I04 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



the hoe in the right hand and striking the blade 

 downwards and towards her toes with a dragging 

 action. In working over the patch in this careful 

 fashion some three weeks are consumed. In the 

 intervals the women gather the small crops of early 

 padi, pumpkin, cucumbers, and so forth, spending 

 several weeks together on the farm, sleeping in the 

 hut. In a good season this is the happiest time of 

 the year ; both men and women take 

 the keenest interest and pleasure in 

 the growth of the crop. 



During the time when the grain is 

 formed but not yet ripe, the people 

 '^-^.^.^^^ I live upon the green corn, which they 

 ^^ I prepare by gathering the heads and 

 beating them flat. These are not 

 cooked, but merely dried in the sun, 

 and though they need much mastica- 

 tion they are considered a delicacy. 



During the time of the ripening of 

 the corn a spirit of gaiety and joyful 

 anticipation prevails. It is a favourite 

 time for courtship, and many marriages 

 are arranged. 



The harvest is the most important 

 event of the year. Men, women, and 

 children, all take part. The rice- 

 sparrows congregate in thousands as 

 the grain begins to ripen, and the noisy 

 efforts of the people fail to keep them at a distance. 

 Therefore the people walk through the crop gather- 

 ing all ripe ears. The operation is performed with a 

 small rude knife-blade mounted in a wooden handle 

 along its whole length (Figs. 14, 15). This is held in 

 the hollow of the right hand, the ends of a short cross 

 bar projecting between the first and second fingers 

 and between thumb and first finger. The thumb 

 seizes and presses the head of each blade of corn 



Fig. 13. 



