CHAPTER VI 



AGRICULTURE 



For all the peoples of the interior of Borneo, the 

 Panans and Malanaus excepted, the rice grown by 

 themselves is the principal food-stuff. Throughout 

 the year, except during the few weeks when the 

 jungle fruit is most abundant, rice forms the bulk 

 of every meal. In years of bad harvests, when the 

 supply is deficient, the place of rice has to be filled 

 as well as may be with wild sago, cultivated maize, 

 tapioca, and sweet potatoes. All these are used, 

 and the last three, as well as pumpkins, bananas, 

 cucumbers, millet, pineapples, chilis, are regularly 

 grown in small quantities by most of the peoples. 

 But all these together are regarded as making but 

 a poor substitute for rice. The cultivator has to 

 contend with many difficulties, for in the moist hot 

 climate weeds grow apace, and the fields, being 

 closely surrounded by virgin forest, are liable to the 

 attacks of pests of many kinds. Hence the pro- 

 cesses by which the annual crop oi padi is obtained 

 demand the best efforts and care of all the people 

 of each village. The plough is unknown save to' 

 the Dusuns, a branch of the Murut people in North 

 Borneo, who have learnt its use from Chinese 

 immigrants. The Kalabits and some of the coast- 

 wise Klemantans who live in alluvial areas have 

 learnt, probably through intercourse with the 

 Philippine Islanders or the inhabitants of Indo- 

 VOL. I 97 H 



