A MONTH WITH THE DYAKS. 435 



" Le Tiac had few preparations to make. He wore only his 

 cliawat, which he adjusted securely, tucking the ends in tightly so 

 that they would not catch on the pegs and trouble him. At his 

 back was securely fastened a juah (back-basket) to receive the comb 

 if it contained honey. His torch was made up securely, and slung 

 from his neck by a cord, so that it would hang down his back lower 

 than his feet. It Avas then ignited and waved to and fro, until it 

 smoked freely, and he started up. He threw his weight heavily on 

 the first bamboo to test its strength, and also tried the second, 

 more cautiously ; but they held firmly and on he went. It was like 

 cHmbing a tall factoiy chimney by the lightning-rod, and a very 

 shaky one at that. It was the most daring feat I ever witnessed, 

 and I regretted that the audience was so small. But the climber did 

 not seem to miss the crowd which his exploit would have attracted 

 in civilized America. He went up, hand and foot, with the most 

 perfect ease and nonchalance, until he had scaled the dizzy height, 

 and seated himself astride the lowest limb to rest a moment and 

 gaze off over the top of the jungle. It actually made my head swim 

 to look at him and imagine myself in his place. Taking his torch in 

 one hand, he held it in readiness and crawled out along the bare 

 limb until he was within reach of the coveted prize. He examined 

 it first on one side and then on the other. ' No honey ! ' he shouted 

 down as cheerfully as though his climb was a matter of perfect in- 

 difference. To our exclamations of disgust, he replied with lofty 

 smiles, and leaving the comb untouched he began to descend, and 

 soon reached the ground without accident. 



"I am told that accidents do haj^pen to honey and wax-gather- 

 ers now and then, from a fault in the construction of the ladder, 

 but very rarely. Sometimes a number of bees' nests are found on 

 a smgle branch, and the climber gets so badly stung as to cause him 

 to fall. Where there is any danger on accovmt of the number of 

 bees, two or three Dyaks go up together to make the attack ; and, 

 while one gathers the comb, the others protect him from the bees 

 with the smoke of their torches. 



" November 28th. — A day of rain, which I spent in the house con- 

 versing with the Dyaks, through the interpretation of Ah Kee. 

 They are a very remarkable people morally, and I have conceived a 

 gTeat admiration for them. The more I see of them, the more I 

 see in them worthy of respect. I regret that I cannot spend several 

 years among them and see all kinds of Dyaks under all kinds of 

 circumstances. 



