HISTORY OF MADAGASCAR. 
191 
gascar was, at least in part, peopled from the same source 
as that from which most of the islands of the Malayan 
archipelago derived their inhabitants. 
This similarity, particularly in the ratification of the 
friendship by the parties drinking each other’s blood, is 
strikingly exemplified in the subjoined account, furnished 
by the Rev. W. Medhurst, a Missionary of the London 
Missionary Society, who has resided many years in Java, 
in describing a late visit made by his assistant, and a Mis¬ 
sionary from the Rhenish Missionary Society, to the Dayaks 
in Borneo.* 
* After speaking of the attention paid by the chiefs and people at a vil¬ 
lage called Gohong, Mr. Medhurst continues “ They wished, therefore, 
to establish a fraternal agreement with the Missionaries, on condition that 
the latter should teach them the ways of God. The travellers replied, 
that if the Dayaks became the disciples of Christ, they would be consti¬ 
tuted the brethren of Christians without any formal compact. The Dayaks, 
however, insisted that the travellers should enter into a compact, according 
to the custom of the country, by means of blood. The Missionaries were 
startled at this, thinking that the Dayaks meant to murder them, and com¬ 
mitted themselves to their heavenly Father, praying that, whether living or 
dying, they might lie at the feet of their Saviour. It appears, however, that 
it is the custom of the Dayaks, when they enter into a covenant, to draw a 
little blood from the arms of the covenanting parties, and, having mixed it 
with water, each to drink, in this way, the blood of the other. Mr. Baren- 
stein having consented to the ceremony, they all took off their coats, and 
two officers came forward with small knives, to take a little blood out of the 
arm of each of them; this being mixed together in four glasses of water, 
they drank severally each from the glass of the other, after which they 
joined hands and kissed: the people then came forward, and made obeisance 
to the Missionaries, as the friends of the Dayak kings, crying out with loud 
voices, ‘ Let us be friends and brethren for ever, and may God help the 
Dayaks to obtain the knowledge of God from the Missionaries ! The two 
chiefs then said, ‘ Brethren, be not afraid to dwell with us, for we will do 
you no harm ; and if others wish to hurt you, we will defend you with our 
life’s blood, and die ourselves ere you be slain. God be witness, and this 
whole assembly be witness, that this is true/ Whereupon the whole com¬ 
pany shouted, Balaak ! or ‘ good/ 4 be it so. ’ After the ceremony was over, 
the travellers bade them farewell, and, going on board their prow, returned 
to Benjarmasin, accompanied by the chiefs and people shouting and cheering 
as they went.” 
