he had his seat ; nor were the Dyaks able to give any 
 account ofwhai. alumhii is. By an actof bis will, Kajab (lantallah 
 originated two birds, a male and a female, after which he did not 
 directly jiroduce any creature, his Avill taking elVect through the 
 inHtrumenlalitj' of these birds. 'J'bey dwell on the lunibu, above, 
 bcnealh, and around, in what was origiuall}'^ a voi<I. Whilst dwel- 
 ling upon it, they crealcd first the skv, then Ibe earib, and then the 
 Balang jjiipar — a large river in ISorneo — which was the first of 
 waters, and the mother of rivers. Jjcaving the hnnbu, Iboy Hew 
 round tluicarlli and sky, lo discovtM- wiiicli of Ihem was llu; greal(;r. 
 Finding that Ibe size of Ibe earlli considerably exceeded that of the 
 sky, they colhicted the earth together with their feet, and heaped it 
 into moimtains. Having com])let(Ml this Avork, they atlempted tn 
 
21 
 
 r.rcate nuuikiud. For thin end, they imule the trees, and tried to 
 turn thoni into men; hnt witliout Hueeeas. They then made tlio 
 rocks for tlie same purpose. Tliese they shaped liked a man in all 
 respects ; hut the figure was destitute of tlie power of speech. They 
 then took earth, and, h}'' tlie aid of water, moulded it into the form of 
 a man, infusing into his veins the gum of tlie kumpang-tree, which 
 is of a red colour. TUay called to him — he answered ; they cut at 
 him — hlood llowcd from his wounds ; as the day waxed hot, sweat 
 oozed through his skin. They gave him the name of Tannali Kum- 
 pok, or Moulded hearth. 
 
 IJesidcs tliis account of the creation of the first man, the Dyaks 
 have likewise several traditions regarding the Deluge, one of 
 which, ctu-ioualy enougli, connects it with the universally diffused 
 fllory of tlie dragon, the woman, and the fruit of a tree for which she 
 longed. 
 
 The following is the narrative as given h)' the Dyaks of 
 Sukarran : — 
 
 " There was a woman, who longed for the fruit of the ' assam 
 paiah.' She ordered her hushand to procure it. lie went into the 
 jungle for the purpose; but when ho arrived at the assam tree, he 
 found it enfolded h}' a dragon. IJe returned to his wife, and in- 
 formed her of the cause of his bringing back none of the fruit. 
 She went herself, and asked the dragon, who uncoiled himself that 
 she might appi-oach the tnie. Por two or three succeeding days 
 she thus came and ate of the fruit. Soon .after a child was born to 
 her ; and a fe^v days afterwards, she went to bathe in the Sakarran, 
 taking her child with her. The spot is called to this day, ' The 
 Dragon's Bight.' Having laid her child on the bank, she entered 
 the water. The dragon approached and seized the child. She ran 
 Bcreaming to her house and aroused her neighbours. They set 
 forth to overtake the dragon. After having found in succession 
 seven 3''onng dragons, they discovered the lost child dead. They 
 killed the young dragons and took them to their homes, where 
 they prepared to cook thein. In one of the pans filled with their 
 flesh, when the water boiled, the boiling made the following intelli- 
 gible sounds : — 
 
 ' Gurok gurok, drowned be the biglits. 
 
 ' Gurok gurok, drowned be the headlands. 
 
 ' Gurit gurit, drowned be the hills.' 
 ITerenpon followed a storm of rain, with thunder, which continued 
 for three days and three nights. During this, the waters rose 
 until they overwlielnie<l all beneath the sky, excepting some of the 
 mountain tops. To these a few beasts of caeii kind escaped, and 
 thus survived the flood. 'J'he greater portion of mankind was 
 drowned ; some, however, fled to the mountains, and others 
 w(!re saved in ships. The former became Dyaks, the latter 
 Malays." 
 
 The Malays report other Dyak traditions of this Hood ; one, if 
 
riglitly ii;nT;it,t!il, mui'c closely ngriicrt willi tin; Scriptural iiarni- 
 tive of Uio Deluge. 
 
 The following mythology, as given hj' ,'uiother jiarty of J)yaks, 
 "vvas read over lo(.)riing kaya l^inggi, from whose monUi Ihe preced- 
 ing narrative Avas taken down. lUs comments are added: — 
 
 The highest and elilcst of the (Jodn is iSri Kunchaii. His 
 dwelling-place i.s in the waters, and he i.s ordinarily known h^' the 
 title of Jlajah iloiya, or i^ing of Alligators. To him all hirds, men, 
 and gods arc Buliject. 
 
 The deity next in onler is Singallong-l'nrong, \vho dwells at 
 ranjong-Hanang-Sinjong, in Ihe heavens. 
 
 Alter him iiiliows J-Cling iUMiowing. To these three tlie name 
 IJatai'a is conlined. 'i'liey form the same IJatara. I'nt hy that 
 name in ordinary use is meant this Kling, the especial ruler of 
 birds and men. It is lie who ludps us all. lie is believed to 
 liaunt the hill ln[)s. J lis especial country' li(;R near to the hiave, 
 wherever they be, and it is visited by them, perhaps \>y three out of 
 ten thousand Dyaks. It is Dream-land. It is when men sleep in 
 the woods that they may chance in their dreams to meet with 
 Kling. Jf on awaking they should speak of having done so, they 
 immediately die or become nuul. If they arc sihuit on the sub- 
 ject, great good fortune follows them in consequence of this nuiet- 
 ing ; they become br.'ive, rich, and ])owerful. (.Jassing and Ibdan, 
 of the Saltavran chiefs, and l)Uah-l{i3'a and Itabbong, of the 
 Kanowit, have met Avith Kling. Not that themsidvcs have uu;n- 
 tioncdit; l)u|, this is the universal belief, in consequence of their 
 career. 
 
 It is not known who made the earth. Run, or stars. All trees, 
 fruits, and so forth, are the productions of J)emong-renuliong. lie 
 is not IJatara himself, but is a follower of the before-mentioned 
 Singallong-Burcmg. Slumpandei is the creator of men. Pulong- 
 gauah causes the growth of paddi, and gives its increase. JTcisan 
 independent king. 'J'lio other kings, named by us " hantus," or 
 spirits — but not the ghosts of men — arc not called Batara, but are 
 obedient to him. 
 
 In these two slatements is an evident contradict ion in the apjdi- 
 cation of the term JJatara, " from avatarn — a name adopted from 
 tlic Hindu .Sj'Slem, and apj)licd to various mythological personages." 
 (Rfarsdcn.)* A Malay yerilV, dissuading from the use of it to 
 express the word Goo in their language, dindares that the Dyaka 
 apply it " to hantiLS, birds of omen, and charms, as the spittle of 
 white men when strangorsj and so forth." Perhaps the remark of a 
 Dyak chief, who had been i)rescnt on Ihe previous evening during 
 the narrative of jjinggi, may throw some light on the use of tlui 
 term. lie said — "There is hut one Heing who truly owns the name 
 
 "Tlio tnu) derivation seems to bo tiio SanMcrit. " i>hattar.'i" -worthy of voncra- 
 tioM. llarrlwicU'ii ( 'Iii-IhI niiil iitJicr Mrr'tcis, P.-iil. lit., yny.r; I7;t, 
 
' ^at.ara ; otliors firo callcil by it, since they aro the oycfl, the 
 f iceroys, or ministers of liiin."* • 
 
 Tlio Dj'aks bcliovc in the existence of n fnturo state in Avhich 
 a distinction sliall be made betAvcon good men and bad, but what 
 that distinction shall be does not seem to be vciy well known. 
 The locality of the unseen world — which they term Sebaian — is 
 placed by them beneath the earth, and it ia divided into two 
 regions — tliat of the living or Sebaian hidop, and that of the dead 
 or (Sebaian mali. Sebaian iiidop is a delightful country, with rich 
 soil and luxuriant crojia. The stalks of tobacco are as thick as a 
 man's ann ; the heads of Indian corn ai-e as big as a man's leg, and 
 all its other produce is gigantic in proportion. It has human inha- 
 bitants concerning whom nothing definite is known, and it is 
 likewise tlie abodo of an inimonso mnnbcr of hantiis or spirits. 
 Sebaian mail is the abodo of the dead, and like the Ifomcric TIades, 
 ■ is a gloomj'-, desolate, and unlovable region, llerc the souls of the 
 departed wander for a certain time — shorter or longer as they aro 
 good or bad — and at length tbey pass into the I'ogion of the air, 
 whore they are dissolved into dew and precipitated to the earth. "I" 
 
 In the oi)inIon above stated there seems to bo a trace of tlio 
 Bbuddist doctrine of the absorption of the soul into the Deity, and 
 its consequent annihilation as a distinct existence. I have like- 
 Avisc found among the Dyaka a trace of the doctrine of Metempsy- 
 cbosis. On one occasion, when walking in company with two 
 Dyak boj'^s, Kassa and BIju, Kassa told me that his grandfather had 
 becomcarrince amongthe miases or orang-outangs, and that one day 
 Biju spied this mias in a tree, and not knowing that it had formerly 
 been a man, threw a, stick at it and tried to frighten it. The mias, 
 indignant at such an insult, exerted its liidden and malignant 
 iniluence and smote the offender with a severe fever, from which 
 Avith dilliculty he recovered. On asking Biju if such were the case, 
 he admitted the truth of the story, adding such details as left no 
 doubt that lie had once thrown a stick at a mias, and had had a 
 severe fever after doing so. " Hut how did you know it Avas your 
 grandfather, Kassa-?" I asked. With undoubting faith, grave 
 earnest countenance, and large l)right eye, ho ansAvered, " Oh, Sir, 
 most certainly it Avas I" What logic could stand againstthis ? 
 
 I afterwards found upon inquiry, that many Uyaks after death 
 are supposed to become princes among the miases, and it is farther 
 said that many of these bantu or spirit miases assume the form of 
 men for purposes of deception. There arc seA'cral other liantn 
 beasts, as they ninj'^ be called — animals Avhieh aro looked upon Avith 
 Bupcrstitlous feelings, and aro supposed to possess scml-aupernatural 
 power. 
 
 • S. P. G. F. Quarterly Papor. No. LXXX. January 1854. MmHionary 
 Series. 
 
 t ilcro ulao thoy iloscrilio ono hill covcro'l with thd ])oi8onouH tub.i troc, wiiere 
 are ii^'ain iniitiMl innidoiiH ninl ihrir ImTiH wlio luivr (•(uniuil.tod !(ui(:ith;. 
 
21 
 
 The Dyaka distinguish betwocu thu soul — which they term 
 aemungnt — and tho animal life. \n caHca of Hcvorc fiickncsH tlicy 
 say that the soul IwiH left the body, haa entered Sehaian hidop, and 
 is travelling towards Sebaian niati. If it enters iSebaian niati iin- 
 mediatc death ensnes, but in order lo pnn'ent thin unfortunate 
 coneluHion, niannangs are eni])loy(\d to follow and overt.ake it while 
 still in Sebaian hi<loii, and to bring it brudc lo the l)ody. 
 
 The Sebuyos believe that each man has seven Heniungats, and 
 that siekness is cauK(Ml by the loss of one of (hem. V(u-y freqiiently 
 also, illness is allribnied to ])ossession by an evil spirit., ancl some- 
 times to the presence of stones or othi'.r deleterious substances in 
 the body. 
 
 But, whatever be the cause of sickness, the mannangg are con- 
 sidered able to cure it. AVIkmi it is dctermiiuul to invoke their aid, 
 tlicy assemble in the sick man's room, and there connnence their 
 dreary and monotonous chant, which it is so irksome to he com- 
 pelled to listen to. It is frerpiently interru[)ted to allow them to 
 partake of siri and betel-nut, and is again eontiniKMl as dreary and 
 as dismal as ever. Aftcu' a while each mannang is fm-nishcd wii.h 
 a long l)and)oo filled with boiled ri<!e, inl;o which as into a scabbard 
 he inserts his stall", and thus bears it about with him. Largo 
 heapcd-up dishes of raw rice, eacli with an egg on the top, 
 are placed in a line I'rom the door of the room to t,hc platform 
 outside the house, and thllhcr the inannangs walk in procession, 
 each of them carefully treading In the ilishes of rice. Their 
 leader places his feet uj)on the eggs which are forced into the rico 
 "without breaking, the grain, like sand, 'receiving and sustaining the 
 weight of th(\ footsteps. Thus they arrive at the platform, where 
 a space of J 2 feet square has been fenced oil" for their reception. 
 In the centre of this space a sort of conoidal pillar is erected and 
 covered with red cloth, round which the inannangs j)cramhulate in 
 procession, uttering their drearj' cliant, and beating time with their 
 rice-immersed staves. After a little time each is furnished with a 
 small dish of parched rice, dyed vice, sugar and sago, or son\e other 
 sweetmeat, hohli|ig which in their bands together with their staves, 
 they continue their perand.)ulation, and scatter the contimts of their 
 dishes as ofleringM to the spirits. .Dishes and staves are now laid 
 aside, and the young fruit branches of the betel-nut (which some- 
 what resemble broom l)esoins, only tliat they are of a pale straw- 
 colour, and arc covered with hundreds of embryo nuts) are produced 
 and distributed to the performers. 1 folding these in their hand.g, 
 thoj' continue their Avalk, lifting them slowly above their heads as 
 they move along, and bringing tlnun down gently npon the floor. 
 These motions, which are at (irst rIoav, become gradually quicker, 
 and the mannangs soon break from the ]n-oe(!Ssion in which tlujy 
 have hitherto moved, all order amongst them is lost, they rush 
 about and jostle each other in tho confined space within which they 
 nre penned, still continuing to raise their pinang branches and to 
 
25 
 
 Htrikc tlic floor with them, until, breathlesa with thoir exertiona, 
 tlicy drop cxhauHtcd nml pretend to swoon. This part of the cere- 
 mony aflbrds great sport to tlic spectators, for as some of the 
 mannangs are generally blind, some striking collisions frequently 
 take place, and arc hailed with a lauglitcr wliicli is grimly partici- 
 pated in by the performers themselves. As each drops ho gene- 
 rally contrives to cover himself with his sarong, and thus they all 
 lie still and silent for about ten minutes. At length one of them 
 (they have probably agreed beforehand which of them it should 
 bi'.) is seen to tremble all over. " Jlc is now entei'ing Sebaian." 
 Presently lie is seem as it were to receive sometJiing, which he puts 
 into his girdle. " 'I'hat is medicine which he gets from the 
 lianlua." " Is it for tlic sick person V" " No." " What is it for?" 
 " lie keeps it." " J^ues he do nolliing wi(h it?" " Another time 
 perhaps he gives it to some one else tiiat is sick." Soon after re- 
 ceiving the medicine the t.remour ceases, and he gets up, but he 
 never tell.s if he has seen the w^andering soul, or has prevailed on it 
 to retui-n to its earthly tenement. The rest rise about the same 
 time, and the ceremony is concluded. During the whole time a 
 liideous noise is kej)t up by beating gongs and drums, a mode of 
 procedure which, however unlikely to bring back a wandering soul, 
 may well be supposed capable of driving away every evil spirit that 
 possesses a sensitive tympanum. 
 
 In cases of possession by a bantu the mannangs assemble as 
 before in the sick man's room, which has been partially darkened 
 for the purpose, and after the usual amoiint of chanting and siri- 
 eating, a fowl is produced and sacrificed. By means of powerful 
 spells the evil spirit ia compelled to quit his victim, and as he 
 passes through the doorway, which is left open on purpose, he is 
 seen by one of tl\e mannangs (gcnerall}'^ a blind one), who cuts at 
 him with a parang, and with such cflect that blood is invariably 
 drawn, and is found scattered about the room. 
 
 Fish hones ai\d stones arc also said to be extracted from the 
 bodies of patients by the magicall}"^ hooked fingers of the mannangs. 
 There are no peculiar fi^-mptoms by which their presence can be 
 detected, nor any tlieory by which it can be explained ; nevertheless 
 tlie mannangs pretend to extract them from the inmost vitals of the 
 sick. 
 
 These superstitions arc held almost universally, at least I have 
 heard only one person who professed to discredit them, a 
 youth named Nyambang, the most intelligent of the Balow Christians. 
 " The mannangs say," s.aid he, " that they enter Sebaian, and sec the 
 Bjiirits ; but how can they ? They only pretend. They say that 
 tliey cut at the ajtirits and draw blood from them, but they do 
 it in the dark where no one can see, and it is fowl's blood they 
 siirinkle about. 'I'hey say they draw fish bones and stones out of 
 men's bodies, but tliey don't ; they conceal them between their 
 fingers in this manner (shewing how), and fnmblo about the sick 
 
iiinn'H clutlirrt, luid llicii slunv tlic Ixiiios mikI. say llioy li;ivo drawn 
 tlioin out of Im'k liixly. JUit it is all a lie, and tlicy just want to 
 got money. If I wo.ro, sick, I -wonld die. sooner Ihan lio bcr-nian- 
 nangcd." J Ic, ridiculed witli some liuniour and much contomjit llu; 
 ])rocc(;dinp;,T of llie, niannangs in liieii- various rites, mncli to tlic 
 awe and somewhat lo the hornu- of Ihe surrounding youths, who 
 cvide.ntly regardJ'd Jiim as broaching opinions bordering on the 
 sac.riligious. S(;)itiuu'nls such as Ihese, liuwever, ar". rar(>,, and i 
 doubt if there 1)0 anolher Dyalc in the, Kajah's leriMt(n'y wlu) would 
 (uidorse, I hem. 
 
 Mannangs also assist at marriage rejoieings for llu; sake of good 
 lu(dc, but do not take, any part in tin; c(;r(imony. 'J'lie Dyak phrase 
 for to uiarry is lo split a ]iinan<i, and the rito consists in a betol- 
 luit being s])lit in two, -wit.h e(!rtain formalilies, and ono part 
 given to bo eaten by the bride, tho other by the bridegroom. 
 
 They liave lik(!wis(; a, ceremony souuMvbat analogous lo ])uri(lca.- 
 litm al'l.(u- ehildbirtli. A portion of tho platform is fenced off, in tho 
 centi'O of whiidi tho uiotluM", hohling th(>, child in her arms, takes 
 licr seat. A female attendant shades hor with an umbrella, ami tho 
 maimangs walk round her chanting, beating tiuu; Avitli their staves, 
 i\x\d making olVcrings, till at u certain stage of I he ])roeeeding3 
 two of tlu'.m ]i("t Inn- up, together ■with the, stool on ^vbieli she 
 sits, while lh(! rest (continue t.lieir (dnmt around h(;r. 
 
 'I'he, 8.'ir:iwak Dyaks burn, but the Ilalos, Se,l)nyos, Screbas, and 
 Sakarrans, bury (heir (h^ad. y\nH)ng tlm lailor I lie, corpse, wrapped 
 up in grjive-clothcs and laid on a bi(M*, is towed in a canoo as near 
 ns possible to the burial ground, Avhetlier it is then carried by the 
 ntt(;ndant3. 'J'he grave is then dug ; articles of valiu', jire sonu;- 
 limc.H buried along willi the body, and the Avholo is mndo as R(;ouro 
 possible. As soon after the funeral as an enemy's In^ad lias been 
 taken (which now may not bo for several years), the surviving 
 relatives ])rei)aro to make at the tomb offerings of siri ])inang, fruit 
 cakes, and various other articles of food, together with bi'auliful 
 miniature imilatimis in platted and coloured straw of almost all the 
 Articles of Dyak dross and fui'uiture. Tluiso oIl'iM'ings are taken to 
 tlu! tomb and left there, the spirits being at. the sanm time invoked 
 ■with a])pro])riate rites. 
 
 1 once visited a Dyak burial place, and found it lo be a very im- 
 perfectly cleared piece of jiuigle on the side of a small hill at some 
 <listanc(j from the houses. Among the graves wore the bodies of 
 some of t.heir chiefs, placctl in rude collins and raised on stages some 
 eight (u* ten feet liigb, similar to those of which 1 havi^ read among 
 llie S<mtli )Sea fslanders. »Sonio (tf these relics of mortality were 
 lierceptibl}'' recent; ujmn others nature had thrown the greeii 
 mantle with which, in that cfumtry, she so soon obliterates all the 
 nntendecl works and traces of m:i.n. Ou(>, of the bodies thus honoured 
 was that f)f a woman, "a wise, w(unan who knew all aboiit ])lanting 
 yiaddy," and bail thus earned a jdace in tbi! Dyak Westminster. 
 
'J 7 
 
 All honour 1,0 llic l»r;ivo juul Uio wiso in llicir gcnoralioii, to Uio.so 
 wlio l)y Ihcii- coin-ago or t.'ilonts linvo raJHCil l,lion)3clvc3 above Uioii- 
 fcllowirien, liowcvci- low the level from which t.hey stand out. All 
 lionour to tliein, for they have gained a title to be held in remem- 
 brance by those they have left behind — a title which will be looked 
 on with respect l)y every good man and true, in the brotherhood of 
 nations. All liononr to them again though Iheir slcina be brown 
 and their dress scanty. 
 
 r II A TT E ii I V. 
 
 HOUIAL LIKK. 
 
 In every condition of existence, however low it may appear, man 
 lias been found (o possess not merely the necesaavio.fi, but also some 
 of Ihe luxuries of life; not merely food to support his physical 
 frnuic, but also stimulants agreeably to excite bis nervous system. 
 The Dyaks form no (>,xeeption to this rule, and the stimulants which 
 they employ are 'luak and Siri, 
 
 Tuak is a. sort of Tmbittcved beer made from vice, of grccnisb 
 tinge and very capable of producing intoxication. It is prepared 
 In great fpiantlties previous to every feast, but it in not a general 
 drink. It is dispensed Avifh great liberality at many of their rejoic- 
 ings, -wliero it is considered a point of lionour to send away the guests 
 intoxicated, in so much that if any of them seems to resist its influ- 
 ence, the prettiest damsels of the liouse fasten upon lilin and ply 
 him with cups till he yields to the power of the liquor. 
 
 The ordinary stimulant however is Sli-i, a pungent aromatic creeper, 
 cultivated by the Dyaks for the sake of its leaves, which they 
 thus use. A portion of a leaf is covered with lime, and in it a piece 
 of betel-nut, a little tobacco, and some gambler (cither the gum itself 
 or the leaf) arc rolled up, forming a quid Avhich is chewed. It has 
 a pungent astringent taste, colours the saliva red, and, if pci'sevci'ed 
 in, dyes the teeth black. Its use is universal among the Dyaks, to 
 whom It supplies the place of cake and Avinc, cigars and snuff, a pot of 
 beer, or a cup of tea. It is produced at births, marriages, and deaths, in 
 all assemblies. Avarlike, political, and judicial, at all feasts of rejoic- 
 ing, and at all Incantations for sickness ; It is the universal cheerer 
 and restorative, the all-healing mcdicbic, and, Avhcn Avell chewed, the 
 all-curing plaster. In every circumstance of life, fighting or trad- 
 ing, sick or well, travelling or staying at home, Avorkiug or idling, 
 sad, happy, or listless, the J)yak tin-na to his beloved Sir! to cheer, 
 to Booth, or to arouse him, and a physiologist will perhaps say that 
 his simple food demands some such slimulant. 
 
Siri luul I)cli'.l-uiil. iirc iirodnccd in f^rcul. nLuiiiljiiici", in l.lio 
 country, .'ind !i t'ojirsc. t.ulj.'icco Im likewise, f^rown I)y llui Dyiil^s of 
 llic inlcriof. 'I'lidsci wlio live near tlic. sea cnnsl, lio\ve\'er, cliie.ll^^ 
 purcliase, Uial, wliicli liiis been iui]»irlt!(l IVoni Java or (Jliina, Avlileli 
 being bell cv cured, as Avcli as ol" iiiier ([ualil.y iliau tlieir own, is 
 likewise in j^roat TOf|ncst among ilielrilies in llie interior. Hesidcs 
 l»oiiig ealcn willi siri, lobneco is also rolled into eignreltes and 
 aniolv(!d. ()and)ie,r is grown in l.lie country, and lime, procured 
 from oyster shells. 
 
 The custom by Avliiidi the Dyalcsare best, known is thai, oi' cnf;- 
 t.ing oil' and preserving tlie bends ot" their eneniicH, a barbarous 
 method of peri)etual,ing the memory of tlu'.ir exploit,, which iliey 
 c(debrat,e with every sign of triumphant, rejoicing. When a head 
 liaa hvA'M taken, the brains are removed, and the ej'-eballfi punc- 
 tured with a parang, so as to allow their llnid conteut.s to escape. 
 If the boat in wbich the fortunate cqilor sails is one of a large Heel,, 
 lu) demonslrations of success arc made, lest tbe bead should CNcil,e 
 the cui)i(lity of some chief; but if slu; bas gone out alone, or accojn- 
 pauied only by a few others, slie is decorat,ed witb the young leaves 
 of tbe nipa ])aim. These leaves, Avhcn unopened, are of a jiahi straw 
 colour, and, when cut, tbcir leallets are separated and tied in buu- 
 cbea on numerous poles, wbich are stuck np all over tbe boat. At 
 a little distance, tlicy ])rcscnt tbe appejiranco of gigantic beads of 
 corn projecting above tbe awning of tlie boat, and amongst tbcm 
 numerous gay-colonred flags and s{,ream(>,rs wave in tbe breeze. 
 Tluirf adorned, the boat returns in triumph ; and tlic yells of lier 
 crew, and tbe beating of their gongs, inform eacli friendly bouse 
 they ))ass of the successful result of their foray. Tbe din is 
 redoubled as tliciy approach tlu'.ir own bouse. The sbouts are taken 
 up and repeated on shore. Tlic excitement spreads ; tbe shrill yells 
 of tin; Avomen mingle 'witb the ]u)arser erics of tbe men, the gongs 
 in the bouse respond to those in the boat, and all liurry to tlic 
 "wliarf to greet tbe victors. J Then there is the buzz of meeting, tlic 
 eager (piestion, the boastful answer, the shout, the laugh, llui ])ridc 
 of triuiriph ; and the gallant warriors become the C3niosurc! of every 
 c^'C — tbe cu\'y of their equals, the admiration of the fair. \Vheii 
 the excitement has in some degree subsided, the crew, leaving some 
 of their number in t,ho lioat, go up to t,he house, where a plentiful 
 supply of siri, ])inang, ami tobacco are produced, aiul over these 
 ])yak chcei-ers of tlie social hour, the event is i-clatcd and discussed 
 in all it,s breadlli and bearings. At length they prepare to bring 
 the t,ro]diy to the house. A long bamboo is procured, and its lower 
 joint siilit into several iiieccs, which arc \]\v,n opened out and wrought 
 by means oi' rattans into ;i sort of bnsket. Into lliis liasket the 
 liead is ])ut, and is carried by t,he chief man in the boat from the 
 wharf 1 the house, in the doorway of which, and at the head of the 
 ladder, the principal woman of the house slands to receive it. 'J'lie 
 bearer, slandiug below, iiresenls it to Ikm-, and as she endeavours to 
 
'29 
 
 l.'ilcc il., wIUiilrawH it: lie tigain proscnLs aiul agniii wiUidrawa it, 
 till, !it tlio seventh time, ho allows her to ohtaiu it. Thence she 
 can-ies it to the bundle of rIcuUh which hang in the open gallery, 
 and it is there deposited along with the rest. As night approaches, 
 preparations arc made for drying, or rather roasting it. A fire is 
 lighted in a little shed outside the house ; the head is suspended 
 close above the llanics ; and when it has been dried (o satisfaction 
 — that is, well smoked, and partially scorched — it is taken back and 
 redeposited in the bundle, to remain there till it is feasted. "And 
 what becomes of tlie llesh ?" I asked of an aged warrior, who was 
 dis])laying to me a recently cai)tured head, to which the scorched 
 and shrivelled intcgnment.s still adhered, while from the earlier 
 skulls all trace of llesh had long since disappeared. With the 
 titmost nonchalance the old savage replied: — "The rats cat it." 
 
 In the meantime, friends, chiefly the yovmg of both sexes, 
 resort to the house to congratulate the successful wan-iors. Siri 
 and pinang, the ncvci'-failing accompaniments of a IJyak meeting, 
 ;irc produced in gi-cat quantities ; the gongs and drums arc beaten 
 throughout the whole night; and the victors, amid scenes of gaiety 
 and sport,' rejoice in the admiring envy of the youths, and bask in 
 the smiles of the fair. During the few succeeding dajj^s, feasting 
 proceeds to a certain extent, and a basket of oflmngs to the spirits 
 is susiiendcd on the top of the house ; but the grand entertainment 
 is delayed till an abundant harvest shonld enable them to celebrate 
 the liead-fcast in a manner suited to the digi\ity of the occasion. 
 
 For this important event, which freqnent,ly docs not take place 
 for two or three years after the head has been taken, preparations 
 are made some weeks previously. Large stores of cakes and 
 sweetmeats are provided, and many jars of tnak, or native beer, 
 are prepared ; much siri, pinang, and tobacco collected, and every 
 preparation made for an extensive display of hospitality. On the 
 morning of the appointed day, the guests, dressed in their best, and 
 ornamented with all their barbaric finery, begin to assemble, and 
 rarelj"-, except on such occasions as these, arc their savage ornaments 
 now seen. Such at least, is the case among the IJalos, a tribe who 
 arc in a sort of transition state between ancient barbarism and 
 modern civilisation, and whose j'^oung men would now. on ordinary 
 occasions be ashamed to appear in those fantastic ornaments, which 
 a few j'cars ago were the delight of their liearts. I cannot say 
 they have gained much in appearance by tlie change. A handsome 
 savage, in his embroiilcred cliawat, with his pure white armlets 
 shining on his dusky arms, his brass-wire bracelets, his variegated 
 liead-dress of blue, while, ami red, hung wit,h sliells, or adonicd 
 with the crimsoned hair of his enemies, and surmounted by the 
 /(gathers of the argus pheasant, or by some artificial plume of liis 
 own invention, girt with his ornamented sword, and bearing in his 
 liand a tall spear, as with free step he treads his native wilds, is a 
 sight wortliv "f ;i. naintci-. 'I'lie same indiviiliial, clothed in a pair 
 
, 30 
 
 of ilirly nigf^cd U'oasorri, wllli pcrli;i[i,s ;i vciicrablu juid wcU-woiii 
 Kliooliiig-J!u;kc,l-, llic gift, of fioiiio lilxM-il I'^iiropciin, fUiggcHla idciiM 
 of anything but Uio pictunwcpio or tlic bciiutifiil. M;iny of (licni, 
 however, have iuloplcd (ho Malay coMtuinc, whicli in both civillKod 
 ami becoming, and liavn thereby cllected a coniproniise betAveen 
 bcanty and propriety. 
 
 Ihit wliatcver coatnnio they adopt, whcllier i)yal<, I\rahiy, or 
 psendu-IOnropean, all arc clotlied in llic best, garnn^nls tliey can i)ro- 
 cnre ; and they come in (.roopn from Ihe neigbbonring Iiousoh to tiiat 
 in which tlie feast is to be lield. As tlicy arrive, (;ight or ten young 
 men, each wilh a cup and a vessel of tuak, place themselves in a 
 line inwanls from the doorway, and as the company enlei-, tiiey arc 
 ])resoiiled by each of the luak-boarers Avith a cup of the li(|ui(l. 'I^o 
 drink is (tompulsory, and Miua ihey all run the gauntkit of all Ihe 
 cups. Ah tuak is not a pleasant liquor to lake in excess — Ihe 
 lieadaciie from it is li-emendous — it is to the niMJority of them a 
 penance rather (ban a jdeasuro, and many attempt but in vaiu, 
 to escape lli(5 inlliction. [n this manner the male guests asseml)]e 
 and seat themselves in (he gallery, the chiefs being conducled to 
 the place of honour in (ho middle of (.he building, and beneath (he 
 bnndle of skulls. All (he rooms arc at (lie same (ime (brown 
 open, and each family keeps free house for (hecntertaimnent of (he 
 female guests. These as lliey arrive, en(er and partake of the 
 dainties (hat are provided for (hem ; and many of (,he men being 
 likewise invited (o join (hem, the feast of reason and the (low of 
 soul proceed as triumphandy as in similar cases in i'hn-ope. ('akes, 
 Hwcctmeats, eggs, and fruit are produced, discussed, and washed 
 doAvn with tuak, and occasionally with a little arrack ; while siri, 
 pinang, gambler, and tobacco serA'c as devilled biscuits, (o give /.est 
 and pungency to (he subslandal dessert. Cnnversaliou ncAor for 
 an in,s(ant flags ; the laugh, (he joke, (ho endless (duilter, Ihe broad 
 banter, and the (piiek rei)ly, pass unceasingly romid (he cirel(^, and 
 a glorious ibibel of tongues astounds (,he visitor. Outside, in the 
 gallery, the same scene is cnncled, but with less animation than in 
 the rooms, for, as there, the bulies form no part of the company— 
 (he assemblj-- wants all its soul, and much of ils life. The girls of 
 the house, however, dressed in their gayest, and hxdcing tlioir best — 
 " beautiful as stars," a Dyak once told me — have formed (hemsclves 
 in(,o a corps of waliresses, and band round (he viands (o (ho assem- 
 bled guests. ■ As it is not. according to 1 )yak eti<pict(.e to (ako a 
 tiling wheu first o(Vcred, the youngladies have it very much in their 
 own power as (o who shall be helped, and to Avhat extent — a 
 privilege Avbic.h, I iiave been lohl, (hey arc inidined lo exercise 
 will) great pari Iali(.y. Poor iJondak I never shidl I furg(;t (by dis- 
 appointed mien, as, wi(!i dejec(ed li)oks and downcast air, (hou 
 lean(.est agninrt an adjacent doorway, mingling neilher wi(h (be 
 crowd wiiliin nor wilb (hose wilhoiil, most sad and musl (orhirn 
 anlid^i( all (he 'raiclvand racket. 
 
31 
 
 . " Well, pomlfilc," I Htiia, for I liked the boy, " what la it ? Arc 
 you not enjoying yourself?" '■ 
 
 "Jjt 13 nothing, sir," he .inawcrcil, in melancholy tones; and 
 then gathering courage, he thus ponrcd forth his luguhrions com- 
 plaint into -what ho dccineil Kynipathising cars : — " The girls of lliiH 
 house are not liberal, sir; they don't give any calces to boys like 
 ino (he Avaa about fifteen) ; they give them all to the bachelors." 
 
 " JCh ?" J' littered, in amazement. 
 
 "Tliey give all the cakes and sweetmeats, and everything, to the 
 haehclors ; and they give sonic to the old men and little cliildrcn ; 
 but they don't give any to boys like me." 
 
 1 could not help smiling; but ] thought it a hard case — hard that 
 boys should be kept looking wistfully on while their seniors were 
 eating cakes and Hwectmeals. Accordingly, entering another room, 
 [ there accepted at once all lliat was olTcred nic, and bringing it out, 
 I gave it to liondak, who shared it Avith his companions, and was 
 hajipy. 
 
 The niannangs, male and female, next take part in the corcmon3^ 
 They congregate in the gallery, and seating themselvcH in a circle, 
 one of 1 hem begins his dreary and monotonous chant, Avhilo the 
 rest at stated intervals join in the chorus. They occasionally 
 intermit l.hcir rhyme, in order to take a little refreshment ; after 
 which, another of the brotherhood takes the lead, and they continne 
 their dismal monotone as before. After sometime, each of them is 
 furnished with a sm.all plate of raw rice, dyed a bright saffron 
 colour, holding which in tlielr hands, they perambulate the crowded 
 gallery, and, still continuing their chant, scatter the yellow grains 
 over the seated multitude, " for luck." 
 
 Ill the meantime, tlie object of idl this rejoicing, the cai)tured 
 head, hangs along with its fellow in the bundle almost unnoticed. 
 In the morning, licfore any of the guests have assembled, some one 
 has stiifled a half-rotten plantain into one eye, and fastened a piece of 
 cake and a little siriand pinangncar (not into) its mouth. It is then 
 replaced in the bundle, and no more notice taken of it Ihroughont 
 the whole feast, unless ji few bo}^?, warriors in embryo, occasionally 
 advance to inspect it. Lit has been said by former writers that it is 
 stuck upon a pole, and Its mouth filled with choice morsels of food, 
 but r never saw Ibis done, nor did any D3^'lk whom I have ques- 
 tioned k'now anything of such a custom. As to tlie opinion that 
 they endeavour to propitiate the souls of the slain, and got them to 
 persuade their relatives to be killed also, or that tlic courage of the 
 slain is transferred to (he slayer — lam inclined to think that these 
 arc ideas devised by Malays, for the satisfaction of iiupiiring whites, 
 who, as they Avouhl not bo satislied till they had reasons for every- 
 thing they saw, got them specially invented for their own 
 use! ,' 
 
 (TffcriugH, however, are made to (he superior powers. A pig has 
 heen killed early in llie morning, and its enlrails inspected io furnish 
 
;J2 
 
 omens, wliilo II.h ca,vcaf!o iiftcrwanlH scrvoH as iiiriku'iiil.s lor a fcasl;. 
 JJaskcts ol" food and liiri aro hnui:; up as olVcriiigs to l.lio K])iriL3 and 
 to tho birds of omen ; among which lallor, tlic, burong I'aii/ala, or 
 rliinoccros liornbill, is reckoned espceiiilly llic; bird of (lie spirits. 
 Tlic grand event of the tlay, liowevor, is I lie erection of lolly poles, 
 each snrnioiiuted bj'' a wooden figure of llie Iniroiig JViiyala, ■wliieli 
 is pbiccd Uiere "to peck at l.lieir foes." 'I'liese ligures are ralher 
 conventional representalions than imitations of nature, and do not 
 convey a very exact idea of tlui bird they are. iiil(>iuled lo represent. 
 Still they so far resemble llns original, an to jiossess a liody, head, 
 and tail; and the}'' have likewise a long slender hill, ami a liorn 
 twisted like an ammoiiile. 'I'liey are about twenty Indies long, 
 painted in an astonishingl}'- variegated nianner, after tlie niost 
 approved Dyak fashion, the heads being ofleu decoraled Avith a 
 doAvny crest. They are made some time previous to tbe festival, 
 and a day or two before it are carried about to tin; dilFerent houses 
 in the vicinity, accompanied by gongs and Hags, to li',vy contri- 
 butions for tin; benefit of the fc.'ist. Tho ])oles on Avliieh they are 
 to bo elevated arc young trees, some of them about forty-live 
 inches in circumference at the lower eiul, and eighty feet in length ; 
 posts so long and so licavy, that it may well be matter of s\ir- 
 prisc how men, unaided by I'opes and pulleys, could erect them. 
 'J'he method employed, howevei-, is both sim])le and effective ; the 
 posts are carried up, and laid on llie platform of (be house, and 
 two lraiii(>.works, about twenty feet high, and thirty feet long, 
 are erected ])arrall(d to, and within a yard of each otlmr, on the 
 ground at the end of the jilatform. These are eonstriuited some 
 days ]n'evionsly, and are so placed that the lower end of the post, 
 when launclied olf the jdatfonn, may pass between them. ^Vlieu 
 it is intended to erect, the post, the bm'ong I'enyala, together Avitli 
 a proper amount of Hags and streamers, is fixed on its upper end; 
 and it is then puslied ab)ng the platform till its lo^vei" end, pro- 
 jecting beyond it, and ])assing between the frameworks, is over- 
 balanced b)'' its own weight, and fidls to tlio ground. The post 
 then lies at an angle of about twenty degrees to the horizon, one end 
 resting on tho ground, wliile its middle is supported by the plat- 
 form. One of the D^'aks below then advances Avith a fowl in one 
 hand, and a drawn parang in theolher; and placing the neck of 
 the bird upon the end of the post, chops its bead otV, and smears 
 the base of the post with its blood. After tliis sacrificial ceremony, 
 the signal for raising it is given. The Dyaks swarm upon the 
 Iavo frameworks liefore mention(Ml, and putting their shoulders 
 under the post, wliile its lower end is kept fixed upon the ground, 
 they mount up by degrees to the lop of the framework, and thus 
 gradually elevate it. The beak of the I'enyala is then pointed in 
 the direction of the foe, whom they wiv^h it to jieek at; and the 
 mast-lilie Jiolc, securely hislied to (he two IVamework's, stands at 
 once a Iroiihv of \ic(oi-y and ;i sx'iiiiiol (»f (h-liaiice. I'li;';h( or (en 
 
3.T 
 
 Hudi posts five ovoctcd, a fowl l)(\iii{^ Kaerificcd on Ciicli ; jiiul about 
 half-wa^' up 1,lic largest, wliicli is erected first, a basket of fruit, 
 cakes, and siri is suspended, as an olVcring to tlie spirits. 
 
 ]\leainviiilc, tliosc wlio remain in tlioJiouso still continue llic feast, 
 and those wlio liave been engaged in erecting tlic posts return to it 
 as soon as their labour is linished. Tlic festivities arc prolonged 
 far on into the night, and tlu-.y arc resumed and continued, thougli 
 wilh abated vigour, during the two following days.'l 
 
 '.I'hc poh^R, iu the preparation aiul erection of -which so mucli 
 labom* is expended, are porinittcd to vcniaiu for about a fort- 
 night, after which they are talcen do>vn, and the Penyala given 
 to the cliiklrcu ; new ones being generally made for each festivity.* 
 
 ''J'hc head-feast is tlie greatest of tlieir feasts ; the next iu impor- 
 tance is what wo would call a house-warming, or what they 
 denominate a house-washing ; that is, the entertainment given in 
 honour of a new house. As soon as the first liarvcst after its 
 erection lias given tlio community a plentiful supply of paddy, 
 preparations for it similar to those made for the head-feast, but on 
 u much less extensive scale, arc commenced; but as the rejoicings 
 on this occasion always begin with coclc-fighting — a sport which 
 we discountenanced as much as possible, and of course never went 
 near — I never witnessed them till the afternoon. By this time 
 most of the guests had departed ; the majority of those who 
 remained were lying about in a ])itiablc state of intoxication, while 
 the rest, with i-ed eyes, staggering gait, and wretched attempts at 
 fi nerj'^, were forming a procession round a few decorated pillars in 
 the liouse, chanting and beating time with their staves like 
 mannangs. It was a miscr.able sight, and not such as to 
 tempt mc to go back ; consctjucntly, though I had many subse- 
 fpicnt opportunities of witnessing the whole all'air, I never again 
 went near it. 
 
 Drunkenness, however, is not a vice to which the Dyaks are 
 much addicted. True, they will take arrack when it is oilcrcd 
 them ; and there arc certain times when they consider it a duty to 
 become intoxicated, or at least to intoxicate their guests ; but they 
 are not habitually drunken, and no Dyak Avould spend his money 
 upon liquor. 'J'hey arc too sensible of its value, and of the proba- 
 bility of their being compelled to purchase rice Avith it before next 
 harvest, thus to waste it. Much less would they think of parting 
 with any of their property, their gongs, or jars, merely for the pur- 
 pose of acquiring such a temporary gratification. In fact they are 
 a remarkably acquisitive and accumulative people, and now that 
 their constant fighting is put a stop to, and the destruction of eacli 
 other's property thus prevented, 1 tliink it very likely that many of 
 them may rise to considerable wealth ; and that thoy may ulti- 
 
 * 'rim Dj'alcH Hay llmt !f a man, wlicii riinniinf, i:( dcvi'i'ly ilr'oa]iilati'il liy a 
 slroko of a paniiit;, tliu hmly will cipiilinuo to run whilo Lliu hoad in rolling' on tliu 
 gninud. < 
 
iiiatuly boc())nc a more iiupdrLuil, Moeiiil liody even Uiaii Uio Mivlayf^. 
 TIio life of a Malay is a HiicccsHiou of CNpcdionls. Jf he can meet 
 a loniporai-y want by a Icniporary contriviuico, lie is KaLisfied, and 
 contentedly allow5i each daylo brinj^- ils own nccessiLien and Ilnown 
 supplies, lint it in not so willi Uio Pyaku ; llioy are much more 
 provident, and ficldoni hesil.atc lo nnderlake a llll.le present Ironhle 
 for the flake of a luliire reward. 
 
 c ]] A r T E ii V. 
 
 AiiTS OF r,U''ji;. 
 
 Tiicrc arc many different languages K])okcn hy (he ^'arioii.s trihca 
 of Dyaka, all of Avliicli, from their resemblance (,o ]\Ialay and lo 
 each ol.her, may be grouped together as languages of the Afalay 
 family. Tlie i*escmblancc borne to Malay by the langtiage of the 
 Balos (which is the same as thai; of the Sel)nyoH, Sakarrans, and 
 various ol,hcr tribtis) is very considerable, but it appears to proceed 
 from l.heiv being both originally derived from a connnon source, 
 rather than from one of tliein being an olVshoot of the other. The 
 IJalo language is much more coinjilcx and much more difficult than 
 Malay, is vcny copious and exceedingly iciioniatic, is characterised 
 l)y a great abundance; of specific and great absence of generic terms, 
 lias names for articles which the Dyalcs no longer possess, and 
 pi-cscnts man}"- other markf) of being the language of a people who 
 have retrograded in civilization. 
 
 That the Dyaics were at one time more civilized than they arc 
 at present is a conclusion which may likewise be drawn from the 
 existence among then) of manj'' of the arts of life — arts Avhich seem 
 to belong to a higher type of civilization than they at present 
 exhibit, and which api)ear to be t.he happily preserved wrecks of 
 that liiglier civilization from which they have now degenerated. 
 Many things point to India as the source of this civilization. 
 St.ono bulls and sacrificing stones, exactly similar to those now used 
 in India, are fmind in Jjorneo, although not noAV used by the 
 natiA'Cs for any religions purpose; Avliilc many of the arts of lifo, 
 those especially in Avhicli Iheir comparative snperiorily is most, 
 strongly marked, :ut, exactly the same as those of India, I lliink, 
 (hereforc, it. mav be safely assumed lliat an intimate comiection 
 between llindosian and J iorneo formerly existed, perhaps while tlie 
 .aboriginc^s of I be former country (wlio may have been of the same 
 
35 
 
 race, wltli l.lio IJyaks*) were ity exclusive poHUCSSOva ; niul daring 
 tli'is period llic civilization of Borneo waa, I have no dniibt, compa- 
 ratively high. Isolation from India, liowcvcr — caused, probably, 
 by the concpicst of that country by the Hindoos, together with the 
 barbarism induced by incessant internal wars — liavc gradually 
 reduced the J )yak3 to the state in whidi tlioy now arc, and thus 
 the}'- add another to the many examples which history'- aflbrds of the 
 instability of all civilization which is not based upon true religion. 
 Egypt, Assyria, Habylon, Persia, Greece, and Home, all have 
 flourished and decayed, and tlio decay of each can, I. thiidc, be 
 traced to their false religions. So long as llic people believed 
 their mythology — so long as they believed in the existence of 
 Deities who saw, and judged, and rewarded, and punished men 
 according to their deeds — thc!}'^ liiid a constraining power upon 
 their conscience not greatly dillercnt from that of the Christian, 
 and while they held this belief they were to a great extent virtuous, 
 industrious, energetic, and progressive. As soon, however, as the 
 pi'ogress of civilization liad tauglit them llic absurdity of their own 
 religion, they lost belled' in it, without acrpilrlng any other, and thus 
 th(\ir }nodes of thought became entirely governed by objects of sense. 
 Hence it followed that the manners of the nation becaine corrupt, 
 and its intellect deadened, and it retrograded as surely as it had 
 formerly progressed. Thus has it been in all past history, and thus 
 will it be In all time to come. As surely as the religious life of a 
 nation becomes extinct, so surely is its national life near its end ; 
 and as there is but one religion which will bear the most thorough 
 investigation from the most profound, acute, and subtle intellects, 
 so it is that religion, and that religion alone, wdilcli is fitted to 
 conduct man to the highest and most permanent type of civilization. 
 Though the Dyaks arc a mild and gentle people, they carry on 
 their wars Avith the most ruthless barbarity. I have often felt it 
 passing strange Avhcn, after playing with a number of quiet, gentle, 
 girlish-looking boys, I have sat down beside them in the cool of 
 the evening, and listened to them telling, with the utmost unconcern, 
 and as a mere matter of course, stories of the most revolting and 
 blood-thirsty cruelty, some of which they had themselves wit- 
 nessed, and all of which they were evidently prepared to see 
 re-enacted to-morrow without compunction and without surprise. 
 Still, ruthless and barbarous as the Dyaks are in tlieir wars, they 
 are not without a touch of chivalry. The llanowit Dyaks having 
 been accustomed, like the Sarebas and Sakarrans, to go out on 
 piratical expeditions, a fort was built at the mouth of their river in 
 
 * It may Ikj olycctoil lli.it no traco of a Malay or IVronKolian raoo (T rrfjard tlio 
 two as Hulwtautially tliu Raino) in to hr. foiiiid in llio plaiiiH of Jiidia. Wo muHt 
 rciiienilicr, liowcvcr, that tlio 'I'liiltH— orii^iiialiy a Moiigoli.an rnco— present now 
 all the fcutiiics of tlio CaiioaHiaii ; .iiid that tlio Pitoairii iHlaiidurfl— all of wlioBO 
 luothcrH, and many of wlioHO [atliern, woru Malayo-l'olyni'aiauH— also, 1 believe, 
 oxhiljit I'.xcliiHively the eliavaeteiiHtioH of (^aiiciusiaim. 1 1 may well Ixi, then, that 
 a MonRoiiim type Iihh disappeared fioiii India, tlir(iii(;h inleniiani.'i^'e of tho 
 IMongoliaii raeo with their l^aiicaHiaii eoiiipieiorH. 
 
 K 
 
unlei' 1.0 .s(()[) Ihcm; Ijiit., aliliDiigli a I'lsw of (lie, li Ilii! iit;i('('il Lo p;'\\c 
 up tliiH prncl'Ico, and KOttUul in Mio, vicinily of (lio forf, llic, nK-ijnril.s', 
 under I.Ik; cliicf'hunfiliqi of \U\:\]\ K yali, rclViKcil lo do so Tlic, cdu- 
 scsqucnco, was l.lial, l.lic (IccIh of IJuali Kyali, in llioir allcnipls lo 
 pass llic fori, ]iad man}' colti.'^aonH Avilli llio (^arrif-nn ; and llic l.\vo 
 parties — I.Ih! followors of I'liali livi'li and llio subjcrds of l.lu; 
 Ka.ja.li — ro^a.r(lod cadi ol.licr as oncniips wiiosc. heads it was Innd- 
 alil(<, and ])rope.r lo lahe by all i)OSsilil(>. means. On one; occasion, 
 onc! of lli(^, jMala.y forl.nien liavinj;- losi; liiniseli" in l.lie, junglo, 
 wandered alioiil, for l.wo days lill, on I lie second ni,i;lil, lie came by 
 dianco. lo liie, Ikmisc, of one, of Ibe followers of Ituab ivyali. lie 
 boldly entered, l(dd Ibe inmales wlio be was, and said I bey migbf. 
 I;akc iiis bead if llioy liked, but added Ibal. be lioped tbey would 
 give bini sonic food iirsl., a.s bo bad bad nolbing- lo cat. for two days. 
 ►Some rico. was ])rodnced, and, Avbilc be was eating it, conversation 
 Inrncd upon Ibe last (igbt Ibat bad laken ])lacc between ihiab 
 J{yab and tbo fort, and tbe various devices wbicli eacb parly bad 
 adopt.(;d, or intended to adopt. J'eing nnwilling, bowever, lo trnst 
 liiniself to tlie generosity of bis new-made friends longer tbaii be 
 was coinpellcil lo do so, be left Ibe bouse, inunedialely after be bad 
 linisbed ins meal, and, Rfiyiiig liiat be Avould soon be back, made 
 tow.ai-ds Ibe wbavf, tocdc one of tbe canoes t.liat was lying tberc, 
 and was soon paddling down tbe stream on bis Avay to tbe fort, 
 wbicb be readied in safely. 
 
 Tbe ordinary boats of Ibe Dyaks are. long, narrow canoes, liol- 
 lowcd out of llic trunk of a tree, tbe sides being raised by jilanks 
 pinned upon' Ibem. Tlu'ir war-boats, bowever, arc nindi larger, 
 and are couHlrucled differently. 'I'be lunas, or keel jdanlc, wbicb 
 is of (lu! entire Icngt.b of liie boat, lias I wo ledges on its inside, eacb 
 of tbeni about an ineb fnnn eacb margin of Ibe plank. I'^acb of 
 tb(>. otber planks, wliidi arc likewise tbe entire length of tlu^ boat, 
 baa an inside ledge on ils U]ipcv margin, its lower margin being- 
 plain, like an ordinary plank. When the Dyaks have made as 
 man)'- iibinkH as arc necessary for the boat, they inlend construct- 
 ing, they put tbcni togclbcr in ibe following manner: — The hmas, 
 or kecd plank, being jiroperly laid down, Ibe lirst side plank is 
 brought and ]i1aced, with its hwvx or ])lain edge, upon Ibe ledge of 
 the kccl-plank, Tlie ledge of the first side-plank being llins upper- 
 most, it liccoinca in turn Ibe ledge uiion whieb Ibe lower eilgc of 
 tbo second side-plank must vest. The l(>dgcs of tbe keel-])lank, 
 and of the first sido-plank, arc llien ]iierced, and (irm ratlan lash- 
 ings passed from tbe onc to Ibn olbcr. 'I'hc lower edge of tlie 
 Hccond sidc-plank is in lilrc manner laiil iii)oii tlu; ledge of the lirst, 
 and these, two idanks are lashed together in I ho same way as the 
 lirst was lashed lo the. keel, 'i'bus I bey ])laco Ibe edge of each 
 plank upon the ledge of that immcdialcly ludow it, la.ahing them 
 both llrmly to;;-el.bcr; and when Ibey have in this manner ])ut on as 
 many planks as Ibey Avish ("generally four or five on (ladi side), 
 lliev caulk tbe s-ams, so as lo renilci- llu-. boat waler-li/.'.bl. Hence, 
 
a? 
 
 in llic coiiHlnicLion of Lhcli- boiUs Llioy noL only employ no nulls, 
 ti-ocnallfl, or boU.3, but even no tiinl)(;rH — notblng but plunlcs Ingc- 
 niouHly lusbed (ogctbcr l)y raLliuia, and tliou caulked. It Ls true 
 that tliose bislilngs are not very durable, as tlie rattans soon get 
 rotten; but tliis is of little conRcr|uenco, since!, whenever a boat 
 returns from an expedition, tin; lashings are cut, and the planks 
 being separahid, are taken uj) inlo tlie house. VVhen she is agahi 
 wanted, the planks are taken down, and the boat reconstructed as 
 before. 'J'o propel their boats the}'- employ paddies of about throe 
 feet in length — never oars, aiul seldom sails. 
 
 The laeility -with wliich their boats can be taken to pieces is 
 sometimes of essential service to tlicm. If they have come down 
 their own river on a war expedition, and lijid on their return that 
 a powerful force has assembled to prevent their re-ascending, they 
 turn back and go up sonu; other i-iver, the tributaries of whicli pass 
 near their own country. ^Vheu they have in this manner come as 
 near their own houses as they can, they draw their boats ashore, 
 cut the lashings which hold them together, and five or six men, 
 •sliouldcring eacli of the planks, they carry tiie boat home piece- 
 meal through the, jungle. 
 
 The principal cutting instruments employed by the D3ak3 in 
 their wood work are parangs and hiliongs. Tlie parang is a thick, 
 short, lieavy sword, or rather cliopping-knife, about two feet in 
 length, and of which either tlie blade is curved like a Turkish 
 scymitar, or if the blade be straight the handle is bent backward, 
 so as to form an acute angle with it. The parang is employed in 
 war as avoU as for more i)eaceful pnrjjoses, and in the jungle is in- 
 dispensiblc, as without it the Dyak would lind it impossible to 
 make his way through the thickels Aviiich he is frequently obliged 
 to penetrate. It is, moreover, applied to ever}'- purpose which a 
 knife will serve, ami is at once a Avarrior's blade, a woodman's bill, 
 and a carpenter's tocd-chest. 
 
 The biliong is a kind of axe constructed so that its ciitting-edgc 
 may l)e placed either parallel or at right angles to its handle, in 
 order to serve either for an axe or an adze, as circumstances may 
 rccjuire. It is employed for cutting down trees, hewing out 
 planks, and such other heavy work as the parang would bo unfit 
 for. 
 
 The above mentioned instnunents arc formed by the Dyaka from 
 iron which they ])urcIiaso from the Malays and Chinese, but there 
 is another kind of chopping-lcnife or Hang made by the Kyans, 
 who not only forgo but also smelt the iron of which it is formed. 
 Unlike the parang, the cutting edge of the Hang is straight, and 
 IB in the same straight line with its handle, while the blade is 
 round on one side and flat on (he other, somewhat like the blade 
 of u jinir of scissors. In consequence of this i)eculiarity of struc- 
 ture, Hangs are adapted for cutting with one band only, but they 
 are sometimes made in pairs, oiuj for each hand. 'I'hcy are very 
 much prized bv llie Dyaks, and iconic of liicm are so beauliful Ijmt 
 
tlioy would b(3 no (liscrctlit t,o jui ICiif^^liHli worI<n\jiii. Iiidocil, it 
 Bccms in.'irvcUouH, juul iiliuoHt, incredible, iJuit hucIi hlndca sliouldlic 
 smelted, foi-ged, luid wrought by sjivugen, or rather wc ouglit to 
 draw tlic conclusion thiit men wlio cmi produce such blades do not 
 deserve such a degniding cpltliet. 
 
 Tho parang is equally an instrument of Industry and a weapon 
 of warfare ; tlieir other weapons are spears, shields, darts, and 
 another peculiar to Ihenisclvcs called tlie sunipitan. Their spears 
 are about seven or eight feet long, flic, head generally of iron 
 (though 1 have seen tlieni made of a hard kind of wood), and 
 lashed lo the shaft with split rattan. 'LMieir shields, which arc 
 made of Avood or bark, are about four feet long and eighteen incluis 
 wide. They have one handle in the centre, and the front, which is 
 curved, ia painted and often ornamented with human hair. Their 
 darts are simply pointed pieces of wood about four feet long, and 
 to a Euro2)can would not appear very elVectlve, but they arc 
 niado of such hard wood (the nibong, a kind of palm) that they 
 are capable of receiving a v(;ry sharp ])oint, and when tlirown at a 
 short distance woidd pierce a man. The smnpitan, or blow ])ipc, 
 is a wooden tube of about eight feet in length and an inch in 
 diameter, through which snnxU poisoned arrows are blown with 
 Buch cifcct that they arc capable of wounding at tho distance of 
 thirty yards. The arrow is a small splinter of nibong about as. 
 thick as a stocking wire, stuck into a small hemisplniriiial base of 
 very light wood, so as to alVord a surface for the breath to act upon. 
 The point is cut sharj), and steeped In vegetable poison (a case of 
 which they carry with them), and into which they again di]) tho 
 arrow immediatcdy before discdiarging it. These arrows the IJyks 
 use in huntiiig as Avell as in war, and kill not only birds and 
 squirrels witii them, but also large animals such as oi'ang-ntans. 
 To animals the poison proves fatal, because they cannot pull the 
 arrow out of the wound : but men suffer little inconvenience from 
 it, as their conn-ades can always extract the missile before the 
 poison has been absorbed by the system. Scpiirrels and small 
 animals drop a few minutes after they have been struck, but orang- 
 utans frecpiently clamber about among the trees for a whole day 
 before the poison takes such' cdVct upon them as to bring them 
 down. Sometimes the spear and the sumpitan arc combined, a spcav 
 head being lashed ujiou the tube of the sumpitan, thus in some 
 degree affording tho advantages of a musket and bay(mct. 
 
 The principal croi) which tJie JJyaks grow is vice, and their agri- 
 cultural operations arc extremely simple. Having selected the 
 piece of ground vviiich they intend to farm, and which is invariably 
 overgrown with jungle, their first care is to erect a farm-house ia 
 which to reside M'itli their families during the season of cultivation. 
 They then clear a few square yards of ground, which they sow 
 thickly with rice, and while this is growing tliey continue to clear 
 as miu'.h more as they think tiiey will cultivate. When they have 
 thus cut down the Irccs and bii'-hcs over as large a !q>iice as they 
 
;j9 
 
 inlcml In iilivnt Uicy sot fire Lo it, ila nahcs funning nil' excellent 
 nijinurc, anil then pulling up t,lic rice which thoy formerly sowed 
 they transplant it widely over the space which they havo thus 
 cleared. With some tribes the operation is still simpler. When 
 the ground has been cleared and the brushwood burnt the Dyak, 
 with a long pointed stick, dibbles a number of holes, into each of 
 Avliich his wife, who follows him, drops a few grains of rice, and 
 then gives it a scratch with a stick so .as to fill it up. While the 
 crop is growing it receives considerable attention, is weeded and 
 dclondcd as mnch as iiossiblu from Avild pigs, birds, and other 
 deslnictlvc animals, and when it is ripe the heads of corn are cut 
 oil", brought home, and beaten out. After the harvest has been 
 secured the ground is abandoned, and in the succeeding year they 
 make their farms in another place. TIuis tliey continually change 
 their rice grounds year after year, till they return to the spot 
 thoy originally cultivated, and thus instead of a rotation of crops 
 they employ a rotation of fields. This they do for two reasons ; 
 iirst, that the grouud may lie fallow; aiul secondly, because innne- 
 diately after the crop is reaped the gromid is so covered with grass, 
 rccda, shoots of young trees, and weeds of all sorts that tiie labour 
 of clearing it then would be excessive, hi the course of six or 
 seven years, hoAvcvcr, the young trees have shot up to such a 
 height that they have suffocated the grass and other weeds beneath 
 them, so that when the Dyaks return to this piece of ground 
 in order to clear it, they liavc merely to cut down and burn 
 the young trees, after which tlicy resume their farming operations 
 as before. 
 
 The animals which the Dyaks hunt are chiefly wild pigs and 
 decu". The former arc often taken in pitfalls, sometimes in a kind 
 of trap so constructed as to spear them Avhcu they approach it ; 
 but more frequently they arc hunted with dogs ; the latter are 
 generally snared in the following manner : — A long rattan rope 
 with a great many nooses depending from it is stretchedin the jungle, 
 and the deer are driven into it by bands of men and dogs. The process 
 of snaring is generally carried on at night, and from the nundjcr of 
 men employed, each of whom is armed Avith sword and spear, their 
 savage whoops and yells, mingled with the barking of the 
 dogs, and ringing far and wide through the dark forest, pre- 
 sents a most exciting, and to a European, a somewhat awe-inspiring 
 scone. I . 
 
 In fishing the Dji-aks sometimes use hook and line, but more 
 generally dilfercnt kinds of imts. One of these exactly resembles 
 tlie salmon nets of this country, only that it is constructed of bam- 
 boos and rattans instead of cords ; another, which can only be used ' 
 for the capture of small fisii in shnllow Avater, is the casting neti 
 This is a circular net of about twelve feet in diameter, its circum- 
 ference being loaded with lead and so tied in that the diameter of 
 the extreme margin is h'ss than that of the net ;i i\)\v inches within 
 it. \Vheu about to use it, Iho fislierman, stnndinjr in the bow of iiis 
 
40 
 
 Ciinoc, liolds II, by lliu cciiLi-o, ;illi)\viiip; (he, loaded cli-ciiinli'.ronco to 
 hang down, and wlien ho Iihh been jjiuldled by liin companion (o u 
 l)ropcrpliice beciiHirt il. so tliah the loii(h:d circiniifercnce Hies open, and 
 drops upon (lie water In a cirele. The wci^-IitH attached to it carry 
 it to the bottom, and all the huh within the circumrercnce arc thns 
 enclosed. The ii.sliernian, by tli(!ii pulling llie centre towards him, 
 contraclH the circinulcronce, and an tlio extreme margin has been 
 tied In so that its diameliir is Icsit llian that of tlio net a few inches 
 ahoA'e it, tlio oll'orts of the lish to escape, heinn- niitiirally made 
 against the Avidest part of the net., arc of conrsc inell'ecttial. As the 
 net thus becomes more and more contracted (he iisli become 
 entangled in it, and when, by gradually lifting np the centre, the 
 circumference has been drawn together, the net with its contents is 
 lifted into the boat. The lisii are then, taken out, and the net pre- 
 pared for another cast. 
 
 Another method of tishing is l)y wooden floats, generally of the 
 form of a duck, each witli a baited hook atl-,ached to il, and set 
 swimming down the stream. The owner of these floats glides in 
 his canoe among them, pl^'ing his rod and line, iind watching till 
 the ])ccu]iar motions of any of the ducks should shew that a fish 
 has hiion hookwl. 
 
 There is another method practised by the ^Malays for the capture 
 of large fish as they ascend the rivers from the sea with the fhjod 
 tide. Two lines of posts — one fn>ni each bank of the river — reach 
 diagonally across half the channel, and nuset in llic centre In the 
 former of thelell(;r V, the apex lying up the stream. At the ap(!X 
 Hcveral long ])OHtH are driven dee]) into the bottom, and stand up 
 high nbovo the water, forming as It were the framework of a kind 
 of Avatch-fowor, in the watc-r beneath which a net capable of being 
 qiuckly raised to the surface is set. One man stationed below 
 ■watclies to sec the fish enter, while the rest, stationed on the frame- 
 work, man th(< tackle by Avliich the net is to be hoisted np. The 
 lines of posts bclbre mentioned form leaders to bring the lish into 
 the net, and as soon as the man on the outlook sees one Avithin it he 
 gives tlic sign.al to his companions, by Avbom net and lish arc 
 quickly raised oiit of the Avatcr. 
 
 TMicir most iK'-culiar mode of fishing, however, is what is called 
 tuba fishing, tuba Ixiing the root of a ]>oisonons plant employed for 
 the purpose of stui)ifying the fish, Avhich are then s])eared. When 
 a tuba fishing is determined on, fifly or a hundred boats collect, 
 Avith perhaps '100 or 500 bundles of tuba, and, having selected the 
 river Avhicdi they intend to fish, tbcj' first make across it a barrier 
 of stakes, with a receptacle in the cimtre to j-eccive such of the fish 
 as may be stu])ilicd but escape being siteared. The,}'- then go 
 several miles higher uj) tin; stream, and, having taken a (pi;intity 
 of Avatcr into their boats, they begin (,o bent the luba amongst it. 
 Thus they mingle its juice, with the Avalcr in tin; canoe, fornnng 
 thereby a dirty whil;e-lookin;i^ fluid, AvIiich they throw inio the 
 • which, niin;.',ling willi tlu^ slrcam, slupilii's all llie (ish 
 
41 
 
 wIUi whlcli it comes in contact. These us they Hue to the surface 
 fii-c Iclslcretl l)y the J)ynks, while such as escape this lute are 
 (Irin.ed down by the ourrent into the receptacle before formed, and 
 arc there secured, ' It may eaBily be imagined that tuba fishing ia 
 a most interesting and cxciling sport, and as it often takes place at 
 night by torchlight the multitude of boats floating about on the 
 dark river, each with its torches, throwing into strong relief the 
 dusk-y and nearly naked figures of the crew, and partially ligliting 
 up the distant gloom of the forest, the glancing of the paddles, the 
 hushed motions of the rowers, the erect figure of the spcarsman 
 with his three-pronged s])Ciir, as the little canoes float over the 
 dark river and bcncatli the high over-arching trees, or dash on 
 with foaming speed amid the yells of the crew, and urged by the 
 contending efforts of rivals to the capture of some lai'ge fish, dimly- 
 seen struggling at a distance, form a singular and interesting 
 spectacle. 
 
 JJesides farming, fishing, and hunting, the principal employment 
 of the Dyaks is collecting the produce of the jungle, the cliief of 
 which fire gutta percha, katio and mcngkabang oils, bees' wax, 
 and edible birds' nests. Gutta percha Hitcrally gum of Sumatra) 
 is the saji of a forest tree, and is so well known that I need not 
 describe it. It is jjrocured by cutting down the tree and then 
 chopping the bark throughout the Avhole length of the trunk, so as 
 to allow the sap to ooze out. This it docs in such quantities that 
 it drops upon large leaves which the Dyaks have placed to, re- 
 ceive it, whence it is collected into balls or cakes, and is ready for 
 ' the market. India-rubber likewise is obtained from a creeping 
 plant, but is scarcely as yet an article of commerce. 
 
 iMcngkabang, or A'Cgetablc tallow, is procured in the following 
 manner from one of the wild fruits of the jungle : — Wlien the fruit, 
 a s])ccies of nut, has been gathered, it is picked, dried, and pounded, 
 and after being thoroughly heated in a shallow cauldron, it is put 
 into a rattan bag and subjected to a powerful pressure. The oil 
 oozes from the bag, and being run into bamboo moulds is there 
 allowed to cool, in which state it becomes hard and yellow, some- 
 what resembling unpurified bees' wax. It is principally used by 
 the Dj'aks and Malays for cooking, being very palatable, but in 
 this country it is employed for the manufacture of patent candles, 
 for which it is superior to palm oil. 
 
 Katio oil is procured from another Avild nut, and is expressed in 
 a somewhat similar manner. It is a beautifid yellow tran.sparcnt 
 fluid, with a smell very much like bitter almonds, and I have little 
 doubt that it will yet be found a very valuable article of commerce. 
 
 The press cmiiloycd by the Dyaks in expressing these oils is, like 
 many other of their contrivances, both simple and effective. It con- 
 sists of two semi-cylindrical logs about 7 feet long, placed in an up- 
 right position, their flat surfaces being fitted together and their 
 lower ends securely fastened to each other. On each of their iipper 
 ends a stout nob is cut, and a third piece of wood, about two feet 
 
\nn<^, nino iiuilics wide, iiiul Lwo Jiielu's (liick, willi ii. Iiolc ciil, in iL 
 uhoul, ji foot loii^- luid l.lin;(! iiiclicH wiihi, is piil, over I.Ik; iioIjh so as 
 to cl!iR[) llicin to,!;-(!l.li(',i-. ^V(•llgo.H !ir(! (licii iiiscrlcd I)cl\vci;u t,li« 
 oiilsidc of Uic noli and l,li(>. insido of Mk; Iiolc, and Uickc; when driven 
 lionic snhjcoh wlia lever is heUveen the lo_ns l.o a ])o\vcrt'Ml pressure. 
 
 The cliief dilliciilly in cnlh-clini!^ Ihe ahove oils ai'ises from l.hc 
 singular I'ael, llinl, llie unls from wliieli Ihey are (txiracted arc one 
 year prodneed in grcjil. ahundance, and (.he uexh in very small 
 quantities, 'riiis uneerlainly of crop is mil, conlined (o Uiesc f.wo 
 nuts, but extends to every finiL in th<; eonnlrv, and singular as it 
 may appear, ev(>.ry lldrtl year seems to Le the year of overlloAviiig 
 abundance, wliilc; tiu'. two snecccding years arc years of compara- 
 tive scarcity-- I'^ruit aloiu; seems liable to Ibis periodical increase 
 and faibu-c, at least I have lun-er iieard of it iji reference to grain 
 or otbcr crops. 
 
 TiiC -wild bccH Avbleb yitdd honey and wax bnild their nests only 
 upon the tapang tree, onciof tlx- lofticist in the jungb;;from the 
 branches of each of this sjiecies several clusters are generally seen 
 depending at a time, (,'l'liougb siLnuled in the heart of the jimglo 
 t.liesc trees are the properly of individuals, aiul descend from father 
 to son like any other possession, conferring- upon their owner a 
 right to the honey and Avax the}-- nia}'- yield/; When the Dyaks 
 intend to approi)riatc the luscious ])ro<luce, they asscnibhi by nigiit 
 at tlic foot of the taiiang tree which they Avish to despoil, and one 
 of them taking Avith him a ligiit, a basket, and the end of a long 
 rattan rope, asc(;i\ds tlio trunk. l)y means of 111 lie pegs driven into 
 it. I^When he has arrived at I he branch from which the comb 
 liangs ho puts over it the end of the rojic wliicli lie has brouglit 
 with him, to wliich he forthwith attaches the basket, and cautiously 
 slips the bight of of tlic rope along the bmigh till the basket hangs 
 directly under the comb. ire then wilh his parang loosens the 
 comb so as to allow it to drop into the basket, and giving the signal 
 to his companions (who hold llie other end of the rope), comb and 
 basket arc quickly loAVcrcd to the ground. fn the meantime he 
 must defend liiniself with his light from the attacks of the bees in 
 the best manner he can, and be Aviscly makes a sjiecdy descent. 
 A\'hou engaged in r()l)l)ing a bees' nest the J)yak encumbers hiin- 
 solf with as little clothing as possible, saying tliat if a bee lights 
 upon his skill Jm can easily brush it off, but if it gets inside liia 
 jacket or trousers " it is a hard matter." 
 
 Ijcsides the bee whicii ])roduces wax and honey there is another 
 species somewliat resembling the humble bee, but smaller, Avhicli 
 forms its comb not of wax bill; of resin. 
 
 The edible bird's nest so prized by the ICpicures of nblna is 
 formed by a species of swallow wliic.h builds in tlu; recesses of 
 mountain caves. These eaves, like the tapang trees, are the pro- 
 perty of cerlaiu tribes, and licforc Ihe (Joveruinent of l\ajab I'rookc 
 w-as established bloody fights for Iheir ])osscssion frequently took 
 place. Nests are of Ihrce (pialilics — JNos. I , L', and 15. JSo. 1 is 
 
■U] 
 
 coinposcti ciiliiT.ly of a gelaLinouB-looking substance which breaks 
 with a .shilling fracturo, and when allowed to Btand in wafer 
 becomes Roft and transparent ; No. 2 in composed of the same snb- 
 stnnco, intermixed with featlicrs; wliilo No. 3, which is soincwliat 
 like a blackbird's nest, consists of mud and grass, with considerable 
 portions of gelatinous substance interspersed. Nos. 1 and 2 arc 
 atlachcd to tlie sides of the cave in which they arc foimd much as 
 a swallow's nest is attaclied lo the corner of a window in England ; 
 while No. 3, Avhich I have only seen in China and not at all in 
 Borneo, bears no marks of any such attachment, seeming to bo 
 merely placed on some receptacle like the nests of ordinary birds. 
 The gelatinous substance of which they are composed is believed by 
 the French naturalists to be a kind of sea-weed, but it is considered 
 by Professor Owen to be an animal substance elaborated by the 
 bird itself. It would be presumptuous in me to ofler an oj^inion, 
 but I mnj state that the caves in which these nests ai'o found are 
 at the distance of many days' journey from the sea, while 1 am not 
 aware of a single place near the coast where they are to bo obtained. 
 The soup, which in itself is almost tafltcless, may bo seasoned to 
 suit any palate, and is prized by the Chinese more for its invi- 
 gorating (pialitics than for its flavour. 
 
 Except when employed in assisting in the operations of the farm, 
 t.h(5 time of the women is exclusively occupied in their houscliold 
 work, or in some branch of domestic industry, such as spinning, 
 weaving, or mat-making. In sewing they prefer European 
 needles and thread ; but if they fail to obtain these they make use 
 of those of tlieir own manufacture. Their needles arc of brass 
 wire, one end being sharpened to a point, the other flattened and 
 pierced for tlic eye. Their thread, which is of single twist, is spun 
 upon a wheel which exactly resembles tliose employed in India ; 
 and tlieir loom and method of weaving differ little, if at all, from those 
 of the Hindoos. The cloth which tlicy weave is of two kinds, 
 striped and figui-ed, the former for their jackets, the latter for 
 their bidangs or petticoats. The former is made by employing 
 successively threads of diftcrent colours in stretching the web; the 
 latter is jjroduced by a moi'c difficult and elaborate process. After 
 the web has been stretched (for which, in this case, undyed thread 
 is employed) the work-woman sketches on the extended threads 
 tJic pattern wliich she purposes shall appear on the cloth, and care- 
 fully notes the intended colours of the various scrolls. Supposing 
 she intends the pattern to be of three colours, blue, red, and yellow, 
 she proceeds as follows : — She takes up a dozen or a score of the 
 threads of the web (according as the exigencies of the pattern will 
 permit her) and wraps a quantity of vegetable fibre tightly round 
 tliosc parts of them wliich are intended to bo red and yellow, leav- 
 ing exposed those portions which are intended to be blue. After 
 she lias in this manner gone over the whole iveb, she immerses it 
 in a blue dyo, which, while it takes hold of the exposed portions of 
 the threads, is prevented by the vegetable fibre from colouring tliosc 
 
•li 
 
 [jorLions wliicli .arc intended lo bo rod und yellow-. After il, lias 
 been dried (ho vej^etablc libre is cut. oil"; aiid wlien I.I10 web in now 
 slrcLcbed out. tlic blue portion of tfie pattern is aeeti de]iic.ted. In 
 ii siinib'ir inunner tlio red and y^lbiw colours are a))])licd, and (luis 
 the whole Avob is dyed of the required pattern. 'I'ho weft is of one 
 uniform colour, f^(>,nerally brown"! 
 
 ICmbroidery is practised cliieily to ornament tlie ends of the 
 men's cbawats; and some of the ]>atlerns which they sew are very 
 cbiborate and rather pretty. There i.'i, however, little vari(>ty in 
 their designs, as they do not now seem able to orii^inate new pat- 
 terns ; they only copy those which already exist, and which are 
 lent from one to another for that purpo.se. 
 
 They make various kinds of mats, some for drying their grain 
 upon, others to serve as beds and carpets. iSomc of the latter arc 
 very fine, and arc much prized. 
 
 The princi])al food of the Dyaks is rice and salt, to wliich is 
 cocnsionally added a little fi.sb, venison or wild pig. "When their 
 rice is nearly finished, which it gencriiUy is just before harvest, 
 they are comi)elled to resort to expedients to lengthen out their 
 supplies. The Sarebas and )Sakarran tribes plant .Indian corn, 
 which comes in opportunely at Ihistinu', ; an example which the 
 Bales have begun to imitate, while .some of the Sarawak tribes 
 arc abl(! to procure .t. little sago from t,ho few sngo palms that arc 
 found in their vicinity. l\lany, however, are put to sail shifts, 
 and are obliged to live u|)on fern tops and the shoots of such ollujr 
 }daiits Jis they <;ollect in the jungle. 'IMu'.re is a kind (jf clay wliich 
 they sometimes resort lo, and which F have seen eaten hy boys 
 from choice. It Komcwhat resembles pl[)e(day, but is streaked with 
 red, probably tho oxide of iron, and it a]ipear(!d also to have a little 
 chalk or some other salt of lime Intermixed with it. It has a 
 peculiar taste, which I could fancy might be liked by those ac- 
 customed to it, but it cannot contain much nonri.shmcnt, and is 
 oidy resorted to by adults as a last resource. 
 
 The chief condiment of llic Dyaks is salt, which they procure 
 from the nipa ])alm, and which they much jirefer lo that obtained 
 by evaporation from sea water. The boughs of the ni])a arc cut, 
 dried, and burnt, aiul llieir ashes washed in water, so as lo di.ssolvc 
 the salt contained in them. This water being then allowed lo rim 
 oft' clear is evaporated in pans, the salt remaining at the bottom of 
 the vessel, it I.s a dirty grey and often hlack looking substance, 
 possessing a filightly hitler taste, which is gratcsful to the palate of 
 the Dyaks; and as it is generally ]>ro<luc(;d in masses of conside- 
 I'able size and as hard as a stone. It has much th<', ajjpearancc of a 
 mineral that has been dug out ol the earth. Anol her product of 
 the nipa is sugar, or ralhcr treacle, which is manufactured from its 
 fruit, and is very i>a.bilal)l(!. Vinegar Is procured from another 
 palm, by collecting its Juice and allowinsj it to undi'i-go the acetous 
 fermenlation, and from .-several others loddy is ohlained : some 
 kind.s of which smell and l.'i.^ilc strongly of sulplnirclled hydrogen. 
 
45 
 
 As Hoon as a Dynic acquirca a littlo wealth, he .invesLs it In the 
 purchase of jars, brass swivels, or gongs. The jars, which they 
 prize ^vith a sort of superstitious reverence,! are brown glazed 
 earlhonwaro, about three feet high, exactly the shape of Chinese 
 jars, and many of them stamped with the Chinese imperial dragon. 
 The Dynka can give no account of their origin, but suppose them to 
 1)0 the work of huntus. The cost of the dragon jars is about 70 rls. ; 
 those not impressed with the dragon arc called rusa, or deer jara, 
 and arc valued at about JJO rls., but there are others peculiarly 
 sacred which fetch much higher prices, some of them being valued 
 even at 800 rls. On one occasion, when a case involving one of 
 these valuable jars was being tried in Sarawak, one of the Em-opean 
 magistrates asking why it was prized so highly, received from one 
 of tlie Malays the following answer: — "When Clod made the 
 heavens there Avas soutc earth left over, and this jar was made of 
 it." Such an answer, which in the present case Avas received with 
 shouts of laughter by all present, is an instance of a reason fabri- 
 cated for the occasion, for no such belief is entertained by the 
 Dyaks. 
 
 Brass swivels, or Idas, are sold at so much per catty, as are like- 
 wise gongs, which latter are musical instruments, as well as repre- 
 sentatives of wealth. Besides gongs, their principal musical 
 instruments are drums, fiddles, and flutes. The drinn is about four 
 feet long, and six inches in diameter ; one end, covered with pigs' 
 skin, is beaten with the fingers, the other is left open for the 
 passage of tlic sound. Their fiddles and flutes are so rude in con- 
 struction, and so rai-cly used, that they are not worth describing. 
 
 The ])lants and animals of Sarawak arc very much the same as 
 those which have often been described as existing in other tropical 
 islands, but tlicro are some which to me were quite new, and which 
 struck me .as being so singular that I cannot forbear mentioning 
 them — tiiesc are llying lizards, flying frogs, and creeping fish. 
 The flying lizards have a pair of membranous wings, whicli 
 they can expand or fold up at pleasure, and with which they can 
 take long flying leaps from one tree to another. The flying frogs, 
 which likewise live among trees (to the trunks and boughs of which 
 their long claws enable them to adhere), have very large mem- 
 branous paws and feet, witi) Avhicli they also take long flying leaps 
 from tree to tree. The creeping fish, however, though by far the 
 most common, .ai-e the most singular of all. They are about nine 
 inches long, and are regular fish in all respects ; their only pecu- 
 liarities of form being the position of the eyes, whicli resemble two 
 littlo balls placed on the (op of the head, ami the structure of their 
 pectoral fins, which are. fleshy and jointed, somewhat like the fore 
 feet of a senl. Tliey leave the water at idcasurc, and como ashore 
 in shoals ujion the Ix'acli to fwA, walking abo<it by moans of their 
 j)ccl<)ral fins, and divigging their bodies after them. Their ])acc 
 when walking is very slow, hut when alarmed they bound along 
 the beach witii great rai)idity, nuikinglong leaps by meiuis of their 
 
■i('> 
 
 •|,;iilH,,.l)6iiiuliiig';ilM(>, wlioii Iho.y iilcji.sc, along- tin; (iiirfacc of llir 
 walor like i\ ^•icocluilUiif^ iilono. 
 
 AllthoHC iiuimala arc, cluiibtlcaH, well known to nat,iir!iliat,H, biiL 
 oil one occasion (licTO was kroug'lit luc an animal wliich was .not 
 only.Voiy' siiif^nilar, hut Avliich I am inclined to regard as new. 
 It was somewhat larger tliau a rat, to the head of which its 
 head bore a Htriking rosemblaneo, but it was four-handed, its 
 habitat was evidently the branches of trees, and its general 
 appearance luneh more rcsend)led a monkey than any other 
 animal. Tt.s tail was bare, like Ihat of a rat, but it had at the 
 extremity a tuft of hair. Us fore ))aws, which were extrcnudy 
 short, it used like hands to convey its food to its mouth; it could 
 climb like a inonk(^y with great facility, but on level ground its 
 progress was like Ihat of the kangaroo, by a snccession of leaps, 
 it was very pugnacious, and sprung at any one who approached it 
 with a sliarp kind of bark. But, while ilsbody so much res(MnbIed 
 in detail those of the monkey, tlusrat, and the kaiigaroo, its motions, 
 maimers, and general ap]icaranee put one Irresistibly in mind of a 
 squirrel ; so that, altogether, it is the most curious living manial [ 
 ever saw. My first idea (derived from faint recoiled ions of popular 
 Avorks on natural history), was that it was a jerboa, but it bears no 
 resemblance to the jerboas in the J'ritlsh Museum. Oiu) of the 
 officials of that institution, to whom T described it, showed me an 
 animal with a tuft at its tail, which had bc(m sent home from Borneo ; 
 but it was not at all like that whicli I am endeavouring to describe. 
 Indeed, I saw nothing in th(i Museum (except, perhaps, some of the 
 BHiJiller monkeys) which bore to it even a goiusric resemblance ; and 
 I have little doubt that it is a ucav animal. None of the Dyaks 
 knew what it was, or h.'id ever seen it bcfoi'c, so that it. inust be 
 rare even in fSarawak, Unfortunately, it was. killed, and partly 
 devoured by rats during the night, and I never saw or heard of 
 another specimen. ,. . ' 
 
 : ^I have thus endeavoured to give an account of a countrj'' well 
 known, by rejiort at least, to the civilized Avorld; and if 1 shall 
 have succeeded in interesting any one in the people whom we have 
 there been endeavouring, and >with wonderful success, to Chris- 
 tianize, so as to induce them to lend a helping hand in the good 
 workj I shall Ji'ave fully realized the object I proposed in penning 
 these sketches ;in Ijorneo: 1 am but too well aware of their imper- 
 fection ; nevertheless, I trust tlicy will be accepted, for, whatever 
 they uve in other respects, thev have at least the merit of being 
 faithful.; 
 
 FT NTS. 
 

 DATE DUE 
 
 
 4fttD 
 
 1 L 
 
 
 
 line 
 
 I 
 
 libraiy 
 pan 
 
 
 
 MAY 2 
 
 5 2005 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 gavlord 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U.S.A.