240 EAMBLES OF A NATUEALIST. [Ch. XIV. 



Bombok appeared to be a more populous village than that 

 on the opposite side of the hill. We met numerous parties 

 descending to their daily work — women and girls as weU as 

 men ; the former, on catching sight of us, sometimes threw 

 down their bundles and ran with a cry into the jungle. So 

 similar, however, was it in character and in details to 

 Serambo that I could scarcely believe that it was not the 

 same village which I had visited yesterday. The head- 

 house occupied its usual conspicuous position, and was of 

 the same form as before. _ The interior was a spacious 

 and dusty apartment, in which were a few skulls hang- 

 ing up here and there, their mouths plastered up with 

 mud, and cowries occupying the place of eyes. Here 

 were but few, however, the place having fallen into disuse 

 from the discontinuance of the barbarous custom of head- 

 hunting. 



While I was inspecting the head-house every window or 

 outlook in the village was filled with the dusky faces of 

 women and children ; and having a few small min'ors in my 

 pocket, I exhibited them with the announcement that I 

 would give one to any little girl who would come and take 

 it from my hand. For a considerable time even this bribe 

 would not induce them to come so near ; but it succeeded at 

 last, and when one had come forward and returned with the 

 prize, I had plenty of candidates, and my supply was soon 

 exhausted. They then became friendly enough ; and as I 

 left the village to descend once more I was followed by a 

 number of children of both sexes, who timidly, and with 

 looks and whisperings of curiosity, escorted me to the out- 

 skirts of the village. 



On arriving at Berlidah I found my boat ready for the 

 journey back to Sarawak, for my time had expired ; and 



