DYAK ANGLING. 311 



particularly the large " ikan-pari," or skate. I have 

 seen them also carefully gather up the body of a pig 

 which had been overlooked in their traps, until it was 

 falling to pieces, so that they evidently admire a 

 " gamey" flavour more than the epicures of Europe. 



On the Sangow, and other large rivers, the Dyaks are 

 very expert with the rod and line, which is constructed 

 with a reel and spare line, precisely like those of Europe. 

 Having hooked a large fish, they play him with a 

 dexterity which would delight old Izaak Walton, and 

 finally, having exhausted him, land him with a net 

 in the most skilful manner. Their hooks are of brass, 

 of which also their shining bait is manufactured. The 

 rod and line, are, I believe, used both for trolling and 

 fly-fishing, but I never saw them practise the former. 

 They destroy, in a great measure, the supply of fish in 

 the upper part of the streams by the use of the " tuba," 

 the narcotic before described. The fish most common 

 and most esteemed resembles a perch, and is barred 

 with black bands across the back. With this I was 

 abundantly supplied during my stay at the S'Impio 

 village by these dexterous anglers ; at the same place, 

 I observed the children playing at peg-top, precisely as 

 do those of England ; but their tops had no iron pegs, 

 and more resembled those which at school we used 

 to called whipping-tops. I looked on at the game with 

 delight, and saw the spinning top, the mark for the 

 others, receive several smart blows, but they appeared 

 to be of very hard wood, and though driven to some 

 distance, were never broken. 



