2G4 THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



white band across their forehead to notify their object, and 

 destroy alike their enemies and strangers. From twenty to 

 forty heads, according to the rank of the deceased rajah, 

 being procured, buffaloes are killed, rice boiled, and a solemn 

 funeral feast is held, and, whatever time may elapse, the 

 body is not previously buried. The heads, on being cleaned, are 

 hung up in the houses of the three principal persons of the 

 tribe, and regarded with great veneration and respect. 



The national weapon of the Dyaks, though not in use among 

 all their tribes, is the Sumpitan, a blow-pipe about five feet 

 long, with an arrow made of wood, thin, light, sharp-pointed, 

 and dipped in the poison of the upas tree. As this is fugacious, 

 the points are generally dipped afresh when wanted. For 

 about twenty yards the aim is so true that no two arrows shot 

 at the same mark will be above an inch or two apart. On a 

 calm day the utmost range may be a hundred yards. Though 

 impregnated with a poison less deadly than the Wourali of 

 the American Indians, yet the shafts of the sumpitan are 

 formidable weapons from the frequency with which they can be 

 discharged, and the skill of those who use them. The arrows 

 are contained in a bamboo case, hung at the side, and at the 

 bottom of this quiver is the poison of the upas. When they 

 face an enemy the box at the side is open, and, whether ad- 

 vancing or retreating, they fire the poisoned missiles with great 

 precision. 



The style of building of the Dyaks is very peculiar ; most of 

 their villages consisting of a single house, in which from fifteen 

 to twenty families live together, in separate compartments. 



The floor of these long buildings, which are thatched with 

 palm leaves, rests on piles about six or ten feet from the ground, 

 and the simple furniture consists of some mats, baskets, and 

 a few knives, pots, a very primitive loom, and some dried 

 heads by way of ornament. 



Though habitual assassins from ignorance and superstitious 

 motives, the Dyaks are said to be of a mild, good-natured, and 

 by no means bloodthirsty character. They are hospitable when 

 well used, grateful for kindness, industrious and honest, and 

 so truthful that the word of one of them might safely be taken 

 before the oath of half-a-dozen civilised Malays. 



The celebrated traveller, Mrs. Ida Pfeiffer, who had the 



