THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



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THE OPEN GALLERY IN FRONT OF A LAND DAYAK "LONG HOUSE : SARAWAK 



The platform is eight or nine feet from the ground. The higher building at the left is 

 the "head-house." where heads captured from their enemies are kept, where, also, unmarried 

 men and boys as well as visitors sleep and are entertained. To the clusters of poles at the 

 right, which mark the entrances to the rooms, each of which is occupied by one family, are 

 attached charms to protect the inmates from disease and evil spirits. 



new farming lands. These ruins are al- 

 most invariably covered with vines, which 



conceal everything as if a great blanket 

 of vegetation had been loosely flung over 

 roofs and tree-tops. 



. When the river is in flood, great trees 

 come sweeping down, washed away as the 

 waters continually change their course. 

 so that the beaches at the estuary are 

 piled with huge logs. 



A JOYOUS WELCOME AT LOXG PALEI 



My first meeting with Kayans was on 

 the occasion of a visit of the Resident of 

 the Baram district to the village of Long 

 Palei. about 130 miles from the mouth 

 of the Baram River and about 70 miles 

 from the government station at Claude- 

 town. For this distance the river is navi- 

 gable for steam launches, but a short dis- 

 tance above the rapids begin and native 

 dugout canoes make slow progress pad- 



dling in the rapid current or poling and 

 dragging up the rapids. 



We spent two days making the journey 

 from Claudetown. calling at villages on 

 the way, and arriving at our destination. 

 Long Palei. late in the afternoon, where 

 we had no sooner anchored than many of 

 the leading people of the house, including 

 the young chief, came on board to wel- 

 come the Resident, who had been absent 

 from his district for several months. 



The unfeigned joy with which these 

 people welcomed the return of their white 

 ruler, whom they had learned by long 

 association to recognize as their best 

 friend, was a tribute of which any man 

 could be proud. 



When, after the hearty exchange of 

 greetings on board the launch, we went 

 on shore and climbed the steps leading 

 into the long gallery of the house, a very 

 old man came forward and, grasping the 



