34 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



question the finest people of the country. Their 

 skin - colour is decidedly fairer than that of Sea 

 Dayaks or Kayans. They are of medium stature, 

 with long backs and short, muscular, well-rounded 

 limbs ; a little stumpy in build, but of graceful and 

 vigorous bearing. They are perhaps the most 

 courageous and intelligent of the peoples ; pug- 

 nacious, but less quarrelsome than the Sea Dayak ; 

 more energetic and excitable than the Kayan ; 

 hospitable and somewhat improvident, sociable and 

 of pleasant manners ; less reserved and of more 

 buoyant temperament than the Kayan ; very loyal 

 and obedient to their chiefs ; more truthful and 

 more to be depended upon under all circumstances 

 than any of the other peoples, except possibly the 

 Kayans. 



The Kenyahs speak a number of dialects of the 

 same language, and these differ so widely that 

 Kenyahs of widely separated districts cannot con- 

 verse freely with one another ; but, as with all the 

 peoples, except the Sea Dayaks, nearly every man 

 has the command of several dialects as well as of the 

 Kayan language. 



(4) The Klemantans. Under this name we group 

 together a number of tribes which, though in our 

 opinion closely allied, are widely scattered in all 

 parts of Borneo, and present considerable diversities 

 of language and custom. In physical and mental 

 characters they show affinities to the Kenyahs on 

 the one hand and to the Muruts on the other. 

 They are less bellicose than the peoples mentioned 

 above, and have suffered much at their hands. 

 They are careful, intelligent, and sociable, though 

 somewhat timid, people ; skilful in handicrafts, but 

 less energetic than the Kayans and Kenyahs, and 

 inferior to them in metal work and the making of 

 swords and spears and boats. The blow-pipe is 

 their characteristic weapon, and they are more 



