

CHAPTER VII 



THE DAILY LIFE OF A KAYAN LONG HOUSE 



A LITTLE before dawn the cocks roosting beneath 

 the house awaken the household by their crowing 

 and the flapping of their wings. The pigs begin to 

 grunt and squeal, and the dogs begin to trot to and 

 fro in the gallery. Before the first streaks of day- 

 light appear, the women light the fires in the private 

 rooms or blow up the smouldering embers ; then 

 most of them descend from the house, each carrying 

 in a basket slung on her back several bamboo water- 

 vessels to be filled from the river. Many of them 

 bathe at this time in the shallow water beside the 

 bank, while the toilet of others consists in dashing 

 water over their faces, washing their mouths with 

 water, and rubbing their teeth with the forefinger. 

 Returning to the house with their loads of water (PL 

 63), they boil rice for the household breakfasts and 

 for the dinner of those who are to spend the day in 

 xh^padi field or the jungle. The boiled rice intended 

 for the latter use is made up in packets wrapped in 

 green leaves, each containing sufficient for a meal 

 for one person. About half-past six, when the day- 

 light is fully come, the pigs expectant of their meal 

 are clamouring loudly for it. The women descend 

 to them by ladders leading from the private rooms, 

 and each gives to the pigs of her household the 

 leavings of the meals of the previous day. About 

 the same time the men begin to bestir themselves 



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