Defcriptmi of the IJland of Borneo. S03 



covei-ed by her hufband, the latter never makes any attempt 

 againft the adulterer, but contents himfelf with putting to 

 death two or three of his flaves ; after which he imagiaes 

 himfelf freed from all fliame. The woman, on the other 

 hand, is punifhed merely vvith words, but fometimes with 

 blows. Do not a people, whofe conduct is regulated by 

 fuch laws, deferve pity? Revenge, fuperftition, avarice, and 

 a fpirit of plundering, are often among civilifed as well a3 

 uncivilifed nations the ftrongeft incitements to afts of cruelty 

 and murder: but the Biadjoo, who attacks only poor de- 

 fencelefs beings, and carries about their heads as trophies of 

 his courage ; who never attacks his enemy himfelf, but en- 

 deavours to be avenged by putting to death innocent flaves, 

 certainly furpalles in cruelly the ravenous animal that de- 

 vours others only to appeafe its hunger. Let us hope, for 

 the honour of humanity, that a good deal in this imperfe£l 

 relation may be exaggerated. 



The Biadjoos are unacquainted with polygamy. When a 

 man wiflies to feparate from his wife in confequence of her 

 having been guilty of fome crime, he retains her clothes and 

 ornaments, and caufes her to pay befides a fine amounting 

 to about thirty rials. After this, each party may again marry. 

 Thefe people acknowledge the fultan of Banjer as their fo- 

 vereign, and pay him yearly a fmall tribute in gold duft of 

 the value of twenty rials. 



The principal part of our information refpetling thefe 

 people was obtained from a Mr. Palm, who made a journey 

 from Pontiana to Landac in the year 1779 on bufinefs of the 

 Dutch Eaft India company, and who, on this occafion, pe- 

 netrated a confiderable way into the country. At Landac 

 he paid a vifit to the gold and diamond mines, and on his 

 return had the good fortune to get into his polTeflion an 

 orang outang of the largcfl; kind, which is properly a native 

 of this ifland. As this animal has been defcribed in the 

 Tranfa(?tioris of the Society for promoting the Arts and 

 Sciences at Eatavia, I {hall fay nothing further of it *, and 



• For a dcfcription of this animal from the above Trantflions, fee the 

 Philofophical Magazine, Vol. I. p. 125. 



D d 2 proceed 



