The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

MATERIAL CONDITIONS 59
and for containing food in course of preparation
(Fig. 5).
The mats are of many shapes and sizes. The
largest are spread on the raised part of the floor,
both of the gallery and of the private chambers,
when a party sits down to eat or converse. Each
individual has his own sleeping mat, and each
family has a number of mats used for drying, husking,
winnowing, and sieving xh^ padi.
The bamboo water- vessel consists of a section
of the stem of the bamboo, closed at the lower end
by the natural septum, the upper end having a lip
Fig. 6.
or spout formed at the level of the succeeding
septum. A short length of a branch remains
projecting downwards to form a handle, by means
of which the vessel can be conveniently suspended.
These vessels are used also for carrying rice-spirit
or borak ; but this is stored in large jars of earthenware
or china. The native jar of earthenware is
ovoid in shape and holds about one gallon, but
these are now largely superseded by jars made
by the Chinese.
Each family possesses some dishes and platters
of hardwood (Figs. 6 and 7), and generally a few
china plates bought from traders ; but a large leaf
is the plate most commonly used.