The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

172 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO
CHAP.
boats. A password is agreed upon, which serves
as a means of making members of the party known
to one another upon any chance meeting in the
dark.
Scouts are sent out at dusk and, if their reports
are favourable, the attack is made just before
dawn. About half the warriors are provided with
large bundles of dry shavings, and some will carry
torches. When the attacking party has quietly
surrounded the house or houses, the bundles of
shavings are ignited, and their bearers run in and
throw them under the house among the timbers on
which it is supported. Then ensues a scene of wild
confusion. The calm stillness of the tropical dawn
is broken by the deep war-chorus of the attacking
party, by the shouts and screams of the people of
the house suddenly roused from sleep, by the cries
and squeals of the frightened animals beneath the
house, and the beating of the alarm signal on the
tawak. If the house is ignited, the encircling
assailants strive to intercept the fleeing inhabitants.
These, if the flames do not drive them out before
they have time to take any concerted measures,
will hurl their javelins and discharge their firearms
(if they have any) at their assailants ; then they will
descend, bringing the women and children with
them, and make a desperate attempt to cut their
way through and escape to the jungle or, sometimes,
to their boats. Kayans conducting a successful
attack of this kind will make as many prisoners
as possible, and will as a rule kill only those men
who make desperate resistance, though occasionally
others, even women and children, may be wantonly
killed in the excitement of the moment. It is not
unusual in the case of an able-bodied man who has
surrendered, but shown signs of attempting to
escape or of renewing his resistance, to deal him
a heavy blow on the knee-cap, and so render him