Ill 



THE PEOPLES OF BORNEO z^ 



is apparently allied to the Kenyah and Klemantan 

 tongues. 



We propose to deal with the topics of each of 

 our descriptive chapters by giving as full as possible 

 an^account-of -the Kayans, and adding to this some 

 observations as to the principal diversities of custom 

 and culture presented by the other peoples. For, 

 if we should attempt to describe in detail each of 

 these peoples with all their local diversities, this 

 book would attain an inordinate length. The 

 Kayans are in most respects the most homogeneous 

 of these peoples, the most conservative and dis- 

 tinctive, and present perhaps the richest and most 

 interesting body of belief and custom and art ; while 

 many of their customs and arts have been adopted 

 by their neighbours, or are indigenous with them. 



We may conclude this chapter by describing 

 briefly in general terms the physical characters, and 

 the habits and customs that are common to all or 

 most of these pagan tribes. 



These peoples present no very great differences 

 of physical character. All are of medium height ; 

 their skin-colour ranges from a rich medium brown 

 to a very pale cafd-au-lait, hardly deeper than the 

 colour of cream. Their hair is nearly black or 

 very dark brown, and generally quite lank, but in 

 some cases wavy or even almost curly. Their 

 faces show in nearly all cases, though in very 

 diverse degrees, some of the well-known mongoloid 

 characters, the wide cheek-bones, the small oblique 

 eyes, the peculiar fold of the upper eyelid at its nasal 

 end, and the scanty beard. In some individuals 

 these traces are very slight and in fact not certainly 

 perceptible. The nose varies greatly in shape, but 

 is usually rather wide at the nostrils, and in very 

 many cases the plane of the nostrils is tilted a little 

 upwards and forwards. On the other hand some 

 individuals, especially among the Kenyahs, have 



