eads.
On their arms were numbers of rings made of brass or white shells, while
over their shoulders hung their long black shiny hair, which set off to
advantage their pure brown skin. Some of them held knife-headed spears
in their hands, while to a belt round the waist hung a long slender
knife and a pouch with materials for betel-chewing. One man, who seemed
to be the chief, wore on his head a bunch of large gaily-coloured
feathers secured by a circle round it. They were mostly
pleasant-looking people, and seemed ready to welcome us as we
approached. The women had far more covering than the men. Round the
waist they wore coils of ratan, stained red, to which their petticoats
were attached. Below it one whom we took to be a chief's wife wore a
girdle of small silver coins. Others had additional ornaments of
brass-wire, but most of them wore a large number of brass rings round
not only their arms, but their legs, from the knee to the ankle, while
curiously shaped hats adorned with beads ornamented their heads.
Altogether they were far superior in appearance to the savages I had
expected to see in these regions, and I had little doubt that we had
arrived at the mainland of Borneo, and that they were a tribe of Dyaks.

We made signs that we were very thirsty, pointing to our lips, and the
chief, coming forward, beckoned us to ascend the ladder. This I did
first, Ali following with not so much confidence behind me. He was at
once perceived to be a Malay, and he must have known that his countrymen
are apt to ill-treat the Dyaks, and consequently he could scarcely have
expected to be received by them as a friend. From the looks of the
people, however, I had no fears of them, especially when one of the
girls, running off, brought back a large bamboo full of cool water. Oh,
how delicious it was! the first which had passed my lips for many days.
I handed it to Ali, whom they did not seem to treat so courteously as
they did me. When I signified that I should be glad of more, instantly
a fresh supply was brought me. The chief now addressed Ali, who, I
found, fully understood their language, and he seemed to be giving an
account of the cause which had brought us to their country. The chief
appeared satisfied; and now giving orders to some of the women, a basket
containing some pork and rice and some fine-looking bananas was brought
to us. I felt no great inclination to eat the pork and rice, for my
throat was hot and