The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

a68 THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. [chap.Their forms .are well proportioned, their feet and hands small,and they rarely or never attain tlie bulk of body so often seen inMalays and Chinese.I am inclined to rank the Dyaks above the Malays in mentalcajoacity, while in moral character they are undoubtedly superiorto them. They are simple and lionest, and become the prey ofthe ]\Ialay and Chinese traders, who cheat and plunder themcontinually. They are more livelj'', more talkative, less secretive,and less suspicious than the Malay, and are therefore pleasantercompanions. The Malay boys have little inclination for activesports and games, whicli form quite a feature in the life of theDj^ak youths, who, besides outdoor games of skill and strength,possess a variety of indoor amusements. One wet day, in aDyak house, when a number of boys and young men were aboutme, I thought to amuse tliem with something new, and showedthem how to make " cat's cradle with a piece '"'of string. Greatlyto my surprise, they knew all about it, and more than I did ; for,after I and Charles had gone through all the changes we couldmake, one of the boys took it off my hand, and made several newfigures which quite puzzled me. They then showed me a numberof other ti'icks with pieces of string, which seemed a favouriteamusement with them.Even these apjDarently trifling matters may assist us to forma truer estimate of the Dyaks' cliaracter and social condition.We learn therebj', that these people have jDassed beyond thatfirst stage of savage life in which the struggle for existence absorbsthe wiiole faculties, and in which every thought and ideais connected with war or hunting, or the provision for theirimmediate necessities. These amusements indicate a capabilityof civilization, an aptitude to enjoy other than mere sensualpleasures, which might be taken advantage of to elevate theirwliole intellectual and social life.The moral character of tlie Dyaks is undoubtedly high—statement which will seem strange to tliose who have heard ofthem only as head-hunters and i^irates. The Hill Dyaks of whomI am speaking, how^ever, have never been pirates, since they nevergo near the sea ; and head-hunting is a custom originating in thepetty wars of village witli village, and tribe with tribe, which nomore implies a bad moral character than did the custom of theslave-trade a hundred years ago imply want of general moralityin all who j^articipated in it. Against this one stain on theircharacter (whicli in the case of the Sarawak Dyaks no longerexists) we have to set many good points. They are truthful andhonest to a remarkable degree. From this cause it is very oftenimpossible to get from them any definite information, or evenan opinion. Tliey say, " If I were to tell you what I don't know,I might tell a lie ; " and whenever they voluntarily relate anymatter of fact, you may be sure they are speaking the truth. Ina Dyak village the fruit trees liave each their owner, and it hasoften happened to me, on asking an inhabitant to gather me