The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

56 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO ch.p.
larger boats used for longer journeys, and generally
at least one long war-boat, capable of carrying 50
to 100 men. Each boat, even one of the largest
size, is hollowed from a single log, the freeboard
being raised by lashing narrow planks to the edge
of the hollowed log. In the middle of a large boat
is a section, the freeboard of which is raised still
higher, and which is covered by an arched roof of
palm leaves. The boat is crossed at intervals of
some three feet by seats formed of short planks, each
supported at both ends by projections of the main
timber, to which they are lashed with rattan. In
travelling on the lower reaches of the rivers, the
rowers sit two on each bench, side by side and
facing the bow. On the upper reaches, where rapids
abound, a deck is made by laying split bamboos
along the length of the boat upon the benches,
and the crew sits upon this deck in paddling, or
stands upon it when poling the boat over rapids.
In addition to the clothes, houses, and boats,
and the domestic animals mentioned above, and to
the personal ornaments and weapons to be described
in later chapters, the material possessions of the
Kayans consist chiefly of baskets and mats.
The baskets are of various shapes and sizes,
adapted to a variety of uses. The largest size
holds about two bushels of padi, and is chiefly used
for transporting grain from the fields to the house
(Fig. 4). It is almost cylindrical in shape, but rather
wider at the upper end. Four strips of wood running
down from near the upper edge project slightly
below, forming short legs on which the basket
stands. The upper end is closed by a detachable
cap, which fits inside the upper lip of the basket.
It is provided with a pair of shoulder straps, and a
strap which is passed over the crown of the head.
These straps are made of a single strip of tough
beaten bark. One end of it is attached to the foot of