CHAPTER VIII. 



THE HILL DYAKS THEIR CHARACTER THEIR RELIGION AND SUPER- 

 STITIONS THEIR DEITIES INVOCATION OF THEM PROPITIATION 



OP THEM AND OF THE RAJAH CEREMONY PERFORMED BY MR. BROOKE 



THE PAMALI, OR " TABOO " A DYAK FUNERAL A PECULIAR 



SUPERSTITION OF THE DYAKS THEIR ABSTINENCE FROM ANIMAL 



FOOD ANCIENT DYAK MONUMENTS AND DRAGON- JARS THEIR 



VENERATION FOR CERTAIN PLANTS SUPERSTITION OF THE DYAKS 



OF SARAWAK SPECULATIONS AS TO THE ORIGIN OF THE DYAKS. 



THE Hill Dyaks, or as they call themselves, " Orang 

 Gunong," or Men of the Hills, differ in many pecu- 

 liarities from the Dyaks of the Sea tribes. The 

 principal tribes of the Dyaks of the country of Sarawak 

 are of this division, and they are consequently the 

 people whose miserable and oppressed condition has 

 recently called forth so much of the attention and 

 sympathy of our country. This division of the Dyak 

 race occupies the most western portions of the island. 

 The tribes of the Malayan states of Pontianak, of Sambas, 

 of Sarawak, and of Sadong, all belong to it, and the 

 hilly interior of these countries is peopled entirely by 

 them. In personal appearance, the Dyaks of the Hills 

 very much resemble those of the other tribes already 

 described ; but they have a more grave and quiet expres- 

 sion of countenance, which gives to their features a 

 melancholy and thoughtful air. It is very probable, 



