260 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



In his report on a journey to the Katingans in 1909 

 Captain J. J. M. Hageman says: 



" By nature the Dayak is a good-tempered man. The 

 head-hunting should not be charged against him as a 

 dastardly deed; for him it is an adat. In the second 

 place, he possesses very good traits of character, as 

 evidenced by his hospitality and generosity. Our sol- 

 diers, some sixty in number, obtained a meal immedi- 

 ately in every kampong. When a Dayak goes on a 

 journey in a friendly region he may be sure of receiving 

 shelter and food in every house. 



"They are distrustful of foreigners, but if he has 

 gained their confidence they give assistance freely in every 

 respect. Loving their liberty in a high degree they pre- 

 fer not to be ordered. The cowardly manner in which 

 they cut heads is no criterion of their courage." 



It would not be in accordance with facts to suppose 

 that head-hunting has altogether been eliminated in 

 Borneo. It is too closely identified with the religious life 

 of the natives, but in time a substitute probably will be 

 found, just as the sacrifice of the water-buffalo supplanted 

 that of slaves. The most recent case that came to my 

 notice on the Mahakam was a Penihing raid from Long 

 Tjehan to the Upper Barito five years previously, in 

 which four Murung heads were taken. 



It is extraordinary that such a revolting habit is 

 practised in a race the ethics of which otherwise might 

 serve as a model for many so-called civilised communities, 

 these natives being free to an unusual degree from the 

 fault of appropriating what belongs to others and from 



