XII 



DECORATIVE ART 231 



threads. The surface of the bamboo to which the 

 lashing is applied is generally scraped away to a 

 depth of about one-sixteenth of an inch ; it is thus 

 rendered less slippery than the natural surface, and 

 is therefore gripped more firmly by the lashing, 

 and the surface of the lashing is brought flush with 

 the unlashed natural surface. The effect is not 

 only a highly ornamental appearance, but also a 

 greatly increased durability of the box, the natural 

 tendency of the bamboo to split longitudinally being 

 very effectively counteracted. 



Similar fine decorative lashing is used by all 

 the tribes for binding together the two halves of 

 the sword sheath, and for binding the haft of knife 

 or sword where it grips the metal blade, though 

 brass wire is sometimes used for this purpose. 



Closely allied to this lashing is the production 

 of decorative knots. A considerable variety of 

 knots are in common use ; they are always well 

 tied and practically effective, but some are elaborated 

 for decorative purposes to form rosettes, especially 

 by Kayans in making their sword sheaths. 



Painting 



We have stated above that the carved woodwork 

 is often painted with black, red, and white pigments. 

 It must be added that wooden surfaces are often 

 painted on the flat, especially shields, the outer 

 surfaces of walls oi padi huts, and tombs, also grave 

 hats and the gunwales of boats, and decorative 

 planks in the inner walls of the long gallery of the 

 house. The Kenyahs and some of the Klemantans, 

 especially the Skapans and Barawans, are most 

 skilled in, and make most use of, this form of 

 decoration ; but it is probably practised in some 

 degree by all the peoples. 



The three pigments mentioned above — black, red, 



