CRUELTIES, 



141 



the broad-brimmed hat used hy the labourers on the 

 farms. Thus disguised, these miscreants stealthily 

 dropped down the river in the small canoes which they 

 found on the hanks ; and, imitating the Sadong dialect, 

 thej called to the women to come out of their Mding- 

 placcs, saying that they had come to convey them to a 

 place of safety. In many instances the stratagem was 

 but too successfal ; and the lielplesa women, rushing down 

 with their infants in their arms, became the prey of these 

 wolves in isheep's clo tiling. 



There is something of rude romance in tlie following 

 incident. There was in the balk a chief named Dung- 

 dong — a ferocious old ruffian as any there. He was a 

 Malay by birth, but bad given up the customs and 

 religion of lus people, adopted the Dyak costume, and 

 become a notorious h cad-hunt ei*. Widle his crew were 

 plundering a farm-house, he was captivated hy the 

 appearance of a young girl who was endeavouring to 

 make her escape into tho jungle : he pui-sued her ; but, 

 being encumbered by a heavy iron-headed spear, he 

 stuck it into the ground, purposing to pick it up on liis 

 return. The path to the jungle was through a padi 

 field, of wliich the crop was tlien ripe and long, fit for 

 reaping. The pirate speedily overtook his victim^ and 

 returned, bearing the poor shrieking girl in his arms, to 

 the point where he had left hijs apear : but it was gone- 

 He hurried on with his prixe towards the boat ; but fell 

 almost immediately, pierced through the neck by his own 



