1>YAK HEAD-HUNTINtJ. 



and, together ^th the MalajB, formed the fleets composed 

 of one hundred or more prahus, which swept the seas, and 

 devastated the shores of Borneo over a distance of 800 

 miles, 



TliG Dyaks soon became aware of tlioir own power ; 

 and, accordingly, both in fcheh' internal government and 

 on their piratical expeditions^ their chiefs in time attained 

 equal authority with the Malayan rulers : the plunder 

 also, whether of vessel or village, was equally divided 

 hetweeii Malay and Dyak ; but no male captive was 

 willingly spared by them, owiug to the propensity of the 

 Dyaks for coEecting heads. It will be remembered^ from 

 the earlier journals of the Rajah of Sarawak, that the 

 present of a bead is exacted from every aspirant to a 

 Dyak bride,— this preliminary being " estabhslied from 

 time immemorial, and indispensable." So far as the 

 Kajah s influence extends, this barbarous custom ia, with 

 many others, fast disappearing. Some of the young 

 Dyaks have plainly stated that they would give up head- 

 hunting, were it not for the taunts and gibes of their wivea 

 and i?weethearts, who threaten to put on them the bedung 

 (petticoat) if they do not procure, and lay at their feet, 

 these ghastly tropliies of their bravery. They never 

 attempt to disguise the fact, that they go forth in their 

 expeditions excited by no injuries, seeking no revenge, 

 but simply intent on plunder, and above all on heads. 



Thus the character of piracy was altered^ and rendered 

 more bloody, by the infiision of this Dyak element. I 



