238 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



They build long houses in which a whole com- 

 munity of as many as 400 persons dwell together 

 (4). These houses are described as of H imalayic type. 

 "It (the house) is made by sinking posts of large size 

 firmly in the ground and inserting beams or joists 

 through the posts eight feet from the ground, and 

 on these laying the floor with slats of bamboo." 

 The walls and partitions are mats of woven bamboo, 

 and the roof is thatched with palm leaves (4). This 

 very incomplete description leaves it open to suppose 

 that the Karen house is very similar to that built 

 by the Kayans when for any reason the latter build 

 in hasty and temporary fashion. But the still more 

 scanty description of another writer (3) implies that 

 the arrangement of the interior of the house is 

 unlike that characteristic of the Kayans. They 

 frequently migrate to new sites. 



The Karens cult i vat e/<3;<2^z and prepare the jungle 

 land for cultivation by burning down the forest. 

 They prepare from rice a spirit to which they 

 are much addicted. The hill tribes are truculent 

 warriors and head-hunters. Captives are made 

 slaves. They use and make spears and axes, and a 

 cross-bow^ with poisoned arrows. They rear pigs 

 and poultry, and train dogs to the chase. The men 

 eradicate their beards. They wear many small rings 

 on the forearms and legs. The lobes of the ear are 

 perforated and often enormously distended (3). 



They address prayers and supplications for pro- 

 tection and prosperity to a Supreme Being whom 

 they address as " Lord of the heavens and earth " (5). 

 They believe also in a multitude of nature spirits, 

 most of whom are harmful. The fear of them 

 occasions many ceremonial acts. The taking of 

 heads is said to be a means of propitiating these 

 spirits (3). They believe that during sickness the 

 soul departs from the body ; and the medicine-man 



^ The cross-bow is used as a toy by Kayan boys only. 



