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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
With the establishment of Rajah Brooke’s government in Sarawak, the different races of its native population gradually became known to English people, and at length the Dyakland of Borneo has found a definite place and shape in the English mind, much as the Zululand of Africa has done. The Sea Dyak soon appeared in print; travellers mentioned him, sometimes only as a simple savage; men who have spent some time in the country, like the late Sir Hugh Low and the late Sir Spenser St. John, describe
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AUTHOR’S NOTE
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I wish to express my thanks to Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke, M.P., for the preface which he has kindly contributed to this volume, and for allowing me to reproduce my translations of Sea Dyak legends which appeared in the Empire Review ; to Bishop Hose, under whom I worked for seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Sarawak, for allowing me to use his excellent article on “The Contents of a Dyak Medicine-chest”; to the Rev. John Perham, formerly Archdeacon of Singapore, with whom I worked in Sarawak
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CHAPTER I SARAWAK—SIR JAMES BROOKE
CHAPTER I SARAWAK—SIR JAMES BROOKE
Bornean jungles—A picture from the past—Unsettled life—Sudden attacks—Head-hunting—Pirates—Malay pirates—Dyak pirates—Sir James Brooke—The Royalist —Rajah Muda Hassim—Rajah of Sarawak—Suppression of piracy and head-hunting—Captain Keppel—Visit to England, 1847—Introduction of Christian mission—Sir Charles Brooke. The Bornean jungles are immense tracts of country covered by gigantic trees, in the midst of which are mountains clothed in evergreen foliage, their barren cliffs buried beneath a netwo
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CHAPTER II THE DYAKS
CHAPTER II THE DYAKS
The word “Dyak”—Other native races in Sarawak— Milanaus — Kayans — Kinyehs —Cruelty— Ukits — Bukitans — Punans — Seru —Sea Dyaks—Land Dyaks—The appearance of the Sea Dyak—Men’s dress—Tattooing—Women’s dress- Rawai , or corset—The teeth—Depilation—Language. The derivation of the word “Dyak” is uncertain. Some think it is derived from daya , which in the Brunei Malay dialect means “inland,” “interior.” Others derive it from the Land Dyak word daya , which means “a man.” Whatever may be the derivat
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CHAPTER III MANNER OF LIFE
CHAPTER III MANNER OF LIFE
Dyak village house— Tanju — Ruai — Bilik — Sadau —Human heads—Valuable jars—Paddy-planting—Men’s work—Women’s work—House-building—Boat-building— Kadjangs —Dyak tools— Bliong — Duku —Weaving—Plaiting mats and basket-making—Hunting—Traps—Fishing—Spoon-bait—Casting-net— Tuba -fishing—Crocodile-catching. Among the Dyaks a whole village, consisting of some twenty or thirty families, or even more, live together under one roof. This village house is built on piles made of hard wood, which raise the flo
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CHAPTER IV THE DYAK CHARACTER
CHAPTER IV THE DYAK CHARACTER
General remarks—Kind to children—Industrious—Frugal—Honest—Two cases of theft—Curses—Honesty of children—Truthful—Curious custom— Tugong Bula —Hospitable—Morals—Desire for children—Divorce—Adultery—Dyak law concerning adultery—Dyak view of marriage—Unselfishness—Domestic affection—Example. The Dyaks are seen at their best in their own jungle homes, in the midst of their natural surroundings. The man who has only met the hangers-on of the towns has little idea of their true character. To one who
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CHAPTER V HEAD-HUNTING
CHAPTER V HEAD-HUNTING
Head-hunting—Women an incentive—Gruesome story—Marriage of Dyak Chiefs—Legend—Some customs necessitating a human head—A successful head-hunter not necessarily a hero—A dastardly crime—War expeditions—The spear token—My experience at a village in Krian—Dyak war-costume—Weapons—The Sumpit —Poison for darts—Consulting omen birds—War-boats—Camping—War Council—Defences—War alarm—Ambushes—Decapitation and treatment of head—Return from a successful expedition—Women dancing—Two Christian Dyak Chiefs—The
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CHAPTER VI SOCIAL LIFE
CHAPTER VI SOCIAL LIFE
Social position of the women—Dyak food—Meals—Cooking food in bamboo—Law with regard to leaving a Dyak house—Rule of the headman—A Dyak trial—Power of the headman in old days—Dyak wealth—Valuable jars— Gusi — Naga — Rusa —A convenient dream—Trading incident at Sebetan—Land tenure—Laws about fruit-trees—Slavery—Captives in war—Slaves for debt. The Dyak woman does not hold, as in most Eastern countries, an inferior and humiliating position. As has already been stated, the women do no more than a fa
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CHAPTER VII CHILD-BIRTH AND CHILDREN
CHAPTER VII CHILD-BIRTH AND CHILDREN
The Couvade among the Dyaks—Harm to the child—Ways of evading these restrictions—Punishment for violating these restrictions—A Christian woman’s ideas on the subject—Witch doctors and their methods—The waving of a fowl—Treatment of the mother and child—Infanticide—Bathing the child—Ceremony for insuring happiness to the child—Naming the child—Change of name—Children—Toys—Smallness of families—Reason. As the Sea Dyaks look upon child-birth as a very ordinary event, there are not many ceremonies c
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CHAPTER VIII MY SCHOOL IN THE JUNGLE
CHAPTER VIII MY SCHOOL IN THE JUNGLE
Up-country mission schools—Education—The Saribas Dyaks eager to learn—School programme—What the boys were taught—Some schoolboy reminiscences—A youthful Dyak manang —The story of Buda—The opening of the Krian Mission and the Saribas Mission. In this chapter I want to say something about the little school of Dyak boys I had in the up-country mission station in my charge. My school was a very small one. The largest number of boarders I ever had was sixteen. It would seem hardly necessary to devote
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CHAPTER IX MARRIAGE
CHAPTER IX MARRIAGE
Courtship—Discussion where the married couple are to live—The fetching of the bride—The wedding ceremony— Mlah Pinang —Visit of bride to her mother-in-law—Bride’s dress—Bridegroom—Old bachelors among the Dyaks—Age of marriage—Monogamy—Prohibitive degrees—Dyak view of marriage—Conjugal affection—Mischief-making mothers-in-law—Separation and reconciliation—Divorce—Adultery. The mode of courtship among the Dyaks is peculiar. No courting goes on by day, but at night, when all is quiet, a young lover
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CHAPTER X BURIAL RITES
CHAPTER X BURIAL RITES
Life beyond the grave—Wailings—Rice strewn on the dead man’s chest—The professional wailer—Feeding the dead—Carrying the dead—The grave—Articles buried with the dead— Baiya —Fire lit at sunset—The ulit , or mourning— Pana , or offering to the dead—The wailer’s song— Sumping —Periodical Sabak —Feast in honour of the dead— Gawai Antu —The dead not forgotten—Other methods of disposing of the dead besides burial—Dyak ideas of a future life. Death for the Dyak does not mean the end of all. He has a b
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CHAPTER XI TRAVELLING IN SARAWAK
CHAPTER XI TRAVELLING IN SARAWAK
Travelling by boat—Paddles v. oars—Dangers—Tidal bores—Sandbanks— Langan —Up-river travelling—Poling—Camping out at night—Travelling on foot—Jungle paths—Scenery—Wild animals—The Orang-utan —Vegetation. Most of the Sea Dyaks live on the banks of the rivers, so that travelling is usually done by boat. The lower reaches of the river have very swift tides, against which it is impossible to row or paddle; so, when travelling up-river, the flood-tide is taken advantage of, and the boat either anchors
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CHAPTER XII OMENS AND DREAMS
CHAPTER XII OMENS AND DREAMS
Seven omen birds—Other omen animals—Omens sought before beginning rice-farming—House-building omens—Substitutions for omens—Good and bad omens in farming—A dead animal—Means of avoiding bad effects—Omens obeyed at all times—Bird flying through a house—A drop of blood—Killing an omen bird or insect—Origin of the system of omens—Augury—Dreams. The Dyak is conscious of his ignorance of the natural laws which govern the world in which he lives. He longs for some guidance in his precarious farming, i
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CHAPTER XIII THE “MANANG,” OR WITCH-DOCTOR
CHAPTER XIII THE “MANANG,” OR WITCH-DOCTOR
Manangs supposed to possess mysterious powers over evil spirits—Dyak theory of disease—Treatment of disease— Lupong , or box of charms— Batu Ilau — Manang performances— Pagar Api —Catching the soul—Sixteen different manang ceremonies—Killing the demon Buyu — Saut —Salampandai—Deceit of manangs —Story of a schoolboy—Smallpox and cholera—Three ceremonies of initiation—Different ranks of manangs . Among the lower races of mankind there is always to be found the witch-doctor, who claims to have myst
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CHAPTER XIV NATIVE REMEDIES AND DYAK CHARMS
CHAPTER XIV NATIVE REMEDIES AND DYAK CHARMS
Native remedies—Cupping—Charms—A Dyak medicine-chest—Smallpox and cholera—My experience at Temudok. As has already been shown in the preceding chapter, the Dyak looks to the manang , or witch-doctor, to help him in all cases of illness. All sickness is caused by some evil spirit, and the manang alone has power over these unseen enemies, and he uses incantations to appease or frighten these demons away. But though in all cases of serious illness the manang is called in, yet the treatment of every
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CHAPTER XV DYAK RELIGION
CHAPTER XV DYAK RELIGION
Certain religious observances— Petara , or gods—Singalang Burong, the god of war—Pulang Gana, the god of the soil—Salampandai, the maker of men— Mali , or taboo—Spirits—Girgasi, the chief of evil spirits—The dogs of the spirits—Stories—Customs connected with the belief in spirits—Sacrifices— Piring and ginselan —The victim of the sacrifice generally eaten, but not always—Material benefits expected by the Dyaks by their religious ceremonies— Nampok , a means of communicating with spirits— Batu ku
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CHAPTER XVI DYAK FEASTS
CHAPTER XVI DYAK FEASTS
Four classes of feasts—Preparations—Feasts connected with: 1, Head-taking; 2, Farming; 3, The dead; 4, Dreams, etc.—House-warming—Social feasts. The Dyak religious feasts may be divided into the four following classes: Those connected with— Though the Dyak feasts differ in their aims, there is a great deal which seems to be common to them all. The social character of all these feasts seems to be of more importance than the religious aspect, and the feasting of the guests has more consideration t
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CHAPTER XVII SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS
CHAPTER XVII SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS
Dyak games—Football—War Dance—Sword Dance—Dyak music—Cock-fighting—Tops—“Riding the tidal bore”—Swimming—Trials of strength. At certain times of the year the Dyaks are very busy at their farms, and go to work early in the morning, and do not return till late at night. But they have their slack times, when there is not so much work to be done, and then they have plenty of opportunity to indulge in games. They do not seem to have a large variety of pastimes. The following are those most popular am
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CHAPTER XVIII SONG AND MUSIC
CHAPTER XVIII SONG AND MUSIC
Love of music—Love songs—Boat songs—War songs—Incantations at Dyak feasts—The song of mourning—Musical instruments. The Dyaks are very fond of singing, and it is no unusual thing to hear some solitary boatman singing as he paddles along. Weird beyond words, and yet possessing a quaint rhythm, are most of the songs of the Dyak. They give vent to their feelings in their own way, which is very different from ours, but their plaintive songs are not unpleasant, and show a certain amount of poetical f
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CHAPTER XIX THE DYAK ABROAD
CHAPTER XIX THE DYAK ABROAD
Love of travel—“The innocents abroad”—Gutta-hunting—Collecting canes—Hunting for edible birds’-nests—Camphor-working. The Dyak is fond of travel, and, like other people, loves to visit foreign countries and to return and relate his adventures to his stay-at-home friends. He is always at home in the jungle, and in whatever country he may be collecting jungle produce, he is in his element. But this is by no means the case when he is in any foreign town. I have sometimes seen Dyaks in Singapore wal
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CHAPTER XX SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
CHAPTER XX SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCES
The itinerant missionary—Visit to a Dyak house—Reception—Cooking—Servants—The meal—Teaching the Dyaks—Christians—Services—Prayer-houses—Offertory—Reception of the missionary—Dangers of sea travelling during the north-east monsoon—My boat swamped—In the jungle—Losing my way—A Dyak’s experience. As the long Dyak village houses are often built at great distances from each other, the missionary who wishes to do effective work among the Dyaks must travel from house to house. Only by visiting distant
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The Story of the Mouse-Deer and other Animals who went out Fishing.
The Story of the Mouse-Deer and other Animals who went out Fishing.
Once upon a time the Mouse-Deer, accompanied by many other animals, went on a fishing expedition. All day long they fished, and in the evening returned to the little hut that they had put up by the river-side, salted the fish that they had caught, and stored it up in their jars. They noticed that somehow or other their fish disappeared day by day, and the animals held a council to decide what it was best to do. After some discussion the Deer said he would stay behind while the others went out to
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The Story of the Mouse-Deer, the Deer and the Pig.
The Story of the Mouse-Deer, the Deer and the Pig.
A Mouse-Deer wandering in the jungle fell into a pit. He could not get out, so he waited patiently for some passer-by. Presently a Pig passed by the mouth of the pit. The Mouse-Deer called out to him, and he looked in and asked the Mouse-Deer what he was doing there. “Don’t you know what is going to happen? The sky is going to fall down, and everybody will be crushed to dust unless he takes shelter in a pit. If you want to save your life you had better jump in.” The Pig jumped into the pit, and
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Sea Dyak Proverbs.
Sea Dyak Proverbs.
King Solomon, we are told, “spake three thousand proverbs,” and many of these, as well as proverbs of an older date, have been handed down to us in a more or less authentic form. A translation of them into English is to be found in a well-known book. King Solomon was perhaps the first to make a collection of proverbs, but long before his time proverbs were in common use. It would seem that in every age and in every clime the existence of language is accompanied by the existence of proverbs. The
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I. Danjai and the Were-Tiger’s Sister.
I. Danjai and the Were-Tiger’s Sister.
Once upon a time there lived a great Chief named Danjai. He was the head of one of the longest Dyak houses that were ever built. It was situated on a hill in the midst of a large plantation of fruit trees. Danjai was said to be very rich indeed. He possessed much farming land, many fruit trees, many tapang trees, where the wild bees made their abode, and from which the sweet honey is obtained, and in his room there were many valuable jars of various kinds, and also a large number of brass vessel
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II. The Story of Siu, who first Taught the Dyaks to Plant Paddy and to Observe the Omens of Birds.
II. The Story of Siu, who first Taught the Dyaks to Plant Paddy and to Observe the Omens of Birds.
Many thousands of years ago, before the paddy-plant was known, the Dyaks lived on tapioca, yams, potatoes, and such fruit as they could procure. It was not till Siu taught them how to plant paddy that such a thing as rice was known. The story of how he came to learn of the existence of this important article of food, and how he and his son Seragunting introduced it among their people, is set forth in the following pages. Siu was the son of a great Dyak Chief. His father died when he was quite a
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III. Pulang-Gana, and how He came to be Worshipped as the God of the Earth.
III. Pulang-Gana, and how He came to be Worshipped as the God of the Earth.
Long, long ago, though the Dyaks knew of paddy, and planted it every year, yet they had very poor crops, because they did not know what god owned the land, and as they did not offer him sacrifices he did nothing to help them. In those days there lived together seven brothers and their only sister. The brothers’ names were Bui-Nasi, Belang-Pinggang, Bejit-Manai, Bunga-Jawa, Litan-Dai, Kenyawang, and Pulang-Gana, and the sister’s Puchong-Kempat. They lived on a hill by the side of a broad river. O
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CHAPTER XXIII SOME CURIOUS CUSTOMS
CHAPTER XXIII SOME CURIOUS CUSTOMS
Trial by ordeal—Diving contests—A diving contest in Krian—A Dyak superstition—Names—Fruit found by the pathway—Circumcision—Fishing and hunting superstition—Madness—Leprosy—Time—Form of greeting. The practice of referring disputed questions to supernatural decision is not unknown to the Dyaks. They have the trial by ordeal, and believe that the gods are sure to help the innocent and punish the guilty. I have heard of several different methods, which are seldom resorted to nowadays. The only orde
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CHAPTER XXIV THE FUTURE OF THE SEA DYAK IN SARAWAK
CHAPTER XXIV THE FUTURE OF THE SEA DYAK IN SARAWAK
The Sea Dyak—Work—Bad times—Cheerfulness—The view from within—The Sea Dyak’s future—Mission work among them—Government—Development in the immediate future. There are occasions when one who has lived among a people like the Dyaks, and has learnt to know and to love them, looks forward into the coming years and tries to picture what is in store for them. Those who have read the preceding pages will be able to form some idea of the Dyaks as they are, and know their manner of life, and to a certain
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B
B
Baiya , goods put aside upon the owner’s death and placed upon or within his grave. Banghong , a Dyak boat. Baru , a tree with fibrous bark. Batu , a stone. Batu bintang , “star stone.” Batu ilau , “stone of light.” Batu krang jiranau , the petrified section of jiranau (Zingeberad?). Batu krat ikan sembilan , the petrified section of the sembilan fish. Batu kudi , “stones of wrath.” Batu lintar , thunderbolt. Batu nitar , thunderbolt. Bebaju besi , “wearing an iron coat.” Name of a manang ceremo
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D
D
Dandong , a shawl; a sarong , or long skirt. Duku , a chopper; a sword. Durian , a fruit very much liked by the Dyaks....
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E
E
Embuas , name of an omen bird. Endun , a term of endearment applied to girls. Engkratong , a musical instrument resembling a guitar. Engkrumong , a set of eight small brass gongs, each sounding a different note, arranged in a frame. Engkrurai , a musical instrument made of bamboo tubes fixed in a gourd. Ensera , a fairy tale. Ensuling , a flageolet....
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G
G
Galanggang , a game, not unlike prisoner’s base, played by the Dyaks. Gawai Antu , the “Spirit Feast”; feast in honour of the dead. Gawai Batu , the “Stone Feast,” held before farming operations begin. Gawai Benih , the “Seed Feast,” held just before sowing the seed. Gawai Burong , the “Bird Feast,” held in honour of human heads taken in war. Gawai Gajah , the “Elephant Feast”; the greatest of all feasts connected with head-hunting. Gawai Ijok , the “ Ijok Feast.” The ijok is the gamuti palm fro
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I
I
Igat , a term of endearment applied to boys. Ilang , a curiously carved sword. Ipoh , a tree ( Antiaris toxicaria ) the sap of which is poisonous, and used to poison the darts of the blow-pipe....
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J
J
Jadi rumah? “Is the house free from taboo?”— i.e. , May we walk up into the house? The usual question asked before entering a Dyak house. Jala , a casting-net....
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K
K
Kabayah , a long jacket worn by Malay women. Kadjang , a covering made of the young leaves of the nipa palm, etc., sewn together with split cane. This is used as awnings for boats, or for the roof of temporary huts. Kain , a woman’s petticoat. Kana , a fairy tale set to verse and sung. Kapu , lime. Kasih ka imbok enda kasih ka manok , “To show kindness to the wild pigeon, but not to the domestic fowl” (Dyak proverb). Kati , 1¼ pounds. Katupong , an omen bird. Kini ka nuan? “Where are you going?”
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L
L
Labong , a headkerchief. Langan , waves in tidal rivers which are caused at flood-tide by the strong current rushing over the shallows. Lantai , bamboo, or palms, etc., split into laths, and tied together for the flooring of a house, or to sit upon in boats. Lari ka ribut nemu ujan, lari ka sungkup nemu pendam , “Running from the hurricane, he encounters the rain; running from a tombstone, he finds himself in a graveyard” (Dyak proverb). Lesong , a wooden mortar used for pounding rice, etc. Limb
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M
M
Maias , the orang-utan ( Simia satyrus ). Makai di ruai , literally “eating in the public hall of a Dyak house.” Name of a social feast. Makai rami , literally “eating joyfully in large numbers.” Name of a social feast. Mali , forbidden; tabooed. Manang , a witch-doctor. Manang bali , a witch-doctor who has changed his sex and become a woman. Manang bangun , a witch-doctor who has been “waved upon”— i.e. , who has been through the “waving upon” ceremony. Manang enjun , a witch-doctor who has bee
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N
N
Naga , a dragon. A valuable old jar with the figure of a dragon on it. Nampok , to spend the night at a solitary place in order to obtain some charms from the spirits. Nemuai ka Sabayan , “making a journey to Hades.” Name of a manang ceremony. Nendak , an omen bird. Ngelembayan , “taking a long sight.” Name of a manang ceremony. Nibong , a thorny palm ( Oncosperma tigillaria ). Nipa , a palm which grows by the sea and at the mouths of rivers ( Nipa fructicans )....
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P
P
Padi , rice in the husk. Pagar api , literally “a fence of fire.” A spear fixed blade upwards, with leaves tied to it, round which the manangs walk when taking part in their ceremonies. Pana , an offering of food given to the dead by the friends of those who are in mourning. Pandong , a kind of altar erected in different parts of the veranda of the Dyak house during the Bird Feast. Papau , an omen bird. Para piring , the altar of sacrifice. Pelampong , a wooden float, generally cut in the form o
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R
R
Rawai , a Dyak woman’s corset, made of tiny brass rings strung close together on hoops of cane. Rarong , a coffin. Remaung di rumah rawong di tanah , “A tiger in the house, but a frog in the field” (Dyak proverb). Rotan , cane; rattan. Ruai , the public veranda of a Dyak house. Rusa , a deer. A valuable old jar with the figure of a deer on it....
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S
S
Sabayan , Hades. Sadau , the loft of a Dyak house. Sakit Rajah , “the disease caused by the King (of evil spirits)”—smallpox. Sarong , a long petticoat worn by Malay men and women. Saut , the name of a manang ceremony. Serumai , a one-stringed fiddle. Sirat , a waist-cloth; the usual male attire of the Dyak. Sireh , a vine of the pepper tribe; its leaves are chewed with lime, gambier, and betel-nut. Sumping , a Dyak observance held after the death of relatives. Sumpit , a blow-pipe....
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T
T
Tabak , a brass dish. Tajau , a valuable jar. Tanju , the uncovered veranda of a Dyak house, where paddy and other things are put out to dry in the sun. Tawak , a large brass gong. Tendai , the bar on which cotton is placed in weaving. Tenyalang , the rhinoceros hornbill ( Buceros rhinoceros ). Tikai buret , a seat-mat. Timang , to sing to in a monotonous manner. Tuai rumah , the headman or chief of a Dyak house. Tuak , native spirit. Tuan , gentleman; master; sir. The term of respect usually ap
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