A Romantic Experiment. 61 



one who takcs it, beeause to secure it he 

 must have exposed himself to the attack 

 of the family. What makes the miserable 

 custom continue is, that the Dyak wotnan 

 dcclines to marry a man unless he proves 

 his prowcss by thc hanging of lieads before 

 the chambcr to which he proposes to take 

 bis bride. 



These Dyaks are exceedingly stout, 

 well-built mcn of small stature, with thcir 

 bodies profusely tatoocd and wholly uncov- 

 cred except for a breech-clout. Thcy wear 

 their hair hanging over the forehead, cut 

 short to kccp it out of the eyes, but plen- 

 tifully greased and smoothcd down to a 

 fine surface. With all the absence of 

 clothcs, the Dyak is a great dandy. and 

 spcnds much time in looking at himself in 

 the little looking-glass which thc Chinese 

 traders have carried up into the Dyak 

 country. 



The women are clothcd in bark cloth, a 

 singlc stretch of which, reaching from thc 

 waist to the knee, barely meets across the 

 front of the person. Above the waist she 

 wears nothiug but a few circlcs of coppcr 

 wirc wound arouud the person. Shc is by 



