178 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



the ground and continued his dancing more vigorously, 

 but with equal grace. Pisha, the chief, came to the dance, 

 and the meeting with the new arrivals, though silent and 

 undemonstrative, was decidedly affectionate, especially 

 with one of them who was a near relative. Half embrac- 

 ing each other, they stood thus at least a minute. 



The Penyahbongs have rather long legs, take long 

 paces, putting down their heels first. They have great en- 

 durance and can walk in one day as far as a Malay can 

 in three. In the mountains the cold weather prevented 

 them from sleeping much. It often happened that they 

 were without food for three days, when they would drink 

 water and smoke tobacco. Trees are climbed in the jump- 

 ing way described before, and without any mechanical 

 aid. Formerly bathing was not customary. Excrements 

 are left on the ground and not in the water. They 

 don't like the colour red, but prefer black. Fire was 

 made by flint and iron, which they procured from the 

 Saputans. 



The hair is not cut nor their teeth. The women wear 

 around the head a ring of cloth inside of which are vari- 

 ous odoriferous leaves and flowers of doubtful apprecia- 

 tion by civilised olfactory senses. A strong-smelling 

 piece of skin from the civet cat is often attached to this 

 head ornament, which is also favoured by natives on the 

 Mahakam. 



In regard to ear ornamentation the Penyahbongs arc 

 at least on a par with the most extreme fashions of the 

 Dayaks. The men make three slits in the ear; in the 

 upper part a wooden disk is enclosed, in the middle the 



