DYAK MODES OF CURE. 309 



to an old man, was childless, and she requested me to 

 give her some medicine which would cause her to have 

 children which she felt persuaded^I could do. 



In one case, when a man was dying of dysentery, 

 those attending him had prescribed the frequent use 

 of plantains as his only food. Honey enters largely 

 into their medical practice, and to it they ascribe heating 

 qualities. The Malay women of bad character use it 

 with hot spices, which they swallow in great quantities, 

 to procure abortion, a practice which, amongst the 

 Dyaks, is never resorted to under any circumstances. 

 They have not that antipathy to the use of castor oil 

 so frequently observed amongst other people ; but, on 

 having taken one dose, generally hold out the glass 

 and ask for another, saying at the same time that it 

 is very good. European medicines have great effect upon 

 their constitutions, so that, in all cases, smaller doses 

 than usual must be prescribed for them. Mr. 

 McDougall, the head of the Borneo mission, will be 

 a great acquisition to the Dyaks ; his surgical education 

 fitting him as well to relieve their temporal ailments, as 

 their spiritual destitution. 



The domestic animals of the Land Dyaks are few, 

 consisting of pigs, which in the time of harvest are 

 carried to the farm, and penned up under their houses, 

 as by the Arafouras of Magindanau, and other places 

 that they may, with their owners, partake of the plenty 

 of that joyous season. In killing a pig, which is done 

 at all the village festivals, the length of the animal 

 is carefully measured while it is still alive, and should, 



