ON THE ISAU RIVER 69 



of the seven ** bring," each belonging to one of the prin- 

 cipal men, were caught from 100 to 200 fish, most of them 

 fairly large. I noted seven species. More than a thou- 

 sand have been caught, and for the next two nights and 

 days the people were engaged in opening and drying fish 

 over fire and smoke. Thus preserved they are of a dark- 

 brown tint, very light in weight, and will keep for three 

 months. Before the dried product is eaten it is pounded, 

 then boiled, and with each mouthful a pinch of salt is 

 taken. 



During the night much fish was obtained even as far 

 down the river as our kampong, and many men searched 

 for it here, using as lamps petroleum in bamboo with a 

 piece of cloth for a wick. Next day all the able-bodied 

 people left the kampong for a week's stay at the ladangs 

 (fields), one day's journey up the Kayan River, only the 

 weak and old people remaining behind. On this occa- 

 sion I observed five or six individuals, men and women, 

 of a markedly light, yellowish colour. One woman's 

 body was as light as that of a white woman, but her 

 face was of the usual colour, perhaps somewhat lighter. 



