A DAYAK WOMAN OPERATING THE RICE-HUSKING MITE 



Rice is poured in at the top and works down through the grooves as the upper part of the 



mill is twisted back and forth. 



resources of hospitality had been ex- 

 hausted, the chief told me he was going 

 to show me the head dance as it used to 

 be done. 



Two old women took one of the neads 

 from the cluster hanging in the smoke 

 over the fire. Then they placed some 

 boiled rice between the jaws, with a 

 lighted cigarette in one corner and a quid 



of betel-nut and siri in the other. The 

 latter is chewed continuously by all peo- 

 ple, giving the mouth and teeth a dark, 

 reddish stain. In this way the spirit of 

 the head was propitiated by giving it 

 food, a cigarette, and betel-nut to chew. 

 The head itself was then carried by the 

 two women up and down the long ve- 

 randa of the house, swinging it to and 



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