334 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



doubtedly would evoke lusty cries from a white child. 

 Between the plunges, which are repeated at least three 

 times, with his hand he strokes water from the little 

 body which after a few seconds is dipped again. It seems 

 almost cruel, but not a dissenting voice is heard. The 

 bath over he takes the child into his arms, ascends the 

 ladder of the river bank and carries it home as silent as 

 when it went forth. Sometimes one may hear children 

 cry from being cross, but as a rule they are charming. 



Monkeys, including the orang-utan, are eaten, but not 

 the crocodile nor the tiger-cat. In accordance with the 

 prevailing Dayak custom men and women eat at the same 

 time. If they choose, women may accompany fishing or 

 hunting expeditions if not far away, but when the game is 

 wild ox or rhinoceros they are not allowed to take part. 

 When there is an overflow of the river one cannot go hunt- 

 ing, nor if one should fall at the start, nor if the rattan 

 bag should drop when the man slings it on his back, or 

 if anybody sneezes when about to leave the house. If 

 when going out on an errand one stubs his toe against the 

 threshold, he must wait an hour. Having started on a 

 fishing or hunting expedition nobody is permitted to 

 go back home; should this be done the enterprise would 

 be a failure for the others; nor should the dogs, on a pig 

 hunt, be called in while on a ladang lest monkeys and deer 

 eat the paddi. When about to undertake a journey of 

 more than four or five days' duration one must abstain 

 from eating snake or turtle, and if a pregnant woman 

 eats these reptiles the child will look like them. Should 

 she eat fruit that has fallen to the ground, the child will 

 be still-born. The same prohibition applies to lizards. 



