ETHNOGRAPHY OF .SARA^^"AK. 429 



boat), to their inferiors. They are a warhke and powerful tribe, 

 conservative in their customs. 



Their art patterns on the carvings of the men and on the 

 beadwork of the women are very distinctive : nearly all of them 

 are to be referred to as elaborated or degenerate modifications 

 of the " Asu " pattern (i.e., the '" dog " pattern). And this pattern 

 has been largely copied by the Sea Dayaks. 



One tribe of Kayans has the art of making steel, and that of 

 an excellent type : and the characteristic kayan sword, the blade 

 hollowed out along one side, the thick edge beautifully 

 fretworked or studded with brass, the handle of stagshorn 

 delicately carved in anthropomorphic shape, really is a model 

 of superior workmanship and would do credit to the skilled 

 artisans of Europe. The women adorn themselves with very 

 heavy earrings which at an early date pull out the earlobes to 

 a distance of six inches or more : also all women are elaborately 

 tatued on the legs, the operation often extending over a period 

 of three or four years and being accompanied by an important 

 ceremonial. The women of the upper classes are enthusiastic 

 collectors of the antique Venetian beads. They are a very 

 religious people never undertaking anything of importance, 

 such as the building of a house, for example, without first 

 seeking the will of the gods. This they ascertain by observing 

 the flight of the Brahminy kite and often enough they cut 

 open a pig and examine its liver for omens in much the same 

 way as the ancient Romans took auguries from the hearts of 

 pigs. The names of these people afford an amusing study. 

 One old chief rejoiced in the euphonious name " Tamaping 

 Xipa," which being interpreted means Nipa, father of Aping: 

 as a boy he was called Xipa (the Nipa frnticaus is the most 

 common palm in Sarawak) and afterwards he had a son whom 

 he called " Aping " (another well-known palm). Another power- 

 ful chief was known as " Tama bulan," that is " father of 

 Bulan " (" Bulan " means the moon). It is in fact general for 

 the father to change his former name for that of his eldest son. 



Another interesting Kayan had the name Laki Batang. 

 (" Laki " is the term used for the male sex of man or animals, 

 and " Batang" means a tree trunk, cf. Mr. Wood of English 

 people). 



Nicknames are common enough especially amongst Sea 

 Dayaks. One famous old warrior was known to his friends 

 as " Torrents of blood " : and a young lady of our acquaintance 

 whose real name is Punai {i.e., a pigeon) is usually called Ulat 

 (a worm). 



Kenyahs live in the same district as the Kayans and though 

 of distinct origin, they have many customs in common with 

 the Kayans. 



Canibalism does not occur in Borneo nor ever did, so far 

 as we know : human sacrifices, however, were common enough 

 several generations ago amongst the inland tribes. For instance, 

 at the opening ceremony of a Milano mortuary, when it was 

 being placed in position, the huge structure was dropped on to 

 the body of a helpless slave : at the present day, however, a 



