xxi] 



LADJA IN GALA DRESS 



accompany friendly travellers only as far as the next village. It is 

 a kind of posting by water, which, however, causes much loss of time, 

 although we got along very fast on account of the strength of the 

 current. We passed the night at a house which contained very 

 few inmates, having changed boats and crews four times en route. 

 Ladja at each village came out in gala costume. He removed 



:*_ 



Fig. 55- SEA-DYAK OF THE SAKARRANG. 



the breeches he wore in the forest, or when he was paddling in the 

 boat, and wore the jawat only. He then put on his enormous 

 hornbill ear-pendants, passed his numerous brass rings on his arms 

 and legs, and put on his red jacket. He liked to show off at full 

 advantage before the girls, and I could see that they looked on him 

 with admiring eyes. Ladja was not only a handsome young fellow, 

 but an excellent parti for any girl ; and I can fully understand he 



339 



