196 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



and some importance must therefore be attributed 

 to the one prominent feature of their social organ- 

 isation which is peculiar to these two peoples, 

 namely a clearly marked stratification into three 

 social strata between which but little intermarriage 

 takes place. This stratification undoubtedly makes 

 for a higher level of conduct throughout the 

 communities in which it obtains ; for the members 

 of the higher or chiefly class are brought up with 

 a keen sense of their responsibility towards the 

 community, and their example and authority do 

 much to maintain the standards of conduct of 

 the middle and lower classes. 



We have said that almost all offences are 

 punished by fines only. Of the few offences which 

 are felt to require a heavier punishment, the one 

 most seriously regarded is incest. For this offence, 

 which is held to bring grave peril to the whole 

 house, especially the danger of starvation through 

 failure of the padi crop, two punishments have 

 been customary. If the guilt of the culprits is 

 perfectly clear, they are taken to some open spot 

 on the river-bank at some distance from the 

 house. There they are thrown together upon the 

 ground and a sharpened bamboo stake is driven 

 through their bodies, so that they remain pinned to 

 the earth. The bamboo, taking root and growing 

 luxuriantly on this spot, remains as a warning to all 

 who pass by ; and, needless to say, the spot is looked 

 on with horror and shunned by all men. The other 

 method of punishment is to shut up the offenders in 

 a strong wicker cage and to throw them into the 

 river. This method is resorted to as a substitute 

 for the former one, owing to the difficulty of getting 

 any one to play the part of executioner and to drive 

 in the stake, for this involves the shedding of the 

 blood of the community. 



The kind of incest most commonly committed is 



