THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



13' 



on the: banks of the; baram, near long palei: Sarawak, borxeo'. 



The disk-shaped article which the youth holds in his right hand with his two spears is 

 not a shield but a sun hat similar to the one on his head. His clothing is scarcely of such 

 quality and quantity as would justify the precaution of carrying for its protection the roll of 

 rain-proof kadjang, made of palm leaves, which he has under his left arm. 



a celebrated chief of former days. He 

 has always been a great favorite with his 

 stepmother, who has trained him so well 

 that few boys could surpass him in gentle 

 manners. 



He was for me a constant joy, always 

 keen to see the curious articles in my 

 baggage but never obtrusive ; always glad 

 to hear my stories of my country or to 

 tell me about his own. He speaks fluently 

 two languages besides his own, and aided 

 me much in acquiring a knowledge of 

 Malay. 



A Dayak less considerate than Kebing 

 once took delight in pointing out to me, 

 while I was floundering about in very 

 bad Malay, that, of course, it's easy for 

 the white man to learn a language, be- 

 cause he doesn't have to trust entirely to 



his memory ; when he hears a word he 

 can write it down. 



The mystery of writing is naturally 

 looked upon by the less intelligent up- 

 river natives as a very wonderful thing, 

 and a surat, or document, either written 

 or printed, is an object of very great re- 

 spect. Major J. C. Moulton gives a curi- 

 ous example. He had been traveling with 

 an intelligent native named Belulok when 

 the following incident occurred: 



"Belulok asked my assistance in re- 

 covering a debt of one buffalo and a quan- 

 tity of rubber from a Kalabit here, who, 

 he said, had been owing him that for 

 some time. 



"Of course, I had no power to do any- 

 thing of the sort and told him so ; but he 

 said he quite understood that and all he 



