CHAPTER IX. 



LAND DYAK VILLAGES AND HOUSES THE PANGAH DYAK FORTI- 

 FICATIONS THEIR PATHS AND BRIDGES MODE OF TRAVEL- 

 LING THE ORANG KAYA DYAK ASSEMBLIES, OR PARLIAMENT 



THEIR POPULATION VILLAGES DYAK TRIBES IN SARAWAK 



THEIR MORALITY AND MARRIAGE CEREMONIES A CURIOUS 



AND SALUTARY CUSTOM HEAD-TAKING DYAK DISEASES, 



MEDICINE AND SURGERY MODE OF CURE MUSICAL INSTRU- 

 MENTS AND SINGING WEAPONS THE TAPANG TREE MODE OF 



PROCURING WAX AND EDIBLE BIRDS* NESTS AGRICULTURE 



LANDOWNERS. 



THE nature of the relations which, until recently, existed 

 amongst the tribes of the Land Dyaks, rendered it of 

 paramount importance that the situation of each village 

 should be such as was easily capable of defence. We 

 accordingly find all the hills of the interior of the western 

 portion of the island, on which springs of water are 

 found, to be occupied by one or other of their commu- 

 nities ; and one or two of these, which were possessed by 

 numerous tribes, have been considered sufficiently strong 

 to resist the Sakarran Dyaks, and have, accordingly, been 

 unmolested by these ruthless spoilers, excepting in some 

 instances, where small parties were discovered at a dis- 

 tance from their villages, or living at their farm-houses, 

 and who were generally cut off; but in other cases, the 

 difficulties of ascent have been overcome by the invaders, 



