The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

THE PEOPLES OF BORNEO 35
devoted to hunting than any others, except the
Punans.
Klemantans are to be found in every part of the
island, but most of their villages are situated on
the lower reaches of the rivers. They are most
abundant in the south, constituting the greater part
of the population of Dutch Borneo ; in the north
they are few, their place being filled by their near
relatives, the Muruts. The latter constitute the
principal part of the population of the northern
end of the island, predominating over all the other
peoples in British North Borneo, and in the northern
extremities of Sarawak and of Dutch Borneo.
(5) The Muruts are confined to the northern
part of Borneo. They resemble the Klemantans
more closely than the other peoples. They are
comparatively tall and slender, have less regular
and pleasing features than the Klemantans, and
their skin is generally darker and more ruddy in
colour. Their agriculture is superior to that of
the other peoples, but they are addicted to much
drinking of rice-spirit. Their social organisation
is very loose, their chiefs having but little authority.
Besides those who call themselves Muruts, we class
under the same general name several tribes which
we regard as closely allied to them ; namely, the
Adangs in the head of the Limbang ; the Kalabits
about the head of the Baram ; the Sabans and
Kerayans at the head of the Kerayan river ; the
Libuns ; the Lepu Asings at the head of the Bahau;
Tagals and Dusuns in the most northerly part ; the
Trings of the Barau and Balungan rivers on the
east.
(6) The Punans, among whom we include, beside
the Punans proper, the Ukits and a few other
closely allied but widely scattered small groups,
are the only people who do not dwell in villages
established on the banks of the rivers. They live