52 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



of the Bahu on the Upper Mahakam. Whatever the rea- 

 son, as a matter of fact the Dayak women are not fertile. 

 The chief of the Kayan kampong, Kabiirau, at the time 

 of my visit had a fourth wife on probation for two years, 

 having previously dismissed three because they bore him 

 no children. 



With the Malays the condition is just the reverse. 

 Their total number in the Bulungan district is perhaps 

 only one-tenth that of Dayaks, but with them women pre- 

 ponderate and there are many children. Such is the 

 case in the rest of Dutch Borneo, and is one reason why 

 the Malays ultimately must dominate. 



The Sultan had for weeks been preparing to celebrate 

 the marriage of his younger brother, which event occurred 

 before I left, and the festivities were to continue for ten 

 days. As a feature of the occasion, two young Malay 

 girls presented a dance which they evidently had not 

 practised sufficiently. Among the company was an old 

 Malay who, according to the testimony of all present, was 

 one hundred and thirty years old. lie had lived to see 

 seven sultans and was the ancestor of five generations. 

 His movements were somewhat stiff, but otherwise he was 

 a young-looking old man who, still erect, carried a long 

 stick which he put down with some force at each step. 

 I photographed the Sultan, who donned his official 

 European suit, in which he evidently felt exceedingly un- 

 comfortable. The operation finished, he lifted u|i the 

 skirts of the long black robe as if to cool himself, and 

 walked hurriedly away toward the house. 



