xx] TRIBES OF THE REJANG 



I saw some Buketans here also, who had settled amongst the 

 Kanowits. The river at Kanowit is very wide, and the high hills 

 which bank it in all the way from the village of the Tanjongs cease 

 here. The majestic aspect of the Rejang is now much increased, 

 owing to the addition to its waters of two such important affluents as 

 the Ketibas and the Kanowit. The current is moderate, but thanks 

 to the energy of my Kayans and our light and gracefully built boat, 

 we got along famously ; and having left Kanowit shortly after sun- 

 rise, we reached Sibu about five hours later. 



During this journey from the Bellaga to Sibu I met with several 

 tribes of natives, whose very names were new to me. Others I 

 only heard mentioned by the Kayans who accompanied me. It 

 would be as well, perhaps, to give here a general resume of the 

 information I gathered concerning the people living on the Baloi 

 or Rejang and in its vicinity. 



In addition to the Malays, Chinese, Mellanaos, Dyaks, and 

 Kayans, the following tribes inhabit this region : — 



Sigalang, once a numerous tribe, but now greatly reduced. The 

 few survivors, who no longer speak their language or dialect, live 

 at Siriki. 



Sirus, also once a powerful tribe, now reduced to a few families. 



Bilions, only a few left, who wander in the forest ; they have 

 a special dialect. 



Minkilon, Banjok, Tanjong, and Sidoan, (Fig. 53), small allied 

 tribes, now assimilated by the Kayans, and having lost their own 

 dialects. 



Buketan, a nomadic forest tribe. 



Pennan and Ukit, allied to the Buketans, and also wanderers in 

 the forest. 



Krian and Sian, also nomadic forest tribes akin to the Buketans. 



Punan, Skapan, Kadjaman, and Lanan, tribes all speaking 

 peculiar dialects, now conquered by the Kayans. 



Punan tana, or Punan batu, who live principally on the Baleh. 



Kinya, a far inland tribe, who inhabit the country near the 

 sources of the Kapuas, Barram, and Koti. 



The following tribes live beyond the boundaries of the kingdom 

 of Sarawak : — 



Sibu and Malo, dwelling on the Kapuas. I met a few of the 

 latter on the Kantu. 



Butan, who live on the upper course of the Koti and Banjar, 

 and are said to be more civilised than the Kayans. 



Klai and Taman ; tribes known to my Kayans, living on the 

 Upper Banjar. 



The fort of Sibu is the most important in Sarawak after that 

 of Kuching. Its position is well chosen at the apex of the delta 



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