134 AUSTRALASIA 



The great bulk of the inland populations are collectively known as Dayaks, a 

 term the primary meaning of which appears to be " Men," "People," but which for 

 the Malays has simply the sense of " "Wild," or " Heathen." In any case, many 

 tribes are certainly grouped under this general designation, which differ in their 

 origin, physical appearance, and customs. The special names by which they are 

 known to their neighbours are for the most part taken from the districts, moun- 

 tains, or rivers inhabited by them. Thus have been named the Orang-Kapuas, 

 the Orang-Barito, Orang-Mahakkam, Orang-Bukit, or " Highlanders," Ot-Danom, 

 or " Uplanders ; " in the same way are distinguished the " Sea," " River," and 

 " Land " Dayaks. 



Taken collectively the Dayak populations differ from the civilised Malays by 

 their slim figure, lighter complexion, more prominent nose and higher forehead. 

 In many communities the men carefully eradicate the hair of the face, while both 

 sexes file, dye, and sometimes even pierce the teeth, in which are fixed gold 

 buttons. The lobe of the ear is similarly pierced for the insertion of bits of stick, 

 rings, crescent-shaped metal plates, and other ornaments, by the weight of which 

 the lobe is gradually distended down to the shoulder. In several tribes the skulls 

 of the infants are artificially deformed by means of bamboo frames and bandages. 



The simple Dayak costume of blue cotton with a three-coloured stripe for 

 border is always gracefully draped, and the black hair is usually wrapped in a 

 red cloth trimmed with gold. Most of the Dayaks tattoo the arms, hands, feet, 

 and thighs, occasionally also breast and temples. The designs, generally of a 

 beavitiful blue colour on the coppery ground of the body, display great taste, and 

 are nearly always disposed in odd numbers, which, as among so many other 

 peoples, are supposed to be lucky. Amulets of stone, filigree, and the like, are 

 also added to the ornaments to avert misfortune. In some tribes coils of brass 

 wire are wound round the body, as among some African peoples on the shores of 

 Victoria Nj^anza. 



The Dayaks are much subject to skin diseases, due perhaps to the lack of 

 salt in their diet. Victims of goitre also are as numerous in the Kutei basin as in 

 certain Alpine and Pyrenean valleys. Even before the arrival of the Dutch the 

 natives practised a sort of inoculation against small-pox, which in Borneo is of a 

 very virulent character. 



The Dayaks believe in the existence of a supreme being, the Sang-Sang, who 

 reveals his pleasure to the priests and communes with them in a "heavenly 

 tongue." But the confidence of the people is chiefly in the bilians or priestesses, 

 who understand how to conjure the evil spirits, dispel maladies, forecast the future, 

 solve riddles and extemporise songs. They are brought up from infancy by 

 the priests, and always chosen from the slave class, for they are common to all 

 the married men of the community according to a fixed tariff. One of the 

 marriage customs, probably of Chinese origin, is scarcely elsewhere equalled 

 for refinement of cruelty. The wealthy Ot-Damons confine their daughters 

 wlien eight or ten years old in a narrow, dimly lit cell, which they never leave 

 for the next seven or eight years. During this period they are allowed to see 



