54 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



its centre by the pile ; this serves to prevent rats 

 and mice gaining access to the bin. The shingle 

 roof of the bin is like that of the house, but the two 

 ends are filled by sloping surfaces running up under 

 the gables. There are generally also a few fruit 

 trees and tobacco plants in the space cleared round 

 about the house ; and in the space between it and 

 the river are usually some rudely carved wooden 

 figures, around which rites and ceremonies are per- 

 formed from time to time. 



Kayan villages generally consist of several, in 

 some cases as many as seven or eight, such houses 

 of various lengths, grouped closely together. The 

 favourite situation for such a village is a peninsula 

 formed by a sharp bend of the river. 



Of the houses built by the other peoples, those 

 of the Kenyahs very closely resemble those of the 

 Kayans. The Kenyah village frequently consists 

 of a single long house (and with the Sea Dayaks 

 this is invariably the case), and it is in many cases 

 perched on a high steep bank immediately above 

 the river. Some of the Klemantans also build 

 houses little if at all inferior to those of the Kayans, 

 and very similar to them in general plan. But 

 in this as in all other respects the Klemantans 

 exhibit great diversities, some of their houses being 

 built in a comparatively flimsy manner, light timber 

 and even bamboos being used, and the roof being 

 made of leaves. The houses of the Muruts are 

 small and low, and of poor construction. 



The Sea Dayak's house differs from that of the 

 Kayan more than any of the others. The general 

 plan is the same ; but the place of the few massive 

 piles is taken by a much larger number of slender 

 piles, which pass up to the roof through the gallery 

 and chambers. Of the gallery only a narrow passage- 

 way alongside the main partition-wall is kept clear 

 of piles and other obstructions. The floor is of 



