The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

124 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap.
boat some few minutes longer, and then makes his
way into the gallery, followed by most of his men,
who leave their spears and shields in the boats. If
the visitor is an intimate friend, the chief of the
house will send a son or brother to welcome him,
or will even go himself. Arrived in the gallery,'
the visitor advances to the central platform where
the chief of the house awaits him, unstrings his
sword from his waist, hangs it upon any convenient
hook, and sits down beside his host; while his
men, following his example, seat themselves with
the men of the house in a semicircle facing the
two chiefs. The followers may greet, and even
embrace, or grasp by the forearm, their personal
friends ; but the demeanour of the chiefs is more
formal. Neither one utters a word or glances at
the other for some few minutes ; the host remains
seated, fidgeting with a cigarette and gazing upon
the ^
floor ; the visitor sitting beside him looks
stolidly over the heads of his followers, and perhaps
clears his throat or coughs. Presently a woman
thrusts into the semicircle a tray of freshly made
cigarettes. One of the men of the house pushes
it forward towards the principal visitor, who makes
a sign of acceptance by lightly touching the tray ;
the other, crouching on his heels, lights a cigarette
with an ember from the fire, blowing it into a glow
as he waddles up to present it to the visiting chief.
The latter takes it, but usually allows it to go out.
By this time the chief of the house is ready to open
the conversation, and, after clearing his throat,
suddenly throws out a question, usually, ''Where
did you start from to-day.^" The embarrassing
silence thus broken, question and answer are freely
exchanged, the cigarette of the visitor is again
lighted at the fire by a member of the household,
and conversation becomes general. Not infrequently
the host, becoming more and more friendly,