240 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



sword hilts all obvious trace of the human figure is 

 lost in a profusion of detail, which, however, is of 

 the same general character as that of the examples 

 described above, and seems to consist of the various 

 features of the human and animal pattern combined 

 in wild profusion with regard only to decorative 

 effect, and not at all to the reproduction of the 

 parent forms. 



With the decorative designs of the hilt of the 

 sword must be classed those of its sheath. The 

 sheath consists of two slips of tapang wood firmly 

 lashed together with finely plaited rattan strips, 

 both strips being hollowed so that they fit closely to 

 the blade. It is provided with a plaited cord, 

 which buckles about the waist. The inner piece 

 of the sheath is smooth inside and out. The outer 

 surface of the outer piece is often elaborately 

 decorated. The decoration consists in the main 

 of designs carved in relief; and these are composed 

 of the same elements as the design upon the sword 

 hilt, namely, hooks, single and interlocking, elbows, 

 teeth, etc., all woven about with a scroll design of 

 relieved lines. 



(4) The designs reproduced in fretwork are in 

 the main adaptations of some of those used in 

 decorating surfaces, especially of the dog pattern ; 

 but they are always conventionalised in a high 

 degree (see PI. 130). The hook pattern is fre- 

 quently introduced to fill up odd corners. The 

 human form is seldom or never traceable in work 

 of this kind. Fretwork is chiefly used to adorn the 

 tombs of chiefs. 



{5) The designs chased on the surfaces of the 

 blades of swords and knives and spear-heads form 

 a distinctive group. They are flowing scroll patterns 

 containing many spiral and S -shaped curves in 

 which no animal or plant forms can be certainly 

 traced, though suggestions of the kalang asu may 



