4 Perry, An Ethnological Study of Warfare. 



of the basins of all the large rivers."^^ The authors tell us 

 that "From the point of view of physical development, the 

 Punan are among the finest of the peoples of Borneo," yet, 

 " the Punan is a likeable person, rich in good qualities, and 

 innocent of vices. He never slays or attacks other tribes 

 wantonly ; he never seeks or takes a head, for his customs do 

 not demand it." In spite of this lack of pugnacity, " he will 

 defend himself and his family pluckily .... courage is rated 

 highest, and a woman looks, especially for courage in her 

 husband." Morals are good ; " public opinion and tradition 

 seem to be the sole and sufficient sanction of conduct. • . • • 

 Marriage is for life, though separation by the advice or direc- 

 tion of the chief, or by desertion of the man to another com- 

 munity occurs. Sexual restraint is probably maintained at 

 about' the same level as among the other peoples, the women 

 being more strictly chaste after than before marriage." Sum- 

 ming up, the authors say, " Yet, although in culture (the Punan) 

 stands far below all the settled agricultural tribes, there is no 

 sufficient reason for assuming him to be innately inferior to 

 them in any considerable degree, cither morallv or intellectu- 

 ally." 



The account of the Punan shows that a people physically 

 " among the finest of Borneo " exist in the country at the head- 

 waters of the rivers. These people have had no severe " group- 

 selection," yet they are " rich in good qualities," intellectually 

 as good as any tribe in Borneo, and harmless as long as they 

 are treated properly. The warlike tribes, such as the Kayan, 

 are therefore superior only in material culture, for the authors 

 have demonstrated the high standard of physique, behaviour, 

 and morality of the Punan. It consequently seems that " group- 

 selection " has been inoperative as a civilising factor, since a 

 peaceful nomadic jungle tribe has qualities, law-abidingness, 

 courage, morality, all of them " specifically social qualities of 

 man, the higher development of which is an essential condition 

 of the higher social life." The Punan and Kayan live on 

 perfectly friendly terms; the warfare of central Borneo is 

 therefore not incessant, nor does the pugnacity of either people 

 seem to cause strife. If the least advanced people of Borneo 

 is pacific, how comes it that warfare ever began in Borneo? 



Most people are aware of the nature of the " warfare" of 

 the Borneo tribes. It is head-hunting. This is the chief form 

 of warfare among many peoples, including those of the Hima- 

 layan region, Assam, Upper Burma, South-west China, the 

 East Indian Archipelago, Formosa, New Guinea, and parts 

 of Oceania. Heads are also taken in America, and the North 

 American custom of scalping is akin to head-hunting. Not 

 only are heads sought by these peoples, but slaves are some- 

 times brought back from head-hunting expeditions. The 



13. Op. cit.. II., pp. 178, e.s., for the quotations concerning tlie 

 Punan. 



