222 DYAK BOATS. 



the blade being turned in the haft, which is adapted 

 to it either way), their preservation is an object of 

 no small importance, two only being obtained from a 

 large tree with infinite labour, it being very necessary 

 that the planks of the boat, on account of her con- 

 struction, should all be of the same length as the 

 ' bankong. 3 These boats, according to their size, carry 

 crews of from thirty to ninety men, and it is com- 

 puted that, without making any extraordinary exer- 

 tion, the rivers of Sarebas and the Sakarran branch of 

 the Batang Lupar could send to sea 200 of them, 

 averaging fifty men each. From the nature of these 

 boats, and the slightness of their build, it may easily 

 be imagined that they are not manageable in a sea- 

 way, their length causing them to open at the seams : 

 on such occasions, should they not be near enough to 

 the land to run into smooth water, the crew all jump 

 overboard, and hang by the side of the boat : this I 

 have been assured they have done for many succes- 

 sive hours when the squalls, which are usually short 

 in these tranquil seas, have been prolonged, so as to 

 render it necessary. In this situation they take it by 

 turns for one or two to enter the boat, and cook and 

 eat their rice, until the squall is past. 



The Dyaks, on their cruises, are capable of enduring 

 great fatigue, and, if they meet with reverses, have fre- 

 quently to contend with the pangs of hunger. It is no 

 uncommon thing for the Dyaks to pull for eighteen 

 hours, with only short intervals of rest sufficient to boil 

 and cook their rice, and this, from the beautiful regu- 



