74 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



called Dayaks have many traits in common, of them all 

 the Kenyahs are the most attractive. They are intelli- 

 gent and brave and do not break a contract; in fact, you 

 can trust their word more completely than that of the 

 majority of common white people. Neither men nor 

 women are bashful or backward, but they are always 

 busy, always on the move — to the ladang, into the jungle, 

 building a house, etc. Murder by one of the same tribe 

 is unknown and a lonely stranger is quite safe in the 

 kampong, where they do not like to kill anybody. 



Among the Kenyahs and Kayans and many other 

 tribes are found distinct social strata, upper, middle, and 

 low. The first class ranks as a sort of nobility and until 

 recent times had slaves, who were kindly treated. The 

 members of the second class have less property, but they 

 are active in blacksmithing, making prahus, determining 

 the seasons by astronomical observations, etc. These 

 well-bred Dayaks are truthful and do not steal. In their 

 conception a thief will have to carry around the stolen 

 goods on his head or back in the next life, forever exposed 

 to scorn and ridicule. Third-class people are descendants 

 of slaves and, according to the posthouder at Long 

 Fangian, himself a Dayak, they are the more numerous on 

 the Kayan River. These may tell lies, and ten per cent 

 of them are apt to a[)propriatc small articles, but they 

 never steal money. 



The Kenyah woman is most Independent, and may 

 travel unaccompanied by another woman with a party 

 of men for days, sleeping aside, separate from the men. 

 She and her husband both bring wood to the house and 



