x] 



NEW KINDS OF FRUIT 



ing of boiled rice and small pieces of boiled pork and fowl, with dried 

 and salted fish. But the favourite condiment was a horrible paste 

 made by mixing well-rotted minced pork and squashed durian pulp. 

 I need not describe the appalling exhalations of that paste, the 

 greatest delicacy of the Land-Dyaks ! From noon till dusk the 

 gongs and drums beat unceasingly, and eating went on. All who 

 came were welcome guests, and invited to partake of the food abun- 

 dantly supplied. 



Wishing to utilise my time, I got the Dyaks to bring me samples 

 of all the species of fruit which they cultivated around the village. 



Fig. 27. LAND -D YAK GIRLS. 



Besides those I was already acquainted with, which are to be found 

 near all the Land-Dyaks' villages, I found here that of the Elaterio- 

 spermum Tapos, Bl., which they call buti ruppi. The tree which 

 bears it is a handsome Euphorbia, and its fruit divides into three 

 segments, each of which contains a big feculous seed about one and 

 a half inches long. The ruppi is cultivated, but I was told it is 

 to be met with in a wild state in the neighbouring forest ; its seeds 

 are edible only after having been for some time macerated in water. 

 But the most remarkable fruits at Tappo Kakas were five species of 



129 K 



