Dyak Games. 



77 



rings on the ai'ms and legs, and armlets of white shell, all serve 

 to relieve and set ofl' the pure reddish-brown skin and jet- 

 black hair. Add to this the little pouch containing materials 

 for betel-chewing, and a long slender knife, both invariably 

 worn at the side, and you have the every-day dress of the 

 young Dyak gentleman. 



The " orang kaya," or rich man, as the chief of the tribe 

 is called, .now came 

 in with several of 

 the older men, and 

 the " bitchara," or 

 talk, commenced, 

 about getting a boat 

 and men to take me 

 on the next morn- 

 ing. As I could not 

 understand a woi"d 

 of their language, 

 which is very dif- 

 ferent from Malay, 

 I took no part in 

 the proceedings, but 

 was represented by 

 my boy Bujon, who 

 translated to me 

 most of what was 

 said. A Chinese tra- 

 der was in the house, 

 and he, too, wanted 

 men the next day; 

 but on his hinting 

 this to the orang 



kaya, he was sternly told that a white man's business was 

 now being discussed, and he must wait another day before he 

 could be thought about. 



After the "bitchara" was over and the old chiefs gone, I 

 asked the young men to play or dance, or amuse themselves 

 in their accustomed way, and, after some little hesitation, 

 they agreed to do so. They first had a trial of strength, 

 two boys sitting opposite each other, foot being placed 



PORTRAIT OF DTAK YOUTH. 



