The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

36 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap.
in small groups of twenty or thirty persons, which
wander in the jungle. Each such group is generally
made up of a chief and his descendants. The
group will spend a few weeks or months at a time
in one spot (to which generally they are attracted
by the presence of wild sago), dwelling in rude
shelters of sticks and leaves, aud then moving on,
but generally remaining within some one area,
such as the basin of one of the upper tributaries
of a large river. They are found throughout the
interior of Borneo, but are difficult to meet with,
as they remain hidden in the depths of the forests.
Unlike all the other peoples, they cultivate no padi
(rice), and they do not make boats or travel on the
rivers. They support themselves by hunting with
the blow-pipe, by gathering the wild jungle fruits,
and by collecting the jungle products and bartering
them with the more settled peoples. In physical
characters they closely resemble the Kenyahs, being
well-built and vigorous ; their skin is of very light
yellow colour, and their features are regular and
well shaped. Mentally they are characterised by
extreme shyness and timidity and reserve. They
are quite inoffensive and never engage in open
warfare; though they will avenge injuries by stealthy
attacks on individuals with the blow-pipe and
poisoned darts. Their only handicrafts are the
making of baskets, mats, blow-pipes, and the
implements used for working the wild sago ; but
in these and in the use of the blow-pipe they are
very expert. All other manufactured articles used
by them—cloths, swords, spears—are obtained by
barter from the other peoples. Unlike all the other
peoples, they have no form of sepulture, but simply
leave the corpse of a comrade in the rude shelter
in which he died. They sing and declaim rude
melancholy songs or dirges with peculiar skill and
striking effect. Their language is distinctive, but