2i6 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



As we have said, they are great talkers and orators. 

 They are by no means an impulsive people ; far less 

 so than the Kenyahs or the Sea Dayaks. Although 

 they are not a vivacious or talkative people in general 

 intercourse, every undertaking of any importance is 

 carefully discussed in all its aspects, often at what we 

 should consider unnecessary length, before the first 

 step is taken ; and in such discussions each man 

 likes to have his say, and each is heard out patiently 

 by his fellows. They have a strong belief in the 

 efficacy of words ; this is illustrated by the copious 

 flood of words which they pour out whenever they 

 perform any religious or other rite. 



In arguing or persuading, or even threatening, 

 they rely largely on indirect appeals, on analogy, 

 simile, and metaphor, flavoured with a good deal of 

 humour of a rather heavy kind. Or they may con- 

 vey a strong hint by describing a professed dream 

 in which the circumstances under discussion are 

 symbolised. 



The following incident illustrates this mode of 

 speech. Two Kayans quarrelled over the sale of a 

 pig. The current price was a dollar a buhak {i.e. the 

 span from finger-tip to thumb-tip, see vol. ii. p. 212). 

 The buyer had insisted on measuring it by spans 

 from thumb to tip of second finger, whereas the 

 customary span is to the tip of the index finger. 

 The case was brought before the chief, who of 

 course might have contented himself, but not 

 perhaps the purchaser, by authoritatively laying 

 down the law of custom. He, therefore, being a 

 man of tact and experience, thrust out his second 

 finger and pointed it at the purchaser of the pig, 

 saying, " Suppose any one pointed at you like that, 

 instead of with the index finger; you would all laugh 

 at him." All the people sitting round laughed, and 

 the purchaser went away convinced of the propriety 

 of using the index finger in measuring a pig. 



