fviu] TOMBS OF THE MELLANAOS 



breast. Like the Kayans, they also bore the upper margin of the 

 ear, inserting the canine tooth of a bear or leopard. 



The custom of ornamenting the ears in an exaggerated fashion, 

 disfiguring them with heavy pendants, appears to have been prac- 

 tised in remote times by the people of India, as may be seen in the 

 figures on their ancient monuments. Thus nearly all the human 

 figures of the many hundreds reproduced on the temple at Boro 

 Budor, in Java, show distinctly this peculiar mutilation, which is 

 still practised by the more barbarous tribes inhabiting parts of 

 Burma. 



The mode of trading of the Punans and also of the Buketans, 

 if my information is correct, is peculiar. They never show them- 

 selves on such occasions ; but those who know their ways deposit 

 in certain places the objects they wish to give in exchange for forest 

 produce. The savages come and take them away, leaving in their 

 stead what they think is the just equivalent. 1 



The Punans and Buketans are man-hunters ; that is to say, they 

 consider as their natural and lawful prey any human being with 

 whom they have no dealings. But they only take the property of 

 the person they have slain, and do not care to preserve his head as 

 a war trophy. 



Shortly after midday we reached Pandan, a Mellanao village, 

 where I saw two remarkable objects. One was a reproduction of 

 two human figures, one on the top of the other, rudely carved out 

 of the trunk of a tree, one of the figures holding an " utak " or 

 wooden shield in his hand. I cannot say whether this curious 

 artistic reproduction of the Mellanaos was an idol and connected 

 in any way with religion or superstition, or a sort of monument 

 commemorating some defunct notability. The other object was 

 much more elaborate, consisting of a wooden column, about sixteen 

 feet high, covered with carving, on whose top were two boards 

 placed horizontally across and at a certain distance, so as to form 

 a sort of case open at each end. The pillar was thus in shape like 

 a huge T. From the end of each transverse plank hung various 

 ornaments, among them being young leaves of the nipa, of a white 

 colour, cut into long slips, some of which were variously plaited, 

 while numerous strips of white, yellow, and red cotton cloth completed 

 the decoration. I was able to ascertain that this was really a 

 monumental grave. The column was hollow, and contained one of 

 the precious tajau, or ancient jars, mentioned on a previous page, 

 in which were deposited the bones of the deceased. The upper 

 transverse case contained some of his belongings, whilst others, 

 such as gongs, pots, dishes, etc., hung outside against the pillar. 



1 This custom has been existent in various savage tribes since the days 

 of Herodotus, among the dwarfs in Africa, the Veddas in Ceylcn, and the 

 Kubus of Sumatra. — Ed. 



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