The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

CHAPTER VI
AGRICULTURE
For all the peoples of the interior of Borneo, the
Panans and Malanaus excepted, the rice grown by
themselves is the principal food-stuff. Throughout
the year, except during the few weeks when the
jungle fruit is most abundant, rice forms the bulk
of every meal. In years of bad harvests, when the
supply is deficient, the place of rice has to be filled
as well as may be with wild sago, cultivated maize,
tapioca, and sweet potatoes. All these are used,
and the last three, as well as pumpkins, bananas,
cucumbers, millet, pineapples, chilis, are regularly
grown in small quantities by most of the peoples.
But all these together are regarded as making but
a poor substitute for rice. The cultivator has to
contend with many difficulties, for in the moist hot
climate weeds grow apace, and the fields, being
closely surrounded by virgin forest, are liable to the
attacks of pests of many kinds. Hence the processes
by which the annual crop oi padi is obtained
demand the best efforts and care of all the people
of each village. The plough is unknown save to'
the Dusuns, a branch of the Murut people in North
Borneo, who have learnt its use from Chinese
immigrants. The Kalabits and some of the coastwise
Klemantans who live in alluvial areas have
learnt, probably through intercourse with the
Philippine Islanders or the inhabitants of Indo-
VOL. I 97 H