CHAP. 



172 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO 



boats. A password is agreed upon, which serves 

 as a means of making members of the party known 

 to one another upon any chance meeting in the 

 dark. 



Scouts are sent out at dusk and, if their reports 

 are favourable, the attack is made just before 

 dawn. About half the warriors are provided with 

 large bundles of dry shavings, and some will carry 

 torches. When the attacking party has quietly 

 surrounded the house or houses, the bundles of 

 shavings are ignited, and their bearers run in and 

 throw them under the house among the timbers on 

 which it is supported. Then ensues a scene of wild 

 confusion. The calm stillness of the tropical dawn 

 is broken by the deep war-chorus of the attacking 

 party, by the shouts and screams of the people of 

 the house suddenly roused from sleep, by the cries 

 and squeals of the frightened animals beneath the 

 house, and the beating of the alarm signal on the 

 tawak. If the house is ignited, the encircling 

 assailants strive to intercept the fleeing inhabitants. 

 These, if the flames do not drive them out before 

 they have time to take any concerted measures, 

 will hurl their javelins and discharge their firearms 

 (if they have any) at their assailants ; then they will 

 descend, bringing the women and children with 

 them, and make a desperate attempt to cut their 

 way through and escape to the jungle or, sometimes, 

 to their boats. Kayans conducting a successful 

 attack of this kind will make as many prisoners 

 as possible, and will as a rule kill only those men 

 who make desperate resistance, though occasionally 

 others, even women and children, may be wantonly 

 killed in the excitement of the moment. It is not 

 unusual in the case of an able-bodied man who has 

 surrendered, but shown signs of attempting to 

 escape or of renewing his resistance, to deal him 

 a heavy blow on the knee-cap, and so render him 



