50 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



of the custom in the present tense. Even one or two of 

 my companions were credited with having taken part 

 in such expeditions. 



To-day the young men sing the song of the returning 

 head-hunters more for the fun of it, but the enthusiasm 

 of all waxed high when the paddlers took it up. Those 

 who did not paddle would reach out for the large trumpets 

 which, as part of my collections, were lying in my prahu, 

 and blow them with full force as an accompaniment, just 

 as these instruments formerly were used on real occasions. 

 A deep, strong bass sound is produced which resembles 

 the distant whistle of a big ocean steamer. The men at 

 the rear would join in with wild shouts like those made by 

 American cowboys, most of them rising in their prahus to 

 be able to give more impetus to the paddles. The power- 

 ful strokes of our enthusiastic crew made my prahu jump 

 with jerky movements, and we progressed rapidly, arriv- 

 ing early in the afternoon at Tandjong Selor. This time 

 I was made comfortable in a government's pasang-grahan 

 that had just been completed, and which was far enough 

 from the main street to avoid disturbing noise. 



KAYAN HEAD-HUNTERS' SONG 

 (On returning (mn a tucccMful raid) 



MyttifHy. --»=,-=>- 



--^'-^t^t 



^p j J I J J I J JTiT} 



■*->- 



Vac TS-ae vo va: vo m vo «-«b-«b-«b vo vao {Rtptak) 



I had found the Kayans very agreeable to deal with, 

 and later had the same experience with many other tribes 

 of Borneo. They ask hi^h prices for their goods, but are 



