THEIR ROADS AND PATHS. 285 



which open all round the roof of the Pangah, or " Head- 

 House," as it has been injudiciously translated by the 

 Europeans. 



The fortifications of the villages consist principally 

 of a strong palisading of bamboo stakes, or sometimes 

 of hard wood, which are strengthened and fastened 

 together by split bamboos being woven amongst the 

 perpendicular posts, the ends of which, sharpened to 

 points, project outwards in all directions, presenting an 

 impassable barrier of spikes, like chevaux-de-frize, to the 

 invader. This pagar or fence, is about six feet high, and 

 surrounds all the village, in accessible positions : two 

 gates are made in it, over each of which the worked 

 spikes are carried, and when the entrance is shut, it 

 presents an uniform appearance with the remainder 

 of the fence. To complete their defences, Ranjows, 

 and other means of annoyance to the enemy are resorted 

 to, as by the Sea Dyaks, which have been mentioned 

 in the chapter devoted to the description of their tribes. 

 If the Dyaks, in a fortified village, such as that above 

 described, are enabled to resist their invaders for one or 

 two days, they generally escape, but should these be 

 assisted by fire-arms, they have little chance, as they are 

 so terrified at the report of them, that they generally 

 desert their houses, and seek protection in the depths 

 of the forests and the caves of the mountains. 



The hilly country occupied by the Land Dyaks, is 

 everywhere traversed by paths, which connect the dif- 

 ferent villages ; these are carried over hills and swamps, 

 without much attention to the nature of the ground, the 

 Dyaks always endeavouring to keep their road as nearly 



