108 
IvINA BALU. 
mentioned they make good mats known as “ lampits ” ; the second is sold to the Bajows or 
used in bamboo cylinders for illuminating purposes after dark. 
Occasionally the Dusun indulges in pig-hunts, assisted by packs of small curs ; but 
pigs, like everything edible in this neighbourhood, are scarce and wary. 
Fishing is carried on either with a rod and line, or by poisoning the pools with “ tuba,” 
the milky sap from a creeper. The commonest fish is like a dace, but I failed to catch 
them with any bait offered. Some of the Dusuns have circular cast-nets, and the women 
occasionally fish with small hand-nets ; but Dusun fishing always seemed to me a failure. 
Their home life is apparently happy: disputes, considering that often several families 
occupy the same house, are rare. The Dusun is an early riser, the want of warm bed¬ 
clothes turning him out before sunrise. His bed is a broad plank, his pillow a small block 
of wood the size of a brick, which, as with the Chinese, is placed under the neck. Those 
that have them wear sarongs at night, but many have nothing but their thin cotton clothes 
to sleep in, so a bed sluggard is an impossibility. They sleep in the private apartment, the 
family huddling together for warmth ; a fire is kept up until nearly daylight, when their 
puffing attempts amongst the dead embers may often be heard. Before daylight has fairly 
established itself, and when the country is veiled in bone-chilling mists, the Dusun girls 
rise and have an hour’s warming exercise, pounding the rice—to separate it from the husk 
—for the family’s daily wants. After a slight repast most of the household leave their 
homes for their outdoor avocations, until 4 o’clock in the afternoon, when they return 
loaded with provisions—from their gardens—and firewood. The men then busy themselves 
with their various manufactures, already mentioned. About dusk the evening meal is 
partaken of, which consists chiefly of rice, and any delicacies the Dusun has collected 
during his daily wanderings—such as rats, mice, fish, frogs, tadpoles, beetles, grubs, and 
chrysalides, all of which are stewed down and eaten as a relish with the rice. Bice is stored 
away in small houses, built for this purpose, in large round enclosures made of bark, 
circular wooden disks, about 12 inches in diameter, being placed on the piles to keep the 
rats out: a good deal of rice is stored in large long lengths of bamboo, which stand upright 
against the wooden partition in the house. Household goods are few, jars are rare, but 
gongs may be found in nearly every house. A few large earthenware cooking-pots and 
rather well made wooden spoons complete the cooking-utensils. The women use bamboo 
or wooden hair-combs made by their lovers or husbands, and this is their only toilet article. 
Their musical instruments are of several sorts, and rather ingenious. Gongs and tom-toms 
of course take part in all festivities. A boy gave me a very cleverly made jew’s-harp of 
bamboo. Then there is a species of panpipes fixed in a gourd, and, lastly, an extraordinary 
long guitar with two strings ; the performance on all these instruments is, however, feeble.. 
Their arms, besides the chopper and spear above mentioned, sometimes consist of Brunei 
swords and krises ; these weapons, however, are seldom worn, but hang up in the houses. 
Sumpitans are scarce, and never used except for shooting birds; a few old shields, either of 
plaited rattan or of light wood, are to be seen in most houses, but the Dusuns, being 
neither brave nor warlike, do not take the pride in then’ weapons that the coast people do. 
In disposition the Dusun is hospitable and kind, a visitor from another tribe nearly 
always meeting with hospitality; but 1 have known the Melangkaps receive a cold 
