BY R. S. DOUGLAS. 
2 7 
- From here down to the Fort there was nothing 
special of interest and we enjoyed a luxurious trip down¬ 
river, lying on our mattresses in the long Kayan war- 
boats, whilst we shot rapid after rapid in quick success¬ 
ion, a method of travel which was much appreciated 
after the long march. We reached the Fort again in 
five days. 
The Ivalabits, to which race all the above-mentioned 
tribes belong, are of Indonesian origin. They are, with 
the exception perhaps of the Dayaks, the most indus¬ 
trious of the inhabitants of Borneo. All the tribes 
beyond the Pamabo Range are entirely self-supporting, 
growing their own rice by irrigation, making their own 
cloth out of bark, and as I have related making their 
own salt, which they trade to obtain steel for making 
their weapons of offence. Until quite recently they 
had had no experience of the trade goods of civilization, 
and needless to say few of them had seen a white man 
before. I was very much struck with the industry of the 
women, working all day in the paddy fields without any 
covering whatsoever on their heads. Their dress consists 
of a small petticoat of bark-cloth, now being replaced by 
blue cloth, reaching down to the knee, and a loose bark 
jacket down to the waist. On their heads the}" wear a 
sort of helmet of blue and red beads, each as thick as 
one’s thumb; a Kalabit heiress is recognised by the size 
and weight of her head-gear, as these beads are very old 
and valuable. 
The men’s clothing is scantier still, consisting of a 
loin cloth and a coat made out of deer or bear skin, 
which also serves as a war-coat in case of attack. The 
men chiefly employ themselves in felling jungle for hill 
farming, in the chase, working rubber and, if possible, in 
taking a head; all the rest of the work in the field and 
house is done by the women-folk. They are great 
drunkards, and on the march we passed several large 
stones standing up by the side of the path, and on 
inquiry were informed that • they were to denote that 
some chief had had a big “irop” or drunk there. They 
sit down to a number of jars of rice beer and go on 
drinking day and night until they are finished. The 
extraordinary thing is that the race does not deteriorate, 
as they are fine big strapping men, and the women 
are very strong. I was very much struck with the 
