OF THE KYANS. 32? 



other descriptions of music. As far as I know of 

 the Dyak character, and as far as I have been able to 

 learn, by strict enquiry of those best acquainted with 

 the customs of the northern Kyans, no word for pros- 

 titution exists in their language, much less can any 

 term for more degrading vices be found among their 

 tribes. As no such practices are mentioned by Mr. 

 Dalton, who resided for some time amongst the Kyans of 

 Coti, very near those of the Banjar river, I am contented 

 at present, to hope, as I previously stated, that this 

 conclusion has been hastily adopted, from the difficulty 

 of conversing freely with the Kyans, who, if they are 

 like the Dyaks in this respect, speak badly and under- 

 stand with difficulty the European pronunciation of the 

 Malayan tongue. 



These observations of the German missionary are, 

 I believe, intended not to apply to the whole of the 

 Kyans of the Banjar river, but to one village of them, 

 not far above the Malayan town. If such be found 

 really to be the case, their vicinity to the Chinese of 

 Banjar may account for it ; but the same gentleman who 

 gave me the information, assured me that the Chinese 

 had at no time influenced them in any way. 



The dress of the Kyan women of the Bintulu 

 river, I am informed, consists of two cloths, a little 

 longer than the bedang, which are tied on opposite sides 

 of the person, the one covering lapping over the other ; 

 but I have seen their dresses from the Rejang, and 

 found them made like the bedang. The jacket of the 

 Kyan women is not loose, like that of the Dyaks, 



