Seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo; a ... - Sabrizain.org

MY SCHOOL IN THE JUNGLE 109
On Saturdays there was no school. The boys did their
washing on that day, and often went into the jungle for
firewood, but they had most of the day for play.
The children were taught to read and write Dyak, and a
little arithmetic. They were also taught the elements of
the Christian religion. They were always encouraged to
ask the schoolmaster or myself any questions they liked.
I have learned from conversations I had with my boys
what were the special points in Christianity that needed
explanation to Dyaks. Living with me as they did, I got
to know my boys very well, and through them I learnt
to know their parents and friends. They did not have
many lessons to learn ;
and work. It
there was plenty of time for play
was not so much what they learnt from
books that did the boys good, as their being separated for
a time from the customs and superstitions of the Dyaks.
We have had many instances of families becoming
Christian through some children of theirs coming to
school.
Most of the boys in the school were Christians, but all,
whether Christians or not, attended the services and were
taught about God. Some of the bigger heathen boys,
after being in the school some time, have asked to be
baptized.
The following schoolboy reminiscences
terest to my
may be of in-
readers :—
When I was visiting the different villages in the
Saribas River and teaching the people in the evening in
the public hall of the Dyak house, very often some boys
would say they would like to join my school. Then I
would speak to their parents, and if they agreed to it these
boys would go back with me on my return to the Mission
House and attend my school.