208 SEA-DYAK GAMES. 



chew betel and smoke cigars, drinking at the same 

 time large quantities of the liquor of the fermented 

 rice before mentioned, or of the toddy of various palms 

 provided for the occasion : during the drinking the 

 dancing generally commences ; this is performed with 

 the recently-acquired heads suspended from the 

 persons of the actors, who move up and down the 

 verandah with a slow step, and corresponding move- 

 ments of their out-stretched arms, uttering occasionally 

 a yell, which rises fierce and shrill above the discordant 

 noises of the gongs, chanangs, and tortewaks, to which 

 the dancers move. Another amusement at these fes- 

 tivals is carried on by two persons standing or walking 

 with a theatrical air and peculiar step, and with canes 

 in their hands, reciting to each other in a rude ex- 

 tempore verse, the heroic deeds of their fathers and 

 their ancestors, to which, if they live under a Malayan 

 government, and the prince has any share in their 

 affections, they add his memorable achievements and 

 exploits. I heard them once, in this interesting manner, 

 recount the whole of the events of the Seniawan war, 

 the arrival of Mr. Brooke, &c. 



The " harvest home," and other feasts of a more 

 pacific character than that above described, like it, 

 consist in eating, drinking, and dancing, but in these 

 the heads are not introduced, and the women take 

 part. Games are also practised at them, some of 

 which astonished us by their similarity to those 

 practised by the peasantry of Europe, particularly 



