OPERATION OF EAR-PIERCING 201 



they visit the kampongs, though only the blians are able 

 to see them. The dead person is given new garments 

 and the body is placed in a wooden box made of boards 

 tied together, which is carried to a cave in the mountains, 

 three days' travel from Data Laong. There are many 

 caves on the steep mountain-side and each kampong has 

 its own. 



The Saputans were shy about being photographed, 

 but their objections could be overcome by payments of 

 coin. The kapala, always alive to the value of money, 

 set the example by consenting to pose with his family for 

 a consideration of one florin to each. But the risks in- 

 curred, of the usual kinds hitherto described, were be- 

 lieved to be so great that even the sum of ten florins was 

 asked as reward in the case of a single man. A prominent 

 man from another kampong was preparing to make holes 

 through the ears of the kapala, and for a compensation 

 I was permitted to photograph the operation, which is 

 an important one. It is the privilege of chiefs and men 

 who have taken heads to wear a tiger-cat's corner tooth 

 inserted in a hole in the upper part of each ear. The 

 operation must not be performed when the man in ques- 

 tion has a small child. 



Surrounded by four men, the kapala seated himself on 

 the stump of a tree. The hair was first cut away above 

 the ears, a long board was placed upright behind and 

 against his right ear, and the operator adjusted his tool — 

 an empty rifle cartridge of small calibre, which was en- 

 cased in the end of a small piece of wood. After having 

 carefully ascertained that all was in order he struck the 



