2i8 TIIROrCII CENTRAL HORNEO 



and retires to solitude, remaining away for a long time, 

 up to two years. If the husband fails to punish, then 

 the woman's brother must perform the duty of execu- 

 tioner. The Bukats are even more severe. The hus- 

 band of an erring wife must kill her by cutting off her 

 head, and it is incumbent on her brother to take the 

 head of the husband. At present the Punans and Bukats 

 are relinquishing these customs through fear of the 

 Company. 



The Bukats told me that they originally came from 

 the river Blatei in Sarawak, and that Iban raids had had 

 much to do with their movements. According to their 

 reports the tribe had recently, at the invitation of the 

 government, left the mountains and formed several kam- 

 pongs in the western division. One of them, with short 

 stubby fingers, had a broad Mongolian face and promi- 

 nent cheek-bones, but not Mongolian eyes, reminding me 

 somewhat of a Laplander. 



The Punans and the Bukats have not yet learned to 

 make prahus, but they are experts in the manufacture 

 of sumpitans. They are also clever at mat-making, the 

 men bringing the rattan and the women making the mats. 

 Cutting of the teeth is optional. The gall of the bear is 

 used as medicine internally and externally. In case of 

 fractured bones a crude bandage is made from bamboo 

 sticks with leaves from a certain tree. For curing disease 

 the Punans use strokes of the hand. Neither of these 

 nomadic tribes allow a man present when a woman bears 

 a child. After child-birth women abstain from work four 



