218 DYAK BOAT ENGAGEMENTS. 



These encumbrances must take much from the light- 

 ness of the boat, and consequently from its speed, pro- 

 bably without much assisting the security of those 

 whom it necessarily delays. 



When going into action, the boat is cleared by its 

 ' kajangs' being all thrown towards the stern, where the 

 steersman sits. The panglimas and warriors rise to their 

 feet in the centre of the boat, a sufficient number to 

 paddle being left sitting down on the bamboo laths 

 which form the platform, or open deck. By the side of 

 each warrior is a large bundle of the wooden spears for- 

 merly described, with which the action commences at 

 the distance of fifteen or twenty yards, and when the 

 boats have approached closer, it is carried on with the 

 iron-pointed spears, which, being too valuable to throw 

 away, are kept for close quarters. As their naval 

 engagements for the most part occur near the shore, 

 one party generally jumps overboard, and with a 

 yell of triumph the victors decapitate the slain ; and 

 if they think themselves of sufficient strength, or are 

 not satisfied with the heads already captured, they pur- 

 sue the fugitives into the jungle, where they generally 

 get a few more heads. These boat engagements sel- 

 dom happen, it being the universal practice of Dyak 

 warfare never to attempt by force, an object which they 

 can accomplish by stratagem ; so that we constantly 

 see that their successful expeditions are always directed 

 with the view of surprising their enemies, their object 

 not being to acquire glory or military renown, but 



