CHAPTER XXIV 



HEAD-HUNTING, ITS PRACTICE AND PURPOSE 



The Penihings still live in dread of the head-hunting 

 raids of the Ibans of Sarawak, and the probability of such 

 attacks no doubt caused the recent establishment of a 

 garrison at Long Kai. The Long-Glats on the Merasi, a 

 northern tributary to the Mahakam, are also constantly 

 on guard against the Ibans. Until lately these inveterate 

 head-hunters would cross the mountains, make prahus, 

 then travel down the Upper Mahakam, and commit seri- 

 ous depredations among the kampongs, killing whomso- 

 ever they could, the others fleeing to the mountains. As 

 one Penihing chief expressed it to me: "The river was full 

 of their prahus from the Kasao River to Long Blu." 

 Their last visit was in 191 2, when the Bukats reported 

 that a number of Ibans had arrived at the headwaters of 

 the river, but the raid did not materialise, and they re- 

 tired without making prahus. These raids have naturally 

 brought about much intermingling of the tribes on the 

 Mahakam River, and sometimes three or more may be 

 found living in one kampong. 



About twenty years ago there was much fighting in 

 these remote parts of Borneo among Penihings, Saputans, 

 Penjabongs, and Bukats, each tribe making head-hunting 

 raids into the dominions of another, and all being con- 

 stantly exposed to the fury of the Ibans from the north. 



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