172 DYAK MODE OF EATING. 



of luxury. The Dyaks eat their food from the ground 

 for a table ; each having taken a portion of rice 

 which he considers sufficient for him, this, if he be not 

 provided with a plate, which many of them are, is 

 placed upon a clean leaf of the Dillenia speciosa, and 

 he dips his hand into the common stock of salt which 

 is placed in the centre of the group. If they have 

 flesh to their repast it is partaken of in a similar man- 

 ner to the salt. They never drink during their meal, 

 but on rising wash their hands and mouths, and after- 

 wards take a draught of water from the bamboos, 

 which are always kept full near the fire-place. Though 

 they eat from the ground or floor of their houses, they 

 rarely sit cross-legged upon it like the Malays, but 

 have each a small block of wood about three inches in 

 thickness, which they use as a seat by day and a 

 pillow by night. 



Around the walls of the apartment hang the 

 gongs and other musical instruments, and such por- 

 tions of their dress as they do not happen to be 

 using, together with their spears, shields, and instru- 

 ments of war. One side of the house always contains 

 a rack, in which are placed the naked swords of the 

 family, the sheaths hanging by their side. The doors 

 of their houses are protected on the inside by a bar, 

 but as pilfering is rare amongst these people, it is 

 perhaps more to prevent intrusion when they wish for 

 privacy, than as a protection against robbers. This is 

 rendered evident by the doors, which cannot be fas- 



