62 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap, iv 



every Sea Dayak possesses, and keeps stored at 

 the back of his private chamber, one or more large 

 vases. These were formerly imported from China, 

 but are now made by the Chinese of the towns in 

 Borneo. The commonest of the highly prized jars 

 are of plain brown brightly glazed earthenware, 

 standing about three feet in height on a flat bottom 

 (PI. 48) ; each is ornamented with a Chinese dragon 

 moulded in relief {benaga), or some scroll designs 

 which, though very varied, go by the name of rusa 

 ( = deer) and ningka. A Dayak will give from 200 

 to 400 dollars for such a jar. Rarer and still more 

 highly prized is a jar similar to these, but wider, 

 very highly glazed, and bare of all ornament save 

 some obscure markings. Eight perforated ''ears" 

 project just below the lip, and serve for the attach- 

 ment of a wooden or cloth cover. This jar occurs 

 in two varieties, a dark green and a very dark 

 brown, which are known respectively as gusi and 

 bergiau, the latter being the more valuable. Other 

 smaller and less valued jars are the pantar and 

 the alas. The jars of the kinds mentioned above 

 are valued largely on account of their age ; probably 

 all of them were imported from China and Siam, 

 some of them no doubt centuries ago. Besides 

 these old jars there are now to be found in most 

 of the Sea Dayak houses many jars of modern 

 Chinese manufacture, some of which are very skilful 

 imitations of the old types ; and though the Dayak 

 is a connoisseur in these matters, and can usually 

 distinguish the new from the old, he purchases 

 willingly the cheap modern imitations of the old, 

 because they are readily mistaken by the casual 

 observer for the more valuable varieties (PI. 47). 



A few large vases of Chinese porcelain, usually 

 covered with elaborate designs in colour, are to be 

 found in most of the houses of the other peoples 

 (PI- 47). 



