XIX THE NOMAD HUNTERS 189 



prints showed that its disappearance was due to 

 human agency. The following night this procedure 

 was repeated, and in the course of the day Punan 

 shouts were heard, coming from a distance of some 

 hundreds of yards. The interpreter was sent out 

 with instructions to parley and, if possible, to persuade 

 the Punans to come into camp. Presently he 

 returned with two shy but curious strangers, who 

 squatted at some distance and were gradually 

 encouraged to come to close quarters. After 

 staying a few minutes and accepting presents of 

 tobacco and cloth, they made off. On the following 

 day they returned with eight male co ^panions, 

 bringing a monkey, a hornbill, and a rare bird, all 

 killed with their poisoned darts ; and they enquired 

 how much rubber they should bring in return for the 

 tobacco. They were told that no return was 

 expected, but, understanding that animals of all 

 sorts were being collected, they attached themselves 

 to the party, lent their unmatched skill to adding to 

 the collections, and brought in many rare specimens 

 that now repose safely in the Natural History 

 Museum at South Kensington. They soon gained 

 confidence and took up their sleeping quarters 

 under the raised floor of the rough hut ; and, when 

 after some weeks the time for parting came, they 

 voluntarily took a prominent part in carrying down 

 the collections to the boats, and went away well 

 satisfied with the simple presents they received. 



Punans never build boats or travel on the water 

 of their own initiative and agency. In fact they 

 dislike to come out from the shade of the forest on 

 to a cleared space or the stony bed of the river. 

 They are very conservative in spite of their inter- 

 course with more advanced tribes, and they harbour 

 many irrational prejudices. They entertain a 

 particular aversion to the crocodile, an aversion 

 strongly tinged with awe. They will not kill it or 



