FEAST OF RUBBER GATHERERS 127 



Having ascertained, by sending to the kampong be- 

 low, that I could obtain twenty men with prahus when- 

 ever 1 Intended to move, I discharged with cheerful 

 willingness most of the Puruk Tjahu Malays. Their 

 departure was a relief also to the Murungs, who feared to 

 be exploited by the Malays. As soon as the latter had 

 departed in the morning, many Dayaks whom I had not 

 seen before ventured to come up to the kitchen and my 

 tent to ask for empty tin cans. The Malays had slept In 

 the Dayak houses, and the last night one of them carried 

 off the mat which had been hospitably offered him. 



One day there were two weddings here, one in the 

 morning and the other in the evening. A cloth was 

 spread over two big gongs, which were standing close 

 together on the floor and formed seats for the bride 

 and bridegroom. She seemed to be about sixteen years 

 old, and laughed heartily and frequently during the cere- 

 mony, which occupied but a few minutes. A man waved 

 a young live hen over and around them, then went away 

 and killed it in the usual manner, returning with the 

 blood, which, with the help of a stick, he smeared on the 

 forehead, chest, neck, hands, and feet of the bridal pair, 

 following which the two mutually daubed each other's 

 foreheads. The principal business connected with mar- 

 riage had previously been arranged — that of settling how 

 much the prospective bridegroom was to pay to the 

 bride's parents. With most tribes visited I found the 

 adjustment of the financial matter conclusive in itself 

 without further ceremonies. 



The officiating blian took hold of a hand of each. 



