144 THE KAYANS OF THJE NORTH-WEST OF BORNEO. 
rare beauty. Cultivation is more extensive at this* than at 
any of the other villages, on the river; the heavy jungle has 
disappeared, and the declivities of the hills are planted with 
sugar-cane, plantains, pine-apples, sweet potatoes, tapioca, 
tobacco and many other vegetables in use. In the upper part 
of the Rajang the chief Akam Knipa reigns paramount, 
having a more extensive district and a greater number of follow¬ 
ers ; and being, considered the lineal descendant of the great 
Knipa or Serpent, he is recognized as superior by the other 
two chiefs. In the Baram district Parran JLijow and Sa- 
matu, two of the principal chiefs, are well-disposed as re¬ 
gards trade, and most eager for intercourse with Europeans. 
The Kayans of the north-w^st say they immigrated to, and 
made conquest of, the localities which they at present occupy 
from the river Kay&n or Tidun of the charts. Further than 
this they do not pretend to trace their origin. In stature the 
Kayans are generally below the standard of Europeans, but 
robust and strong of body, they have finely arched foreheads 
with a pleasant expression of countenance, want the nasal 
flatness so characteristic of the Malay, and in complexion 
are, if anything, fairer than the latter. 
The most prevalent diseases amongst them are fever, fever 
and ague, rheumatism, dysentery, and small pox. The last 
mentioned appears amongst them as an epidemic, visiting the 
country in the course of every twelve to fifteen years, and 
which carries off vast numbers of every age. It is more 
dreaded by them than all the other diseases to which they are 
subject. They also describe a virulent disease which visited 
their country about twenty years ago, corresponding to the 
cholera, and through fear of which they left their houses and 
fled to the jungle. Unless with a few of the chiefs, who have 
latterly adopted the Malay custom of a plurality of wives, 
polygamy is not practised amongst the Kayans. The sexes 
are about equal in number, and, as in more civilized countries, 
there is no particular restraint on their social intercourse. 
Marriage generally takes place at an early age. Amongst 
the women unchastity would seem to be of rare occurrence. 
For the crime of adultery death is said to be inflicted on both 
offenders, by tying stones about their necks and consigning 
them to the river. The like punishment is inflicted for theft, 
but strange to say murder is compounded for by the parties 
concerned. Independent, and possessed of a small degree of 
refinement of feeling, the Kayan is proud and susceptible of 
slight or insult, but altogether wants the mean servility of 
the Malaya and other tribes of the coast, to whom they con- 
