SARAWAK To Memrt. 185 
“these occupations, remain: idle, as they never help the women 
‘“‘in the fields. 
“ The Dusuns, on the contrary, till and hunt also, the women 
“ earrying wood and water and attending principally to household 
“ duties, seldom going afield except when all hands are wanted. 
“The Muruts will fell forest trees in order to clear land, but 
‘* will not clear secondary jungle. Certain fruit trees are considered 
“the common property of the village, and others are private pro- 
“erty; unless the tabw mark is placed on any particular tree 
“(a few dead leaves bound round the tree), it is generally 
‘“‘ considered that passers-by may help themselves to the fruit. 
‘“‘] have never met with cannibals in Borneo, although Tam sure, 
‘from all I have heard, that the practice of eating human beings 
“ has not long died out, and I think it very likely it may still exist 
“in obscure and little known places in the far interior. 
“With regard to slavery, the Muruts have slaves and will sell 
“their children to pay their debts. They follow a fixed custom 
“in not selling a slave to another person, unless with the slave's 
“ consent. | 
“Dusuns will not have slaves, nor will they sell their children, 
“nor will they give up runaway slaves.” 
I left Muka to-day in a prahw with K——- of the Borneo Com- 
pany. We had both wind and tide against us, and reached Oya 
only at 7 P.M. 
18th AMay.—I find Oya very much improved since my first visit 
last year. The cultivation of sago is rapidly extending. During the 
last twelve months the Government has erected a Court-house and 
Officers’ quarters, a bazaar has sprung up, a road has been con- 
structed connecting the Oya Trading Company’s sago manufac- 
tory with the village, and on to the sea-shore. The Oya Com- 
pany's works are all new, and besides the manufactory itself with 
its various sheds, there is a substantial dwelling house for the 
partners. 
19th May.—Went over the sago mill with W——-, who gave me 
some particulars about the works and the manner in which they 
prepare the sago. 
The engine is one of 14 horse-power, and, when the mill is not in 
use in grinding and washing sago. can be used for driving sawing- 
machinery, 
