356 
CHE SOMMAJi’s NARRATION. 
turned to the praliu, and then came in his skochi to the pirates to 
ask assistance, which they promised to send. He got into his sko¬ 
chi and pulled off towards his prahu when the pirates fired at him. 
He got on board in safety however, and returned their fire with such 
effect that they thought it best to weigh anchor and proceed to T&n- 
jong Tingg&rong. On reaching it they went ashore to bathe and 
amuse themselves. Thence they sailed to Bangkallana where they 
sold and bartered a considerable quantity of the booty which they had 
collected. Here my comrade was sold, and I, not wishing to be 
separated from him, asked to be sold also. This they refused, and 
I and another of our crew, named Mil jam, were carried to their 
country, which proved to be the great river Kahay&n.* I fell to 
the lot of one of them named Pangjahan, who took me to his house 
at Mentfingf where I lived as his slave for many years. I was treat¬ 
ed with kindness, and my labour was not severe. I assisted in mak¬ 
ing l&dangs, planting and reaping paddy, and all other work. The 
greatest evil of my condition and that of my Mahomedan fellow 
slaves, for there were several in the house, was that no attention was 
paid to our religious scruples. At whatever hour food was requir¬ 
ed, and whatever it consisted of, we had to cook it. 
The chief occupation of the Kahaydns or Biaju is the cultivation of 
paddy. They are not acquainted with the sdwd or wet cultivation, and 
consequently have to cut down the forest to form new Idddngs every 
second, third or fourth year according to the fertility of the ground. 
For moist ground they form small nurseries on the sides of streams 
by laying trunks of trees together and placing large pieces of bark 
over them. On this they put earth to a sufficient depth, and throw 
the paddy seed over the surface. The whole is shaded by a roof 
of leaves. When they have fixed on a place for a new l&d&ng, they 
give a feast and watch the birds of omen—the l&ng, anting, tin¬ 
ning, pftntes, papau and bckaka. The flight of the l&ng is most con¬ 
sulted. Jf its feelings are pleasant it sails gently and easily over¬ 
head, and the omen is favorable. If its flight be rapid or irregular, 
* The same river which Dr. Schwaner lately ascended. See Miscella¬ 
neous Notices <S£c. ? p. xri. 
