The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

62 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap, iv
every Sea Dayak possesses, and keeps stored at
the back of his private chamber, one or more large
vases. These were formerly imported from China,
but are now made by the Chinese of the towns in
Borneo. The commonest of the highly prized jars
are of plain brown brightly glazed earthenware,
standing about three feet in height on a flat bottom
(PI. 48) ; each
is ornamented with a Chinese dragon
moulded in relief {benaga), or some scroll designs
which, though very varied, go by the name of rusa
( = deer) and ningka. A Dayak will give from 200
to 400 dollars for such a jar. Rarer and still more
highly prized is a jar similar to these, but wider,
very highly glazed, and bare of all ornament save
some obscure markings. Eight perforated ''ears"
project just below the lip, and serve for the attachment
of a wooden or cloth cover. This jar occurs
in two varieties, a dark green and a very dark
brown, which are known respectively as gusi and
bergiau, the latter being the more valuable. Other
smaller and less valued jars are the pantar and
the alas. The jars of the kinds mentioned above
are valued largely on account of their age ;
probably
all of them were imported from China and Siam,
some of them no doubt centuries ago. Besides
these old jars there are now to be found in most
of the Sea Dayak houses many jars of modern
Chinese manufacture, some of which are very skilful
imitations of the old types ; and
though the Dayak
is a connoisseur in these matters, and can usually
distinguish the new from the old, he purchases
willingly the cheap modern imitations of the old,
because they are readily mistaken by the casual
observer for the more valuable varieties (PI. 47).
A few large vases of Chinese porcelain, usually
covered with elaborate designs in colour, are to be
found in most of the houses of the other peoples
(PI- 47).