48 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



effects produced by the bites of leeches, to which he was 

 particularly susceptible. He had seven bites on one ankle 

 and two on the other, and the resulting wounds were 

 swollen and suppurating, but by the application of iodine 

 followed by hot compress bandages, he was able to re- 

 sume his work in three days. Nevertheless, suppuration 

 formed even at a distance from the wounds, and five 

 months later they were not entirely healed. It is bad 

 policy to remove leeches forcibly in spite of the tempta- 

 tion to do so. The application of salt or tobacco juice 

 makes them drop off, and the wounds are less severe, 

 but few persons have the patience to wait after discover- 

 ing a leech. The animal is not easily killed. The Da- 

 yaks always remove it with the sword edge and imme- 

 diately cut it in two. 



On our return to our old lodging-house near Kaburau 

 I spent a week making ethnological collections from the 

 Kayan, who brought me a surprising number, keeping me 

 busy from early until late. Before continuing my jour- 

 ney up the river I decided to go down to Tandjong Selor 

 in order to buy necessary provisions and safely dispose of 

 my collections. The Kayans were glad to provide pra- 

 hus, the keelless boats which are used by both Dayak and 

 Malay. The prahu, even the largest size, is formed from 

 a dugout, and to the edge on either side are lashed two 

 boards, one above and overlapping the other. This is 

 accomplished by threading rattan through numerous small 

 holes. As these are not completely filled by the rattan, 

 they are plugged with fibre and calked with damar to 

 prevent leakage. 



