32 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



occupied by them ; but they are found also in 

 scattered communities throughout almost all parts 

 of Sarawak, and even in British North Borneo, and 

 they extend from their centre in Sarawak into the 

 adjacent regions of Dutch Borneo, which are drained 

 by the northern tributaries of the Great Kapuas 

 River. 



The Sea Dayak is of a well-marked and fairly 

 uniform physical type. His skin is distinctly darker 

 than that of the other peoples of the interior, though 

 not quite so dark as that of most of the true Malays. 

 The hair of his head is more abundant and longer 

 than that of other peoples. His figure is well 

 proportioned, neat, and generally somewhat boyish. 

 His expression is bright and mobile, his lips and 

 teeth are generally distorted and discoloured by 

 the constant chewing of betel nut. They are a 

 vain, dressy, boastful, excitable, not to say frivol- 

 ous people — cheerful, talkative, sociable, fond of 

 fun and jokes and lively stories ; though given to 

 exaggeration, their statements can generally be 

 accepted as founded on fact ; they are industrious 

 and energetic, and are great wanderers ; to the last 

 peculiarity they owe the name of I ban, which has 

 been given them by the Kayans, and which has 

 now been generally adopted even by the Sea Dayaks 

 themselves. 



The good qualities enumerated above render 

 the I ban an agreeable companion and a useful 

 servant. But there is another side to the picture : 

 they have little respect for their chiefs, a peculiarity 

 which renders their social organisation very defective 

 and chaotic ; they are quarrelsome, treacherous, 

 and litigious, and the most inveterate head-hunters 

 of the country ; unlike most of the other peoples, 

 they will take heads for the sake of the glory 

 the act brings them and for the enjoyment of 

 the killing ; in the pursuit of human victims they 



