Hiller.] 328 [Dec. 18, 



in the head-waters of the Rejaug, he shamed the people because their 

 houses were poor. So Sabon built a new one that strangers might 

 admire. That was many years ago, and Mr. Lowe's visit remains the 

 first and last, but the house decorated with carvings and having hewn 

 board floors still stands expectant. In the meantime, while many of the 

 men and their chief were away down the river, the Kenniahs came over 

 and killed all the old and verj^ young who could not escape into the 

 jungle. Seven doors remained closed thereafter. Not satisfied with 

 this success they came a second time. His wife, his mother and his child 

 fell in the night attack, and he, with his ten-year old daughter Liban, 

 made his escape. A few more doors were rendered useless after this 

 depletion. Gathering all the fighting men he could command he joined 

 hands with the Dj'aks in their recent raid and endeavored to wipe out 

 the score. When we saw him again returning to his almost deserted 

 house his little daughter accompanied him. He was very poor ; must 

 even sell his best blow-gun to obtain food. But nothing daunted, he 

 was going back to tend his rice fields, and, if by any chance he found an 

 opportunity, he would take a few more Kenniah heads to avenge his 

 people. 



By contrast the life in a Dj-ak's house, or in a Malay village, may be 

 as tranquil as in our own country, and there the petty annoyances of 

 every-day life assume as large proportions as do the struggles for exist- 

 ence at the sources of the rivers. They feast and dance and make merrj^, 

 while Bululuk Sabon keeps watch and ward over his half-emptied house. 



If we dared prophesy as to the future of the Rejang's people, we should 

 say, that in proportion as the sturdy hill people dwindle away, the more 

 fortunately situated coast tribes would bear their advancing civilization 

 towards the mountains, and as the country becomes more and more set- 

 tled, when tribal wars are ended, and a better knowledge of rice culture 

 prevails, the}' should become a prosperous people. 



