CHAPTER V 



MEETING PUNANS, THE SHY JINC;LE PEOPLE — DOWN THE 

 RIVER AGAIN — MY ENTHUSIASTIC BOATMEN — MALAYS 

 VERSUS DAYAKS 



At my request the raja, with a few companions, went 

 out in search of some of the shy jungle pcoj)le called 

 Punans. Seven days aftenvard he actually returned with 

 twelve men, who were followed by seven more the next 

 day. AH the women had been left one day's journey 

 from here. These Punans had been encountered at some 

 distance from kampong Bruen, higher up the river, and, 

 according to reports, made up the entire nomadic popula- 

 tion of the lower Kayan River. Most of them were rather 

 tall, well-made men, but, as a result of spending all their 

 lives in the darkness of the jungle,* their skin colour, a 

 pale yellowish brown, was strikingly lighter, especially 

 the face, than that of the Kayans. 



They actually seemed to hate the sun, and next day 

 when it broke through the mist for a little while they all 

 sought shelter in the shade of trees. As a result of their 

 avoidance of direct rays from the sun they have a washed- 

 out, almost sickly pale appearance, contrasting strangely 

 with the warm tone of light brown which at times may be 

 observed among the Dayaks. This is probably the rea- 

 son why they are not very strong, though apparently mus- 

 cular, and arc not able to carry heavy burdens. They 



* Id von Lu&chan's tabic, Punan 15, Kayan 22. 



