The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

152 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap.
is rolled up while hot into spherical lumps, each
of which is pierced with a hole for convenient
transportation.
Camphor is formed in the crevices of the stems
of old trees of the species Dryobalanops aromatica,
when the heart is decayed leaving a central hollow.
The tree is cut down, the stem split up, and the
crystalline scales of pure camphor are shaken out
on to mats. It is then made up in little bundles
wrapped in palm leaves. The large-flaked camphor
fetches as much as £6 a pound in the Chinese
bazaar. Special precautions are observed by men
in search of camphor. A party of Kayans, setting
out to seek camphor, commonly gets the help of
Punans, who are acknowledged experts in this
business. Omens are taken before setting out, and
the party will not start until favourable omens have
been observed. The party is lali from the time
of beginning these operations. They will speak
to no one outside the party, and will speak no word
of Malay to one another ; and it is considered that
they are more likely to be successful if they confine
themselves to the use of a peculiar language which
seems to be a conventional perversion of the Punan
speech.
On entering a small river the party stretches
a rattan across its mouth ; and, where they leave
the river, they erect on the bank a pole or frayed
stick.^ Other persons seeing such sticks set up will
understand and respect the party's desire for privacy.
They then march through the jungle to the place
where they expect to find a group of camphor trees,
marking their path by bending the ends of twigs
at certain intervals in the direction in which the
party is moving. Having found a likely tree they
^ A stick of this kind is used in many rites. It is prepared by whittling
shavings from a stick and leaving them attached at one end ; so that a series
of the shavings projects along one side of the stick.