158 niROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



wages were raised to f. 1.50 per day, only eight men re- 

 mained. T(^ this number we were able to add three 

 Mahiys from the kampong. One was the Mohammedan 

 guru (priest), another a mikl-tempered Mahiy who al- 

 ways had bad luck, losing floats of rattan in the kihams, 

 and therefore passed under the nickname of tokang 

 karam (master of misfortune). The third was a strong, 

 tall man with some Dayak blood, who was tatued. 

 Djobing, as he was named, belonged to a camp of rattan 

 workers up on the Busang, and decided to go at the last 

 moment, no doubt utilising the occasion as a convenient 

 way of returning. 



I was glad to see him climb down the steep embank- 

 ment, carrying in one hand a five-gallon tin, neatly 

 painted, which had opening and cover at the long side, 

 to which a handle was attached. Under the other arm 

 he had the usual outfit of a travelling Malay, a mat, on 

 which he slept at night and in which were wrapped a sheet 

 and a few pieces of light clothing. His tin case was full 

 of tobacco and brought forth disparaging remarks from 

 the lieutenant, who was chary of the precious space in 

 the prahus. 



Having successfully passed the censor Djobing was- as- 

 signed to my prahu, where he scxon showed himself to be 

 a very good man, as alert as a Dayak and not inclined to 

 save himself trouble. He would jump into the water up to 

 his neck to push and steer the prahu, or, in the fashion of 

 the Dayaks and the best Malays, would place his strong 

 back under and against it t<> help it off when ^rniiiidrd on 

 a rock. When circumstances require quick action such 



