238 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



palembanica), and that the only tools used are the 

 axe, sword, and knife. The animals most frequently 

 represented are the dog, crocodile, monkey, horn- 

 bill, and bear (Pis. 122, 125, Figs. 45, 46, 54-57). 

 Carved dogs, comparatively little conventionalised, 

 are sometimes used as the supports of low plat- 

 forms upon which the chiefs may sit on ceremonious 

 occasions. 



(3) The handles of the swords, generally of deer's 

 antlers, but sometimes of wood, exhibit a group 

 of highly peculiar closely allied designs. All these 

 seem to be derived from the human form, although 

 in many cases this can only be traced in the 

 light of forms intermediate between the less and 

 the more highly conventionalised (Pis. 129, 184). 

 In examples in which the human form is most 

 obvious, it has the following position and character : — 

 The butt end of the blade is sunk in a piece 

 (about six inches in length) of the main shaft of 

 the antler at its distal or upper end. This piece 

 constitutes the grip of the handle or hilt. The 

 proximal or lowest point of the antler projecting 

 at an angle of some 70° from the grip is cut down 

 to a length of some four inches, forming a spur 

 standing in the plane of the blade and towards 

 its cutting edge. The grip is lashed with fine 

 strips of rattan. The spur and the thick end in 

 which the spur and the grip unite are elaborately 

 carved. If the sword is held horizontally, its 

 point directed forwards and its cutting edge upwards, 

 the butt end is presented with the spur vertically 

 before the face of the observer. It will then be 

 seen that the surface turned to the observer presents 

 the principal features of the human figure, stand- 

 ing with arms akimbo face to face with the ob- 

 server. The key to the puzzle is the double row 

 of teeth. Above this are the two eyes. Below the 

 level of the mouth the elbows project laterally, and 



