Defcrlpiion of the Tfland of Bopne9, toi 



the dcceafed are in a condition to p\irchafe a flave to ferve 

 him in the next world. 



Their houfes are conftru6lcd of boards joined together, 

 and have neither windows nor partitions except that which 

 Separates a fmall corner for fieeping in. The whole family 

 refide together along with their flaves, forming in the whole 

 fometimes a hundred perfons. They have nothing to afford 

 them light but a thin piece of pine-wood, which burns no 

 longer than till about eight in the evening. Over their doors 

 they fufpend the heads v/hich they cut off in their fkirmifhes, 

 and often while they are ftill bloody. Whenever they con- 

 ceive a defire of difplaying their courage by cutting off heads, 

 they fet out on an expedition for that purpofe. On fuch oc- 

 cafions, the perfon who wiilies to gratify his bloody intention 

 makes known his defiirn to his friends and relations, who de- 

 liberate with him on the means to be purfued, and who ac- 

 company him, together with their dependants and flaves. 

 They then proceed, in great fecrecy, to the river Banjer, and 

 lie in wait for fome fmall veffel belonging to Banjer fifher- 

 men, whom they either fiu-prife in the night-time or attack 

 and carry away in the open day. One or perhaps two of 

 thefe vmfortunate captives are then dcftined to become a fa- 

 crifice to their infatiable rage for murder. 



When theDajakkefe bring home a head, the whole village, 

 men, women, and children, teftify their fatisfatSlion by every 

 demonftration of joy. People who beat on gongs* are fta- 

 tioned in a row in the ftreet to conduft the conqueror, with 

 the head in his hand, to his own houfe, where he is received 

 by all the women prefent, who dance around him. When 

 he approaches the door, he finds where the gongs ceafe a 

 cufli ion placed for him, on which he fits down, and where 

 the head is taken from him by the women. The fortunate 

 head-hunter receives prefonts from all the company, who 

 dance and afterwards partake of a repafi:. At the fame time 

 feme food is thruft into the mouth of the head, and a little 

 drink is poured into it ; after which it is hung up as a ppr- 

 pctual trophy of vidtory. 



• The gong is a kinJ of nuifirai inrir'jmcnt pf copper. 



Vql, VI. Pd" IMa 



