274 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



especially if the charge against him has been made 

 by a Chinaman, a Malay, or a member of any other 

 than his own tribe, he will usually accompany the 

 prisoner to headquarters, in order to see that no 

 injustice is done him. Another important function 

 of the Pengkulu is the preliminary investigation of 

 breaches of the peace among his people (see vol. ii. 

 p. 219). 



The Pengkulu is responsible also for the 

 collection of the door-tax from the chief of each 

 house or village of his people and for its delivery to 

 the Resident. He is allowed to exercise a certain 

 discretion in the matter of remission of taxes to 

 elderly or infirm householders. He is responsible 

 also for the transmission to the Resident of all sums 

 in payment of fines of more than five dollars, 

 imposed by himself or by his subordinate chiefs. 

 On the happily infrequent occasions on which it 

 becomes necessary to organise a punitive expedition, 

 the Penghulus are expected to help in the raising of 

 the required force, and to accompany the expedition 

 as commanders of their own group of warriors, acting 

 under the orders of the Resident. 



A Pengkulu is punished for neglect of his duties 

 by suspension from his office for a definite period, or 

 in more serious cases by dismissal and the appoint- 

 ment of another chief. Since the dignity and 

 prestige of the office are high, this punishment is 

 deeply felt. 



Among the Kayans and Kenyahs and most of 

 the Klemantans, the Pengkulus exercise a very 

 effective authority, and, since with few exceptions 

 the chiefs chosen to fill the office have been loyal, 

 zealous, and capable, they have rendered great 

 services to the government. Among the Sea 

 Dayaks the lack of authority of the chiefs, which is 

 a characteristic feature of their social system, has 

 rendered it impossible to secure for their Pengkulus 



