CHAPTER XX 



Down the Rejang — The Kayans' Knowledge of the Interior — Steno- 

 phyllism and its causes — camphor trees — tama dlan and his 

 Establishment — The Wild Sago Palm — A Kayan Masquerade — 

 The Banteng and other Big Game — On the Rapids — Freshwater 

 Alg^: of Marine Type — Sharks and Rays in the River — The 

 Tan jong — In the Dyak Country — The Ketibas — Kanowit — A Dis- 

 honest Trader — -At Sibu — The Tribes of the Rejang — From Sibu 

 to the Sea — Black Flowers — Adventures with Crocodiles — New 

 Palms — Mouth of the Igan — Mosquitoes and other Insect Pests 

 — Wild Oranges. 



WE passed beyond the house of Akim Diam, which was built 

 on the bank of the Baloi just where the Bellaga pours 

 its waters into the main river, and halted opposite a big house 

 a few hundred yards lower down, at a place called Skapan. The 

 inhabitants are called " Orang Skapan," and consider themselves 

 as a distinct tribe, but I cannot see in what they differ from the 

 Kadjamans and the Kayans. All these tribal names in the Kayan 

 country are, I think, nothing more than family distinctions, in 

 short, what might be termed " clans." I could not otherwise 

 explain how, a few hundred yards from this locality, houses of 

 Kadjamans, Skapans, Punans, and Kayans are found mixed up 

 together. I believe that the Punans just mentioned must be 

 considered distinct from those of the Bintulu, being much more 

 civilised. I cannot feel quite sure that the names Punan, Puanan, 

 and Pennan, heard on the Bintulu, are those of distinct tribes, 

 or merely different ways of expressing the name of one and the 

 same tribe. 



Senahan and Sematto, the two chiefs of Skapan, showed every 

 wish to help me, and gave me a cordial reception. Naturally, the 

 first thing I asked for was a boat and an experienced crew to enable 

 me to continue my journey, for the navigation of the Rejang is 

 difficult and even dangerous, on account of the formidable rapids 

 which obstruct its course in several places. These two kindly 

 disposed chiefs immediately furnished me with a large and com- 

 modious boat, and ordered fifteen men to accompany me as far 

 as the next village ; they also gave me some fowls and a small 

 quantity of rice, although they were very short of the latter. My 



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