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

34 THE DYAKS
excellent boat-builders. Their speech is somewhat similar
to that of the Kayans, and many
alike.
of their customs are
The Kayans and Kinyehs, who may be classed together,
are a numerous race inhabiting the upper waters of the
Baram and Rejang Rivers. In many ways they seem to
be a more advanced race than the Sea Dyaks. They
build better houses, and are more expert in the manu-
facture of weapons, being able to extract their iron from
the native ore. Their moral character, however,
is vin-
dictive and cruel, and they are lacking in that spirit of
hospitality which is such a great feature of the Sea Dyak
character. A few years ago a party of Dyak guttapercha
collectors were attacked by the Punans, and many
of them killed. Four young Dyaks managed to escape,
and after wandering for many days in the jungle, arrived
destitute and starving at a Kayan house, and asked for
food and shelter. The treatment they received was
horrible in the extreme. The Kayans bound the young
men, and after breaking their arms and legs, handed them
over to the women, who slowly despatched them by
hacking them to pieces with little knives.
The Muruts inhabit the Limbang and Trusan Rivers.
Their language and customs differ entirely from those of
the Sea Dyaks.
The
Malay
Ukits, BuMtans (name probably derived from
bukit, " a hill "), and Punans are races which
inhabit the far interior, and lead a wandering life in the
Kayan country. They do not build houses, but only
make temporary shelters for themselves between the
buttresses of large forest trees. They live by hunting,
and are expert in the use of the sumpit, or blow-pipe.
The Seru are a small and fast dying out race. There