152 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



is rolled up while hot into spherical lumps, each 

 of which is pierced with a hole for convenient 

 transportation. 



Camphor is formed in the crevices of the stems 

 of old trees of the species Dryobalanops aromatica, 

 when the heart is decayed leaving a central hollow. 

 The tree is cut down, the stem split up, and the 

 crystalline scales of pure camphor are shaken out 

 on to mats. It is then made up in little bundles 

 wrapped in palm leaves. The large-flaked camphor 

 fetches as much as £6 a pound in the Chinese 

 bazaar. Special precautions are observed by men 

 in search of camphor. A party of Kayans, setting 

 out to seek camphor, commonly gets the help of 

 Punans, who are acknowledged experts in this 

 business. Omens are taken before setting out, and 

 the party will not start until favourable omens have 

 been observed. The party is lali from the time 

 of beginning these operations. They will speak 

 to no one outside the party, and will speak no word 

 of Malay to one another ; and it is considered that 

 they are more likely to be successful if they confine 

 themselves to the use of a peculiar language which 

 seems to be a conventional perversion of the Punan 

 speech. 



On entering a small river the party stretches 

 a rattan across its mouth ; and, where they leave 

 the river, they erect on the bank a pole or frayed 

 stick.^ Other persons seeing such sticks set up will 

 understand and respect the party's desire for privacy. 

 They then march through the jungle to the place 

 where they expect to find a group of camphor trees, 

 marking their path by bending the ends of twigs 

 at certain intervals in the direction in which the 

 party is moving. Having found a likely tree they 



^ A stick of this kind is used in many rites. It is prepared by whittling 

 shavings from a stick and leaving them attached at one end ; so that a series 

 of the shavings projects along one side of the stick. 



