The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

226 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap.
metal blade is laid upon the distal surface of this
block and lashed firmly to it with fine strips of rattan.
A piece of skin is often placed between the metal
and the lashings ;
this facilitates the removal of the
blade, and enables the craftsman to alter the angle
between the cutting edge and the haft. Commonly
the blade is laid in the plane of the haft, and the
implement is then what we should call a small axe ;
on turning the blade through 90°, it is converted
to a small adze ;
and
not infrequently the blade
is turned through a smaller angle, so that its plane
forms an acute angle with that of the haft.
Carved woodwork is commonly painted with
black and red paint, prepared respectively from
soot and iron oxide mixed with sugar-cane juice
or with lime ; the moist pigment is applied with the
finger on larger surfaces, and the finer lines and
edges are marked out with the aid of a chiseU
edged stick of wood.
BeADWORK
Old beads are much valued and sought after by
all the tribes except I bans, especially by the
Kayans. There are few families of the upper class
that do not possess a certain number of them.
Many varieties are well known, and some of the
Kayan women are very expert in recognising the
genuine old specimens, and in distinguishing these
varieties from one another and from modern
imitations.
Formerly these old beads were one of the
principal forms of currency, and they still constitute
an important part of the wealth of many families.
Most of these valuable old beads are of foreign
manufacture, though a few made from shell and
agate are of the country. The old foreign -made
beads were probably imported by Arab and