xvm] OMENS FROM BIRDS 



war expeditions against remote tribes, whom they conquer. Thus 

 it appears that the Barram Kayans came from the Baloi, and that 

 previous to their invasion the Barram was inhabited by Kinias. 

 According to Mr. St. John {Op. cit. i. p. 87) the Barram Kayans were 

 in past times in the habit of attacking villages near Bruni for the 

 purpose of capturing slaves, whom they carried off. It need, there- 

 fore, cause no surprise if several of the tribes inhabiting Xorth-east 

 Borneo, such as the Muruts, Bisayas, Idahans or Dusuns, and also 

 the Tedongs and Kajans, have been described by the distinguished 

 author now quoted as very similar to the Kayans. Moreover, we can 

 scarcely expect to find uniformity of type in a people who, through 

 slavery, have for centuries assimilated varied and heterogeneous 

 elements. It would be interesting with regard to this point to know 

 whether the Kayans have ever had intercourse with Celebes by the 

 Koti river ; or, conversely, if the natives of Celebes have had com- 

 munication with those of Borneo. 



On certain occasions, as during the above-described excursion 

 in quest of camphor, the Kayans deduce omens from birds ; while in 

 more important ones they also seek them in the entrails of animals, 

 and especially in the heart of the pig, a practice also in use amongst 

 the Sakarrang Dyaks. 



The Tubao Kayans do not now offer human sacrifices, but I was 

 assured that the Boajan Kayans of the Upper Banjar sacrifice a 

 slave when one of their chiefs die, and bury his corpse with that of the 

 dead chief. I have also heard that certain tribes of the interior, 

 when about to construct a new house, sacrifice a virgin, burying 

 her under one of the main piles. 



The Kayans are passionately fond of their children, whom they 

 load with ornaments in the shape of necklaces of differently coloured 

 glass beads, and especially with large gold, or, more frequently, 

 brass or tin earrings. These are of great weight in order to distend 

 the perforation in the lobe of the ear as much as possible, this being 

 considered a great beauty. 



On the Tubao, in addition to the rice and sugar cane, various 

 kinds of fruit trees are cultivated. I noticed durians, rambutans, 

 and lemons. The Coix lachryma, or Job's Tears, is also sown, the 

 seeds being used to ornament different portions of ordinary dress, 

 or for " TQ r costumes. The domestic animals of the Kayans, besides 

 poultry, are a few goats, whose flesh they eat, but which they keep 

 more especially for the sake of the skins, which, as I have already 

 mentioned, are used to make war coats or cuirasses. 



When not occupied with agricultural work, the Kayans hunt the 

 boar, or search for camphor, guttapercha or rubber in the forest. 

 Honey and wax is also found in their country, bees' nests being 

 abundant on certain trees, such as the tapang (Abauria excelsa), the 

 minuang (Octomeles Sumatrana), the mingris (Dialium sp.), and the 



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