4H THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



19. THE ORANG-UTAN AND THE DAYAK 

 (From the Ot-Danums; kampong Gunong Porok, Upper Kahayan River) 



There was a man who, in grief and sorrow over the 

 death of his wife, his children, and others, left his house 

 and went far into the utan. Feeling tired he lay down 

 to rest under a great lanan tree. While he slept a female 

 orang-utan, which had its nest in the same tree and had 

 been away hunting for food, came home, lifted the man 

 in her arms, and carried him to her nest high up in the 

 branches. When he awoke it seemed impossible for him 

 to climb down, so he remained there. Each day she 

 brought him fruit of various kinds, also occasionally 

 boiled rice, stolen from the houses of the ladangs. After 

 a few days she began to take liberties with him. At first 

 the man declined her advances and she became angry, 

 showing her teeth and nails. Finally she bit him in the 

 shoulder, and then he surrendered. The man remained 

 in the tree over a year. Although anxious to escape he 

 feared the revenge of the orang-utan too much to make 

 the attempt. In due time a male child was born who 

 was human, but covered with long hair. 



One day when she was absent seeking food he saw 

 a sailing ship approach the coast and put out a boat for 

 hauling water from the river near by. Hastily stringing 

 his garments together he began the descent, but the rope 

 was not long enough; however, by letting himself drop 

 part of the distance he succeeded in getting down, and 

 went away in the boat. Not finding him at home the 

 orang-utan tried to swim to the ship, but the distance 



