8o THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



It was difficult to hold the busy Dayaks in the kam- 

 pong. At this time, the beginning of May, their attention 

 was absorbed in harvesting the paddi. Every day they 

 started up the river to their ladangs a few miles distant, 

 returning in the evening with their crops. I decided to 

 visit these fields, taking my cameras with me. In years 

 gone by the kampong people have gradually cleared the 

 jungle from a large tract of country, but part of this 

 clearing was still covered by logs that had not been 

 burned. Over these hundreds and hundreds of fallen 

 trees, down steep little galleys and up again, a path led 

 to the present fields higher up in the hills, very easy walk- 

 ing for bare feet, but difficult when they are encased 

 in leather shoes. For over an hour and a half we balanced 

 along the prostrate trunks, into some of which steps had 

 been cut, but, arduous as was the ascent, we naturally 

 found the descent in the evening a more hazardous 

 undertaking; yet all emerged from the ordeal with sound 

 limbs. 



We arrived a little before noon and found some of 

 the natives busy preparing their midday meal in and 

 around a cool shed on top of a hill from where an extensive 

 view was obtained of the past and present fields of the 

 country. Near by was a watch-tower raised on top of 

 upright logs. At one side of it four bamboos of different 

 sizes were hanging horizontally over each other, which 

 produced different notes when struck, and probably had 

 been placed there for the purpose of frightening birds 

 away. 



The Kenyahs "take turns'* helping each other to har- 



