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

SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS 223
music is in different time, the music for the War Dance
being quicker than that for the Sword Dance.
favourite amusement of the
Cock-fighting is a very
Dyaks, and is indulged in to a great extent at all their
feasts. In fact, one of the preparations for a feast is for
the inmates of the house to go round to their friends and
beg for as many fighting-cocks as they can. The cocks
have artificial steel spurs, which are very sharp.
Spinning tops is a favourite amusement, not only of the
children, but also of grown-up men. They generally
divide themselves into two sides. One side spin their
tops, and the other party, standing at a given distance,
aim at the spinning tops with their tops. Great skill is
shown in the manner in which a man often hits a top,
driving it far away, and leaves his top spinning
in its
place.
The Dyaks are very much at home on the water, and
a favourite amusement of the Dyaks at Banting was to
''
ride the tidal bore." During the spring-tides, when
there was a tidal bore, they would paddle down the river
some distance, and wait for the turn of the tide. When
the bore came, they would get just in front of it, and the
great wave would send the boats up-river at a good pace
without any paddling on their part. Of course, a great
many boats were often swamped, but that only added to
the fun. When I was stationed at Banting, the school-
boys often asked to be allowed to " ride the bore."
The Sea Dyaks seem to acquire naturally the art of
swimming. They are taken to the water regularly from
infancy, and dipped and floated on the water, and at an
early age they are able to swim. They swim hand over
hand. They never take " a header " in diving, but jump
in feet foremost.