HEAD-HUNTING 259 



sue pigs," I was told by a Penihing who had taken part 

 in a head-hunt and served his sentence in Soerabaia. 

 "But are not people angry at losing their heads?" I 

 asked him. "No," he answered, "we give the heads food 

 on their arrival and every month afterward, and make fire 

 every evening to keep them warm. If they feel cold, then 

 they get angry." The man who has taken a head is con- 

 sidered a hero by the women, and if unmarried is certain 

 to secure a desirable wife, but it is erroneous to assert 

 that the taking of a head was or is a necessary condition 

 to marriage. 



The government of the Dutch Indies, with energy and 

 success, is eradicating the evil head-hunting custom. 

 Military expeditions involving great expense from time 

 to time are sent into remote regions to capture a handful 

 of culprits. By exercising tact it is not difficult finally to 

 locate the malefactors, and indeed the tribe may deliver 

 them. It must be remembered that the Dayaks them- 

 selves have no idea that there is anything wrong in taking 

 heads, and the government very wisely does not impose 

 the death penalty, but the transgressor is taken to Soera- 

 baia, on Java, to undergo some years of hard labour — 

 from four to six, I understand. To "go to Soerabaia" 

 is extremely distasteful to the natives, and has proved a 

 most effective deterrent. On account of their forced stay 

 at this remote island city such Dayaks learn to speak 

 Malay and several times I have employed them. They 

 are usually among the best men of the kampong, resource- 

 ful, reliable, and intelligent, and may serve also as inter- 

 preters. 



