274 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



cook rice at that hour, and, after eating, most of 

 the people depart to the ladangs, returning about four 

 o'clock in the afternoon. The women who remain in the 

 kampong place paddi on mats in the sun to dry, and at 

 noon they husk rice. Early in the afternoon, and again 

 about two hours after sunset, meals are served, consisting 

 always of boiled rice and a simple stew of boiled vege- 

 tables of one or more kinds (called sayur, a Malay word), 

 and sometimes pork. 



In the evening the women may cut rattan into fine 

 strips, or weave these into mats, while the men employ 

 themselves in making a sheath for a parang, or an axe- 

 handle, or carving a hilt for a sword, etc. They talk 

 till late at night and sometimes sing. None of the Bahau 

 people are able to make rattan mats of such exquisite 

 finish as the Long-Glats. The beautiful dull-red colour 

 employed is procured from a certain grass which is crushed 

 and boiled, the rattan being kept in the infusion one day. 

 The black colour is obtained by the same method from the 

 leaves of a tree, and both colours are lasting. 



In the belief of the Long-Glats, people should not 

 laugh at animals, lest some misfortune result. For in- 

 stance, when dogs fight among themselves or with cats, 

 one should not indulge in mirth, else the thunder, which 

 is an antoh, becomes angry and makes somebody ill. 

 In this kampong was a young hornbill which was quite 

 domesticated and frequently came to rest on the top of 

 my tent. It often fought the hens and even the dogs, 

 which was an amusing sight, but would carry disquieting 

 significance to the Dayak who allowed himself to laugh. 

 The lieutenant from Long Kai possessed a very tame 



