ve, to kill the first person
of any tribe not his own whom he meets, which is, of course, considered
so high a compliment to the lady, that she rarely after that refuses
him. The man then makes presents to the parents of the bride, and gives
a feast to his tribe, which lasts several days. A curious ceremony is
observed on these occasions. A mixture is made of saffron, a little
gold dust, and fowl's blood, which is smeared over the chest, forehead,
and hands. The gentleman and lady each must take a fowl, and passing it
seven times across the chest, kill it. A small string of beads being
attached to the right wrist of either party, the ceremony is complete.
They believe that there is a good spirit called Tupa, who resides in the
clouds; but they do not pray or sacrifice to him. They bury their dead
with various articles he possesses, such as his spear, clothes, rice
_ciri betel_, and the first head he gained in his youth. Some tribes
burn their dead with their valuables. I must observe that the customs
of the various tribes differ considerably. They believe that the
spirits of the dead go to Labyan, a region under the earth, but not a
place of punishment. From the accounts I have given, it will be seen
that the aboriginal inhabitants of Borneo are a very singular people;
and I hope that my readers will make themselves further acquainted with
their habits and customs.

I now continue my history. As Eva had nothing to do, and no books to
amuse her, she found the time, when I was absent, hang very heavily on
her hands. The village was situated at the source of a river, which was
navigable, for canoes, a very short distance from it. Near the river
was a forest where I used to spend much of my time with Blount in search
of game. He had an old fowling-piece which he had saved from the wreck,
and he was able to purchase gunpowder from the Bugi traders who came to
the mouth of the river. I was one day in the forest, Blount being at
some distance from me, when I was startled by hearing a rustling in the
leaves near me. I turned, holding a spear I always carried ready for
defence, besides a thick club, expecting to see some wild animal. The
leaves parted, and sure enough there appeared the face of a monkey
grinning among them.

"What are you prying here for, old gentleman?" I exclaimed, expecting
to see him run away; but instead of that, what was my surprise to find
that he sat observing me with the greatest grav