54 SE.ETCH OF BORNEO. 



Of the Dayak. 

 T'ie Davak are the most numerous class of 

 inh^bitants on the ïsiaiid of Boineo^ they oc- 

 C'jpv nearlj tbe whole of the interior, and are 

 probablj the aborigines of the Island. They 

 are divided into a great variety of tribes, which 

 are independent of each otherj and varj in di- 

 alect^ but have a gencral resemblance in lan- 

 guage, custom and manners. In the district» 

 South and West they are generaliy denoniinatei 

 Dayak;, in the North.ïdaan, and in theEast^Tinm 

 or Tedong. PerhapS;, however, on more minute 

 investigation, some cbaracteristic distinctions may 

 be established between these races, at present we 

 are warranted to consider them as the same 

 oiiginal stock. The manners of the Dayak are 

 characterized by some strange peculiarities and 

 UDComraon features of barbarism, but the spirit 

 of these traits bas never been eiucidated, nor the 

 system of religious or superstitious opinion vvitli 

 which they are onnected, examined. Europeans 

 Lave had very little opportunity of attending to 

 the manners or habits of the Dayak ; and the Ma- 

 lay, Bugis or Arab traders, theonly persons who 

 are in the habit of frequenting the interior of 

 Borneo, can give little account of the counlry, 

 bevond mcntioning the distance of oue place 



