THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



155 



like: some gigantic squids of the sea, the trunks oe MANY JUNGEE trees in 



SARAWAK WRITHE AND TWIST INTO WEIRD SHAPES 



The monarchs of this paradise of tropical vegetation receive more watchful protection 

 than those of many of our own forests. The jeluton tree, which yields a valuable gum, is a 

 particular ward of the government, inspectors being appointed to see that it is not improperly 

 tapped. 



of his time at the fort, and was very fond 

 of telling of the old days before the gov- 

 ernment came into the river. 



•His hands were tattooed, the indication 

 that he had taken a head. Indeed, he said 

 he had taken five when he was a young 

 man, but I think he was bragging. 



He was usually accompanied by eight 

 or ten of the fine young fellows who had 

 come down river with him. One evening, 

 when they all arrived at the fort together, 

 I gave a small Manila cigar to each; 

 whereupon Tama Aping abruptly told the 

 young fellows that they might go back 

 down to the bazaar ; that he had no fur- 

 ther use for them there, and, turning to 

 me, remarked that there was no need of 

 my handing out my good cigars to all 

 those youngsters when he was right on 

 hand to smoke them. 



After my return from Borneo, I learned 

 that Tama Aping had become involved in 



a divorce suit, being summoned as a co- 

 respondent by another prominent Kayan 

 chief. Such events are comparatively 

 rare, the husband and wife among the 

 Kayans generally remaining faithful to 

 their marriage obligations. 



DIVORCE PRACTICES IN BORNEO 



Divorce is not infrequent before a 

 couple have children ; but this is not sur- 

 prising, when one considers the very 

 close association of husband and wife 

 living continually together in a single 

 room, where any incompatibility of tem- 

 perament would prove a much more seri- 

 ous burden than in a more complex sys- 

 tem of society. 



On the other hand, one sees many fam- 

 ilies living together in the greatest happi- 

 ness, with attractive little brown children, 

 of whom they are very fond. I recall 

 one couple, very prosperous, thrifty, and 



