IN BORNEAN FORESTS 



[chap. 



and fetch such enormous prices in Borneo, being considered by the 

 Dyaks as property of the highest value. 



These vases resemble very much the big oil-jars (orci) we use 

 in Italy. They are usually of a dark colour, and glazed inside and out ; 

 some of them smooth, others with designs in low relief. Sham ones 

 are now made for purposes of trade, but both these and the genuine 

 old ones are of Chinese manufacture, and no better proof of the 

 antiquity of the intercourse between China and Borneo could be 



Fig- 35- TAJAU JARS OF THE DYAKS. 



found, for some of these jars have been transmitted from generation 

 to generation in Dyak families, and must be extremely old. Here, 

 on the Kantu, the smallest and commonest tajau (as these jars are 

 generically called) are the "Alas" valued at from 20 rupees to 20 

 dollars. Those worth two " Alas " are called " Russa " ; a " Ben- 

 naga " is worth 100 to 150 dollars, or two " Russa." Next come 

 in order of value the " Linka," the " Betanda," and lastly the 

 "Gussi," which may be worth as much as 500 to 1,000 dollars. I 



178 



