428 ETHNOGRAPHY OF SARAWAK. 



of many kinds, in fact just as many kinds as there are evil 

 spirits to cause the numerous sicknesses which fall to the lot 

 of the Milanos. 



In the case of epidemics they make huge boats elaborately 

 carved and filled with a crew of images : the boat is towed 

 slowly down to sea, escorted by the whole population of the 

 village and Avith full musical honours. In this way it is hoped 

 that they may get rid of the evil spirit causing the sickness. 

 In no other part of the Malayan region are images used so 

 extensively as amongst the Milanos of Sarawak. Very similar 

 images are found in the Island of Nias where, however, they 

 function rather as tutelary deities. 



Milanos do not bury their dead, but the coffins, shaped like 

 a crocodile or a dragon,, are deposited in comparatively large 

 well-constructed houses : these are often much more elaborate 

 than the houses of the living. Formerly, they made use of 

 huge vertical mortuaries which were prepared by shaping 

 and hollowing a large tree trunk : on the top of this mortuary 

 rested a large Chinese jar which contained the remains of the 

 most recently deceased, whilst the cavity of the mortuary lodged 

 the skeletons of more distant ancestors. 



These people seem to have very little conception of gods, and 

 morality has no part in their religion. As a matter of fact, 

 they are not so moral as the more " savage " tribes: they are 

 great gamblers and are addicted to lying. 



Milano wood carving is not at all common and the patterns 

 employed are mostly simple and geometric. They are tlie 

 possessors of some very old Chinese Celadon porcelain, 

 belonging to the Sung period : also they possess antique 

 \'enetian beads which were introduced along with the Celadon 

 bv the early traders, centuries ago. 



Punans. — The Punans are the most primitive people in 

 Sarawak, but unfortunately very little is known of them as they 

 are so rarely seen. They live in the jungle existing entirely 

 on the products of the forest and of the chase. These nomadic 

 people make no permanent house but have rudely constructed 

 temporary shelters. Their characteristic weapon is the blow- 

 pipe in the use of which they acquire great skill : the darts of 

 the blowpipe are tipped with poison obtained from the Upas 

 tree (Antiaris). They are expert collectors of jungle products 

 which they sell to the up-country traders. 



Kayaiis. — These people live in the North-Eastern portion of 

 the interior of Sarawak and are not so well known to 

 Europeans as are the pushing" and roving Sea I3ayaks. In 

 some respects they must be regarded as of a higher type than 

 the other inland tribes of Sarawak. Their houses are long and 

 compound, but besides being considerably more elevated than 

 those of the Sea Dayaks, they are also much stronger and 

 better in every way. In this tribe, too, there exists a social 

 grading into three classes — the chieftain class, the middle class 

 and the slaves : the chiefs are often powerful leaders of men. 

 superior in physique and of aristocratic bearing in the sense 

 that they leave all the laborious work {e.g.. the rowing of the 



