EarlyintheafternoonwearrivedatTabókan,thefirstvillageoftheHillDyaks。Onanopenspaceneartheriver,abouttwentyboyswereplayingatagamesomethinglikewhatwecall"prisoner'sbase;"theirornamentsofbeadsandbrasswireandtheirgay-colouredkerchiefsandwaist-clothsshowingtomuchadvantage,andformingaverypleasingsight。OnbeingcalledbyBujon,theyimmediatelylefttheirgametocarrymythingsuptothe"headhouse,"——acircularbuildingattachedtomostDyakvillages,andservingasalodgingforstrangers,theplacefortrade,thesleeping-roomoftheunmarriedyouths,andthegeneralcouncil-chamber。Itiselevatedonloftyposts,hasalargefireplaceinthemiddleandwindowsintheroofallround,andformsaverypleasantandcomfortableabode。Intheeveningitwascrowdedwithyoungmenandboys,whocametolookatme。Theyweremostlyfineyoungfellows,andIcouldnothelpadmiringthesimplicityandeleganceoftheircostume。Theironlydressisthelong"chawat,"orwaist-cloth,whichhangsdownbeforeandbehind。Itisgenerallyofbluecotton,endinginthreebroadbandsofred,blue,andwhite。Thosewhocanafforditwearahandkerchiefonthehead,whichiseitherred,withanarrowborderofgoldlace,orofthreecolours,likethe"chawat。"Thelargeflatmoon-shapedbrassearrings,theheavynecklaceofwhiteorblackbeads,rowsofbrassringsonthearmsandlegs,andarmletsofwhiteshell,allservetorelieveandsetoffthepurereddishbrownskinandjet-blackhair。Addtothisthelittlepouchcontainingmaterialsforbetel-chewing,andalongslenderknife,bothinvariablywornattheside,andyouhavetheeverydaydressoftheyoungDyakgentleman。
The"OrangKaya,"orrichman,asthechiefofthetribeiscalled,nowcameinwithseveraloftheoldermen;andthe"bitchara"ortalkcommenced,aboutgettingaboatandmentotakemeonthenextmorning。AsIcouldnotunderstandawordoftheirlanguage,whichisverydifferentfromMalay,Itooknopartintheproceedings,butwasrepresentedbymyboyBujon,whotranslatedtomemostofwhatwassaid。AChinesetraderwasinthehouse,andhe,too,wantedmenthenextday;butonhishintingthistotheOrangKaya,hewassternlytoldthatawhiteman'sbusinesswasnowbeingdiscussed,andhemustwaitanotherdaybeforehiscouldbethoughtabout。
Afterthe"bitchara"wasoverandtheoldchiefsgone,Iaskedtheyoungmentoplayordance,oramusethemselvesintheiraccustomedway;andaftersomelittlehesitationtheyagreedtodoso。Theyfirsthadatrialofstrength,twoboyssittingoppositeeachother,footbeingplacedagainstfoot,andastoutstickgraspedbyboththeirhands。Eachthentriedtothrowhimselfback,soastoraisehisadversaryupfromtheground,eitherbymainstrengthorbyasuddeneffort。Thenoneofthemenwouldtryhisstrengthagainsttwoorthreeoftheboys;andafterwardstheyeachgraspedtheirownanklewithahand,andwhileonestoodasfirmashecould,theotherswunghimselfaroundononeleg,soastostriketheother'sfreeleg,andtrytooverthrowhim。Whenthesegameshadbeenplayedallaroundwithvaryingsuccess,wehadanovelkindofconcert。Someplacedalegacrosstheknee,andstruckthefingerssharplyontheankle,othersbeattheirarmsagainsttheirsideslikeacockwhenheisgoingtocrow,thismakingagreatvarietyofclappingsounds,whileanotherwithhishandunderhisarmpitproducedadeeptrumpetnote;and,astheyallkepttimeverywell,theeffectwasbynomeansunpleasing。Thisseemedquiteafavouriteamusementwiththem,andtheykeptitupwithmuchspirit。
Thenextmorningwestartedinaboataboutthirtyfeetlong,andonlytwenty-eightincheswide。Thestreamheresuddenlychangesitscharacter。Hitherto,thoughswift,ithadbeendeepandsmooth,andconfinedbysteepbanks。Nowitrushedandrippledoverapebbly,sandy,orrockybed,occasionallyformingminiaturecascadesandrapids,andthrowingupononesideortheotherbroadbanksoffinelycolouredpebbles。Nopaddlingcouldmakewayhere,buttheDyakswithbamboopolespropelledusalongwithgreatdexterityandswiftness,neverlosingtheirbalanceinsuchanarrowandunsteadyvessel,thoughstandingupandexertingalltheirforce。Itwasabrilliantday,andthecheerfulexertionsofthemen,therushingofthesparklingwaters,withthebrightandvariedfoliage,whichfromeitherbankstretchedoverourheads,producedanexhilaratingsensationwhichrecalledmycanoevoyagesonthegranderwatersofSouthAmerica。
EarlyintheafternoonwereachedthevillageofBorotói,and,thoughitwouldhavebeeneasytoreachthenextonebeforenight,Iwasobligedtostay,asmymenwantedtoreturnandotherscouldnotpossiblygoonwithmewithoutthepreliminarytalking。Besides,awhitemanwastoogreatararitytobeallowedtoescapethem,andtheirwiveswouldneverhaveforgiventhemif,whentheyreturnedfromthefields,theyfoundthatsuchacuriosityhadnotbeenkeptforthemtosee。OnenteringthehousetowhichIwasinvited,acrowdofsixtyorseventymen,women,andchildrengatheredaroundme,andIsatforhalfanhourlikesomestrangeanimalsubmittedforthefirsttimetothegazeofaninquiringpublic。Brassringswerehereinthegreatestprofusion,manyofthewomenhavingtheirarmscompletelycoveredwiththem,aswellastheirlegsfromtheankletotheknee。
Roundthewaisttheywearadozenormorecoilsoffinerattanstainedred,towhichthepetticoatisattached。Belowthisaregenerallyanumberofcoilsofbrasswire,agirdleofsmallsilvercoins,andsometimesabroadbeltofbrassringarmour。Ontheirheadstheywearaconicalhatwithoutacrown,formedofvariouslycolouredbeads,keptinshapebyringsofrattan,andformingafantasticbutnotunpicturesqueheaddress。
Walkingouttoasmallhillnearthevillage,cultivatedasarice-field,Ihadafineviewofthecountry,whichwasbecomingquitehilly,andtowardsthesouth,mountainous。Itookbearingsandsketchesofallthatwasvisible,anoperationwhichcausedmuchastonishmenttotheDyakswhoaccompaniedme,andproducedarequesttoexhibitthecompasswhenIreturned。Iwasthensurroundedbyalargercrowdthanbefore,andwhenItookmyeveningmealinthemidstofacircleofaboutahundredspectatorsanxiouslyobservingeverymovementandcriticisingeverymouthful,mythoughtsinvoluntarilyrecurredtothelionatfeedingtime。Likethosenobleanimals,Itoowasusedtoit,anditdidnotaffectmyappetite。ThechildrenhereweremoreshythanatTabokan,andIcouldnotpersuadethemtoplay。I
thereforeturnedshowmanmyself,andexhibitedtheshadowofadog'sheadeating,whichpleasedthemsomuchthatallthevillageinsuccessioncameouttoseeit。The"rabbitonthewall"doesnotdoinBorneo,asthereisnoanimalitresembles。
Theboyshadtopsshapedsomethinglikewhipping-tops,butspunwithastring。
Thenextmorningweproceededasbefore,buttheriverhadbecomesorapidandshallowandtheboatswereallsosmall,thatthoughIhadnothingwithmebutachangeofclothes,agun,andafewcookingutensils,twowererequiredtotakemeon。Therockwhichappearedhereandthereontheriverbankwasaninduratedclay-slate,sometimescrystalline,andthrownupalmostvertically。Rightandleftofusroseisolatedlimestonemountains,theirwhiteprecipicesglisteninginthesunandcontrastingbeautifullywiththeluxuriantvegetationthatelsewhereclothedthem。Theriverbedwasamassofpebbles,mostlypurewhitequartz,butwithabundanceofjasperandagate,presentingabeautifullyvariegatedappearance。ItwasonlyteninthemorningwhenwearrivedatBudu,and,thoughtherewereplentyofpeopleabout,Icouldnotinducethemtoallowmetogoontothenextvillage。TheOrangKayasaidthatifIinsistedonhavingmen,ofcoursehewouldgetthem,butwhenItookhimathiswordandsaidImusthavethem,therecameafreshremonstrance;
andtheideaofmygoingonthatdayseemedsopainfulthatIwasobligedtosubmit。Ithereforewalkedoutovertherice-fields,whicharehereveryextensive,coveringanumberofthelittlehillsandvalleysintowhichthewholecountryseemsbrokenup,andobtainedafineviewofhillsandmountainsineverydirection。
IntheeveningtheOrangKayacameinfulldress(aspangledvelvetjacket,butnotrowsers),andinvitedmeovertohishouse,wherehegavemeaseatofhonourunderacanopyofwhitecalicoandcolouredhandkerchiefs。Thegreatverandahwascrowdedwithpeople,andlargeplatesofricewithcookedandfresheggswereplacedonthegroundaspresentsforme。Averyoldmanthendressedhimselfinbright-colouredclothsandmanyornaments,andsittingatthedoor,murmuredalongprayerorinvocation,sprinklingricefromabasinheheldinhishand,whileseverallargegongswereloudlybeatenandasaluteofmusketsfiredoff。Alargejarofricewine,verysourbutwithanagreeableflavour,wasthenhandedaround,andIaskedtoseesomeoftheirdances。Thesewere,likemostsavageperformances,verydullandungracefulaffairs;themendressingthemselvesabsurdlylikewomen,andthegirlsmakingthemselvesasstiffandridiculousaspossible。AllthetimesixoreightlargeChinesegongswerebeingbeatenbythevigorousarmsofasmanyyoungmen,producingsuchadeafeningdiscordthatIwasgladtoescapetotheroundhouse,whereIsleptverycomfortablywithhalfadozensmoke-driedhumanskullssuspendedovermyhead,Theriverwasnowsoshallowthatboatscouldhardlygetalong。I
thereforepreferredwalkingtothenextvillage,expectingtoseesomethingofthecountry,butwasmuchdisappointed,asthepathlayalmostentirelythroughdensebamboothickets。TheDyaksgettwocropsoffthegroundinsuccession;oneofrice,andtheotherofsugarcane,maize,andvegetables。Thegroundthenliesfalloweightortenyears,andbecomescoveredwithbamboosandshrubs,whichoftencompletelyarchoverthepathandshutouteverythingfromtheview。Threehours'walkingbroughtustothevillageofSenankan,whereIwasagainobligedtoremainthewholeday,whichIagreedtodoonthepromiseoftheOrangKayathathismenshouldnextdaytakemethroughtwoothervillagesacrosstoSenna,attheheadoftheSarawakRiver。IamusedmyselfasIbestcouldtillevening,bywalkingaboutthehighgroundnear,togetviewsofthecountryandbearingsofthechiefmountains。Therewasthenanotherpublicaudience,withgiftsofriceandeggs,anddrinkingofricewine。TheseDyakscultivateagreatextentofground,andsupplyagooddealofricetoSarawak。Theyarerichingongs,brasstrays,wire,silvercoins,andotherarticlesinwhichaDyak'swealthconsists;andtheirwomenandchildrenareallhighlyornamentedwithbeadnecklaces,shells,andbrasswire。
InthemorningIwaitedsometime,butthementhatweretoaccompanymedidnotmaketheirappearance。OnsendingtotheOrangKayaIfoundthatbothheandanotherhead-manhadgoneoutfortheday,andoninquiringthereasonwastoldthattheycouldnotpersuadeanyoftheirmentogowithmebecausethejourneywaslongandfatiguingone。AsIwasdeterminedtogeton,Itoldthefewmenthatremainedthatthechiefshadbehavedverybadly,andthatIshouldacquainttheRajahwiththeirconduct,andI
wantedtostartimmediately。Everymanpresentmadesomeexcuse,butothersweresentfor,andbyhintofthreatsandpromises,andtheexertionofallBujon'seloquence,wesucceededingettingoffaftertwohours'delay。
Forthefirstfewmilesourpathlayoveracountryclearedforrice-fields,consistingentirelyofsmallbutdeepandsharply-
cutridgesandvalleyswithoutayardoflevelground。AftercrossingtheKayanriver,amainbranchoftheSadong,wegotontothelowerslopesoftheSeboranMountain,andthepathlayalongasharpandmoderatelysteepridge,affordinganexcellentviewofthecountry。ItsfeatureswereexactlythoseoftheHimalayasinminiature,astheyaredescribedbyDr。Hookerandothertravellers,andlookedlikeanaturalmodelofsomepartsofthosevastmountainsonascaleofaboutatenth——thousandsoffeetbeinghererepresentedbyhundreds。Inowdiscoveredthesourceofthebeautifulpebbleswhichhadsopleasedmeintheriverbed。Theslateyrockshadceased,andthesemountainsseemedtoconsistofasandstoneconglomerate,whichwasinsomeplacesameremassofpebblescementedtogether。Imighthaveknownthatsuchsmallstreamscouldnotproducesuchvastquantitiesofwell-roundedpebblesoftheveryhardestmaterials。Theyhadevidentlybeenformedinpastages,bytheactionofsomecontinentalstreamorseabeach,beforethegreatislandofBorneohadrisenfromtheocean。Theexistenceofsuchasystemofhillsandvalleysreproducinginminiatureallthefeaturesofagreatmountainregion,hasanimportantbearingonthemoderntheorythattheformofthegroundismainlyduetoatmosphericratherthantosubterraneanaction。Whenwehaveanumberofbranchingvalleysandravinesrunninginmanydifferentdirectionswithinasquaremile,itseemshardlypossibletoimputetheirformation,oreventheirorigination,torentsandfissuresproducedbyearthquakes。Ontheotherhand,thenatureoftherock,soeasilydecomposedandremovedbywater,andtheknownactionoftheabundanttropicalrains,areinthiscase,atleast,quitesufficientcausesfortheproductionofsuchvalleys。Buttheresemblancebetweentheirformsandoutlines,theirmodeofdivergence,andtheslopesandridgesthatdividethem,andthoseofthegrandmountainsceneryoftheHimalayas,issoremarkable,thatweareforciblyledtotheconclusionthattheforcesatworkinthetwocaseshavebeenthesame,differingonlyinthetimetheyhavebeeninaction,andthenatureofthematerialtheyhavehadtoworkupon。
AboutnoonwereachedthevillageofMenyerry,beautifullysituatedonaspurofthemountainabout600feetabovethevalley,andaffordingadelightfulviewofthemountainsofthispartofBorneo。IheregotasightofPenrissenMountain,attheheadoftheSarawakRiver,andoneofthehighestinthedistrict,risingtoabout6,000feetabovethesea。TothesouththeRowan,andfurtherofftheUntowanMountainsintheDutchterritoryappearedequallylofty。DescendingfromMenyerryweagaincrossedtheKayan,whichbendsroundthespur,andascendedtothepasswhichdividestheSadongandSarawakvalleys,andwhichisabout2,000feethigh。Thedescentfromthispointwasveryfine。Astream,deepinarockygorge,rushedoneachsideofus,tooneofwhichwegraduallydescended,passingovermanylateralgullysandalongthefacesofsomeprecipicesbymeansofnativebamboobridges。Someofthesewereseveralhundredfeetlongandfiftyorsixtyhigh,asinglesmoothbamboofourinchesdiameterformingtheonlypathway,whileaslenderhandrailofthesamematerialwasoftensoshakythatitcouldonlybeusedasaguideratherthanasupport。
LateintheafternoonwereachedSodos,situatedonaspurbetweentwostreams,butsosurroundedbyfruittreesthatlittlecouldbeseenofthecountry。Thehousewasspacious,cleanandcomfortable,andthepeopleveryobliging。Manyofthewomenandchildrenhadneverseenawhitemanbefore,andwereveryscepticalastomybeingthesamecolourallover,asmyface。
Theybeggedmetoshowthemmyarmsandbody,andtheyweresokindandgood-temperedthatIfeltboundtogivethemsomesatisfaction,soIturnedupmytrousersandletthemseethecolourofmyleg,whichtheyexaminedwithgreatinterest。
Inthemorningearlywecontinuedourdescentalongafinevalley,withmountainsrising2,000or3,000feetineverydirection。ThelittleriverrapidlyincreasedinsizeuntilwereachedSerma,whenithadbecomeafinepebblystreamnavigableforsmallcanoes。Hereagaintheupheavedslateyrockappeared,withthesamedipanddirectionasintheSadongRiver。Oninquiringforaboattotakemedownthestream,IwastoldthattheSennaDyaks,althoughlivingontheriver-banks,nevermadeorusedboats。Theyweremountaineerswhohadonlycomedownintothevalleyabouttwentyyearsbefore,andhadnotyetgotintonewhabits。TheyareofthesametribeasthepeopleofMenyerryandSodos。Theymakegoodpathsandbridges,andcultivatemuchmountainland,andthusgiveamorepleasingandcivilizedaspecttothecountrythanwherethepeoplemoveaboutonlyinboats,andconfinetheircultivationtothebanksofthestreams。
AftersometroubleIhiredaboatfromaMalaytrader,andfoundthreeDyakswhohadbeenseveraltimeswithMalaystoSarawak,andthoughttheycouldmanageitverywell。Theyturnedoutveryawkward,constantlyrunningaground,strikingagainstrocks,andlosingtheirbalancesoasalmosttoupsetthemselvesandtheboat——offeringastrikingcontrasttotheskilloftheSeaDyaks。
Atlengthwecametoareallydangerousrapidwhereboatswereoftenswamped,andmymenwereafraidtopassit。SomeMalayswithaboatloadofricehereovertookus,andaftersafelypassingdownkindlysentbackoneoftheirmentoassistme。Asitwas,myDyakslosttheirbalanceinthecriticalpartofthepassage,andhadtheybeenalonewouldcertainlyhaveupsettheboat。Therivernowbecameexceedinglypicturesque,thegroundoneachsidebeingpartiallyclearedforricefields,affordingagoodviewofthecountry。Numerouslittlegranarieswerebuilthighupintreesoverhangingtheriver,andhavingabamboobridgeslopinguptothemfromthebank;andhereandtherebamboosuspensionbridgecrossedthestream,whereoverhangingtreesfavouredtheirconstruction。
IsleptthatnightinthevillageoftheSebungowDyaks,andthenextdayreachedSarawak,passingthroughamostbeautifulcountrywherelimestonemountainswiththeirfantasticformsandwhiteprecipicesslotuponeveryside,drapedandfestoonedwithaluxuriantvegetation。ThebanksoftheSarawakRiverareeverywherecoveredwithfruittrees,whichsupplytheDyakswithagreatdealoftheirfood。TheMangosteen,Lansat,Rambutan,Jack,Jambou,andBlimbing,areallabundant;butmostabundantandmostesteemedistheDurian,afruitaboutwhichverylittleisknowninEngland,butwhichbothbynativesandEuropeansintheMalayArchipelagoisreckonedsuperiortoallothers。TheoldtravellerLinschott,writingin1599,says:"Itisofsuchanexcellenttastethatitsurpassesinflavouralltheotherfruitsoftheworld,accordingtothosewhohavetastedit。"AndDoctorPaludanusadds:"Thisfruitisofahotandhumidnature。Tothosenotusedtoit,itseemsatfirsttosmelllikerottenonions,butimmediatelywhentheyhavetastedit,theypreferittoallotherfood。Thenativesgiveithonourabletitles,exaltit,andmakeversesonit。"Whenbroughtintoahousethesmellisoftensooffensivethatsomepersonscanneverbeartotasteit。ThiswasmyowncasewhenIfirsttrieditinMalacca,butinBorneoI
foundaripefruitontheground,and,eatingitoutofdoors,I
atoncebecameaconfirmedDurianeater。
TheDuriangrowsonalargeandloftyforesttree,somewhatresemblinganelminitsgeneralcharacter,butwithamoresmoothandscalybark。Thefruitisroundorslightlyoval,aboutthesizeofalargecocoanut,ofagreencolour,andcoveredalloverwithshortstoutspinesthebasesofwhichtoucheachother,andareconsequentlysomewhathexagonal,whilethepointsareverystrongandsharp。Itissocompletelyarmed,thatifthestalkisbrokenoffitisadifficultmattertoliftonefromtheground。Theouterrindissothickandtough,thatfromwhateverheightitmayfallitisneverbroken。Fromthebasetotheapexfiveveryfaintlinesmaybetraced,overwhichthespinesarchalittle;thesearethesuturesofthecarpels,andshowwherethefruitmaybedividedwithaheavyknifeandastronghand。Thefivecellsaresatinywhitewithin,andareeachfilledwithanovalmassofcream-colouredpulp,imbeddedinwhicharetwoorthreeseedsaboutthesizeofchestnuts。Thispulpistheeatablepart,anditsconsistencyandflavourareindescribable。Arichbutter-likecustardhighlyflavouredwithalmondsgivesthebestgeneralideaofit,butintermingledwithitcomewaftsofflavourthatcalltomindcream-cheese,onion-sauce,brownsherry,andotherincongruities。Thenthereisarichglutinoussmoothnessinthepulpwhichnothingelsepossesses,butwhichaddstoitsdelicacy。Itisneitheracid,norsweet,norjuicy;
yetonefeelsthewantofmoreofthesequalities,foritisperfectasitis。Itproducesnonauseaorotherbadeffect,andthemoreyoueatofitthelessyoufeelinclinedtostop。InfacttoeatDuriansisanewsensation,worthavoyagetotheEasttoexperience。
Whenthefruitisripeitfallsofitself,andtheonlywaytoeatDuriansinperfectionistogetthemastheyfall;andthesmellisthenlessoverpowering。Whenunripe,itmakesaverygoodvegetableifcooked,anditisalsoeatenbytheDyaksraw。
Inagoodfruitseasonlargequantitiesarepreservedsalted,injarsandbamboos,andkepttheyearround,whenitacquiresamostdisgustingodourtoEuropeans,buttheDyaksappreciateithighlyasarelishwiththeirrice。ThereareintheforesttwovarietiesofwildDurianswithmuchsmallerfruits,oneofthemorange-colouredinside;andtheseareprobablytheoriginofthelargeandfineDurians,whichareneverfoundwild。Itwouldnot,perhaps,becorrecttosaythattheDurianisthebestofallfruits,becauseitcannotsupplytheplaceofthesubacidjuicykinds,suchastheorange,grape,mango,andmangosteen,whoserefreshingandcoolingqualitiesaresowholesomeandgrateful;butasproducingafoodofthemostexquisiteflavour,itisunsurpassed。IfIhadtofixontwoonly,asrepresentingtheperfectionofthetwoclasses,IshouldcertainlychoosetheDurianandtheOrangeasthekingandqueenoffruits。
TheDurianis,however,sometimesdangerous。Whenthefruitbeginstoripenitfallsdailyandalmosthourly,andaccidentsnotunfrequentlyhappentopersonswalkingorworkingunderthetrees。WhenaDurianstrikesamaninitsfall,itproducesadreadfulwound,thestrongspinestearingopentheflesh,whiletheblowitselfisveryheavy;butfromthisverycircumstancedeathrarelyensues,thecopiouseffusionofbloodpreventingtheinflammationwhichmightotherwisetakeplace。ADyakchiefinformedmethathehadbeenstruckdownbyaDurianfallingonhishead,whichhethoughtwouldcertainlyhavecausedhisdeath,yetherecoveredinaveryshorttime。
Poetsandmoralists,judgingfromourEnglishtreesandfruits,havethoughtthatsmallfruitsalwaysgrewonloftytrees,sothattheirfallshouldbeharmlesstoman,whilethelargeonestrailedontheground。Twoofthelargestandheaviestfruitsknown,however,theBrazil-nutfruit(Bertholletia)andDurian,growonloftyforesttrees,fromwhichtheyfallassoonastheyareripe,andoftenwoundorkillthenativeinhabitants。Fromthiswemaylearntwothings:first,nottodrawgeneralconclusionsfromaverypartialviewofnature;andsecondly,thattreesandfruits,nolessthanthevariedproductionsoftheanimalkingdom,donotappeartobeorganizedwithexclusivereferencetotheuseandconvenienceofman。
DuringmymanyjourneysinBorneo,andespeciallyduringmyvariousresidencesamongtheDyaks,IfirstcametoappreciatetheadmirablequalitiesoftheBamboo。InthosepartsofSouthAmericawhichIhadpreviouslyvisited,thesegiganticgrasseswerecomparativelyscarce;andwherefoundbutlittleused,theirplacebeingtakenastooneclassofusesbythegreatvarietyofPalms,andastoanotherbycalabashesandgourds。AlmostalltropicalcountriesproduceBamboos,andwherevertheyarefoundinabundancethenativesapplythemtoavarietyofuses。Theirstrength,lightness,smoothness,straightness,roundnessandhollowness,thefacilityandregularitywithwhichtheycanbesplit,theirmanydifferentsizes,thevaryinglengthoftheirjoints,theeasewithwhichtheycanbecutandwithwhichholescanbemadethroughthem,theirhardnessoutside,theirfreedomfromanypronouncedtasteorsmell,theirgreatabundance,andtherapidityoftheirgrowthandincrease,areallqualitieswhichrenderthemusefulforahundreddifferentpurposes,toservewhichothermaterialswouldrequiremuchmorelabourandpreparation。TheBambooisoneofthemostwonderfulandmostbeautifulproductionsofthetropics,andoneofnature'smostvaluablegiftstouncivilizedman。
TheDyakhousesareallraisedonposts,andareoftentwoorthreehundredfeetlongandfortyorfiftywide。ThefloorisalwaysformedofstripssplitfromlargeBamboos,sothateachmaybenearlyflatandaboutthreeincheswide,andthesearefirmlytieddownwithrattantothejoistsbeneath。Whenwellmade,thisisadelightfulfloortowalkuponbarefooted,theroundedsurfacesofthebamboobeingverysmoothandagreeabletothefeet,whileatthesametimeaffordingafirmhold。But,whatismoreimportant,theyformwithamatoverthemanexcellentbed,theelasticityoftheBambooanditsroundedsurfacebeingfarsuperiortoamorerigidandaflatterfloor。HereweatoncefindauseforBamboowhichcannotbesuppliedsowellbyanothermaterialwithoutavastamountoflabour——palmsandothersubstitutesrequiringmuchcuttingandsmoothing,andnotbeingequallygoodwhenfinished。When,however,aflat,closefloorisrequired,excellentboardsaremadebysplittingopenlargeBamboosononesideonly,andflatteningthemoutsoastoformslabseighteenincheswideandsixfeetlong,withwhichsomeDyaksfloortheirhouses。Thesewithconstantrubbingofthefeetandthesmokeofyearsbecomedarkandpolished,likewalnutoroldoak,sothattheirrealmaterialcanhardlyberecognised。
Whatlabourisheresavedtoasavagewhoseonlytoolsareanaxeandaknife,andwho,ifhewantsboards,musthewthemoutofthesolidtrunkofatree,andmustgivedaysandweeksoflabourtoobtainasurfaceassmoothandbeautifulastheBamboothustreatedaffordshim。Again,ifatemporaryhouseiswanted,eitherbythenativeinhisplantationorbythetravellerintheforest,nothingissoconvenientastheBamboo,withwhichahousecanbeconstructedwithaquarterofthelabourandtimethanifothermaterialsareused。
AsIhavealreadymentioned,theHillDyaksintheinteriorofSarawakmakepathsforlongdistancesfromvillagetovillageandtotheircultivatedgrounds,inthecourseofwhichtheyhavetocrossmanygulliesandravines,andevenrivers;orsometimes,toavoidalongcircuit,tocarrythepathalongthefaceofaprecipice。InallthesecasesthebridgestheyconstructareofBamboo,andsoadmirablyadaptedisthematerialforthispurpose,thatitseemsdoubtfulwhethertheyeverwouldhaveattemptedsuchworksiftheyhadnotpossessedit。TheDyakbridgeissimplebutwelldesigned。ItconsistsmerelyofstoutBambooscrossingeachotherattheroad-wayliketheletterX,andrisingafewfeetaboveit。Atthecrossingtheyarefirmlyboundtogether,andtoalargeBamboowhichlaysuponthemandformstheonlypathway,withaslenderandoftenveryshakyonetoserveasahandrail。Whenariveristobecrossed,anoverhangingtreeischosenfromwhichthebridgeispartlysuspendedandpartlysupportedbydiagonalstrutsfromthebanks,soastoavoidplacingpostsinthestreamitself,whichwouldbeliabletobecarriedawaybyfloods。Incarryingapathalongthefaceofaprecipice,treesandrootsaremadeuseofforsuspension;strutsarisefromsuitablenotchesorcrevicesintherocks,andifthesearenotsufficient,immenseBamboosfiftyorsixtyfeetlongarefixedonthebanksoronthebranchofatreebelow。Thesebridgesaretraverseddailybymenandwomencarryingheavyloads,sothatanyinsecurityissoondiscovered,and,asthematerialsarecloseathand,immediatelyrepaired。
Whenapathgoesoververysteepground,andbecomesslipperyinverywetorverydryweather,theBambooisusedinanotherway。
Piecesarecutaboutayardlong,andoppositenotchesbeingmadeateachend,holesareformedthroughwhichpegsaredriven,andfirmandconvenientstepsarethusformedwiththegreatesteaseandcelerity。Itistruethatmuchofthiswilldecayinoneortwoseasons,butitcanbesoquicklyreplacedastomakeitmoreeconomicalthanusingaharderandmoredurablewood。
OneofthemoststrikingusestowhichBambooisappliedbytheDyaks,istoassisttheminclimbingloftytreesbydrivinginpegsinthewayIhavealreadydescribedatpage85。Thismethodisconstantlyusedinordertoobtainwax,whichisoneofthemostvaluableproductsofthecountry。Thehoney-beeofBorneoverygenerallyhangsitscombsunderthebranchesoftheTappan,atreewhichtowersaboveallothersintheforest,andwhosesmoothcylindricaltrunkoftenrisesahundredfeetwithoutabranch。TheDyaksclimbtheseloftytreesatnight,buildinguptheirBambooladderastheygo,andbringingdowngigantichoneycombs。Thesefurnishthemwithadeliciousfeastofhoneyandyoungbees,besidesthewax,whichtheyselltotraders,andwiththeproceedsbuythemuch-covetedbrasswire,earrings,andbold-edgedhandkerchiefswithwhichtheylovetodecoratethemselves。InascendingDurianandotherfruittreeswhichbranchatfromthirtytofiftyfeetfromtheground,IhaveseenthemusetheBamboopegsonly,withouttheuprightBamboowhichrendersthemsomuchmoresecure。
TheouterrindoftheBamboo,splitandshavedthin,isthestrongestmaterialforbaskets;hen-coops,bird-cages,andconicalfish-trapsareveryquicklymadefromasinglejoint,bysplittingofftheskininnarrowstripsleftattachedtooneend,whileringsofthesamematerialorofrattanaretwistedinatregulardistances。WaterisbroughttothehousesbylittleaqueductsformedoflargeBamboossplitinhalfandsupportedoncrossedsticksofvariousheightssoastogiveitaregularfall。Thinlong-jointedBamboosformtheDyaks'onlywater-
vessels,andadozenofthemstandinthecornerofeveryhouse。
Theyareclean,light,andeasilycarried,andareinmanywayssuperiortoearthenvesselsforthesamepurpose。Theyalsomakeexcellentcookingutensils;vegetablesandricecanbeboiledinthemtoperfection,andtheyareoftenusedwhentravelling。
Saltedfruitorfish,sugar,vinegar,andhoneyarepreservedintheminsteadofinjarsorbottles。InasmallBamboocase,prettilycarvedandornamented,theDyakcarrieshissirihandlimeforbetelchewing,andhislittlelong-bladedknifehasaBamboosheath。Hisfavouritepipeisahugehubble-bubble,whichhewillconstructinafewminutesbyinsertingasmallpieceofBambooforabowlobliquelyintoalargecylinderaboutsixinchesfromthebottomcontainingwater,throughwhichthesmokepassestoalongslenderBambootube。TherearemanyothersmallmattersforwhichBambooisdailyused,butenoughhasnowbeenmentionedtoshowitsvalue。InotherpartsoftheArchipelagoI
havemyselfseenitappliedtomanynewuses,anditisprobablethatmylimitedmeansofobservationdidnotmakemeacquaintedwithone-halfthewaysinwhichitisserviceabletotheDyaksofSarawak。
WhileuponthesubjectofplantsImayherementionafewofthemorestrikingvegetableproductionsofBorneo。ThewonderfulPitcher-plants,formingthegenusNepenthesofbotanists,herereachtheirgreatestdevelopment。Everymountain-topaboundswiththem,runningalongtheground,orclimbingovershrubsandstuntedtrees;theirelegantpitchershangingineverydirection。
Someofthesearelongandslender,resemblinginformthebeautifulPhilippinelace-sponge(Euplectella),whichhasnowbecomesocommon;othersarebroadandshort。Theircoloursaregreen,variouslytintedandmottledwithredorpurple。ThefinestyetknownwereobtainedonthesummitofKini-balou,inNorth-westBorneo。Oneofthebroadsort,Nepenthesrajah,willholdtwoquartsofwaterinitspitcher。Another,NepenthesEdwardsiania,hasanarrowpitchertwentyincheslong;whiletheplantitselfgrowstoalengthoftwentyfeet。
Fernsareabundant,butarenotsovariedasonthevolcanicmountainsofJava;andTree-fernsareneithersoplentifulnorsolargeasonthatisland。Theygrow,however,quitedowntothelevelofthesea,andaregenerallyslenderandgracefulplantsfromeighttofifteenfeethigh。WithoutdevotingmuchtimetothesearchIcollectedfiftyspeciesofFernsinBorneo,andI
havenodoubtagoodbotanistwouldhaveobtainedtwicethenumber。TheinterestinggroupofOrchidsisveryabundant,but,asisgenerallythecase,nine-tenthsofthespecieshavesmallandinconspicuousflowers。AmongtheexceptionsarethefineCoelogynes,whoselargeclustersofyellowflowersornamentthegloomiestforests,andthatmostextraordinaryplant,VandaLowii,whichlastisparticularlyabundantnearsomehotspringsatthefootofthePenin-jauhMountain。Itgrowsonthelowerbranchesoftrees,anditsusstrangependantflower-spiresoftenhangdownsoasalmosttoreachtheground。Thesearegenerallysixoreightfeetlong,bearinglargeandhandsomeflowersthreeinchesacross,andvaryingincolourfromorangetored,withdeeppurple-redspots。Imeasuredonespike,whichreachedtheextraordinarylengthofninefeeteightinches,andborethirty-
sixflowers,spirallyarrangeduponaslenderthread-likestalk。
SpecimensgrowninourEnglishhot-houseshaveproducedflower-
spiresofequallength,andwithamuchlargernumberofblossoms。
Flowerswerescarce,asisusualinequatorialforests,anditwasonlyatrareintervalsthatImetwithanythingstriking。A
fewfineclimbersweresometimesseen,especiallyahandsomecrimsonandyellowAeschynanthus,andafineleguminousplantwithclustersoflargeCassia-likeflowersofarichpurplecolour。OnceIfoundanumberofsmallAnonaceoustreesofthegenusPolyalthea,producingamoststrikingeffectinthegloomyforestshades。Theywereaboutthirtyfeethigh,andtheirslendertrunkswerecoveredwithlargestar-likecrimsonflowers,whichclusteredoverthemlikegarlands,andresembledsomeartificialdecorationmorethananaturalproduct。
Theforestsaboundwithgigantictreeswithcylindrical,buttressed,orfurrowedstems,whileoccasionallythetravellercomesuponawonderfulfig-tree,whosetrunkisitselfaforestofstemsandaerialroots。Stillmorerarelyarefoundtreeswhichappeartohavebegungrowinginmid-air,andfromthesamepointsendoutwide-spreadingbranchesaboveandacomplicatedpyramidofrootsdescendingforseventyoreightyfeettothegroundbelow,andsospreadingoneveryside,thatonecanstandintheverycentrewiththetrunkofthetreeimmediatelyoverhead。TreesofthischaracterarefoundallovertheArchipelago,andtheaccompanyingillustration(takenfromonewhichIoftenvisitedintheAruIslands)willconveysomeideaoftheirgeneralcharacter。Ibelievethattheyoriginateasparasites,fromseedscarriedbybirdsanddroppedintheforkofsomeloftytree。Hencedescendaerialroots,claspingandultimatelydestroyingthesupportingtree,whichisintimeentirelyreplacedbythehumbleplantwhichwasatfirstdependentuponit。Thuswehaveanactualstruggleforlifeinthevegetablekingdom,notlessfataltothevanquishedthanthestrugglesamonganimalswhichwecansomuchmoreeasilyobserveandunderstand。Theadvantageofquickeraccesstolightandwarmthandair,whichisgainedinonewaybyclimbingplants,ishereobtainedbyaforesttree,whichhasthemeansofstartinginlifeatanelevationwhichotherscanonlyattainaftermanyyearsofgrowth,andthenonlywhenthefallofsomeothertreehasmaderoomforthen。Thusitisthatinthewarmandmoistandequableclimateofthetropics,eachavailablestationisseizeduponandbecomesthemeansofdevelopingnewformsoflifeespeciallyadaptedtooccupyit。
OnreachingSarawakearlyinDecember,IfoundtherewouldnotbeanopportunityofreturningtoSingaporeuntilthelatterendofJanuary。IthereforeacceptedSirJamesBrooke'sinvitationtospendaweekwithhimandMr。St。JohnathiscottageonPeninjauh。
Thisisaverysteeppyramidalmountainofcrystallinebasalticrock,aboutathousandfeethigh,andcoveredwithluxuriantforest。TherearethreeDyakvillagesuponit,andonalittleplatformnearthesummitistherudewoodenlodgewheretheEnglishRajahwasaccustomedtogoforrelaxationandcoolfreshair。Itisonlytwentymilesuptheriver,buttheroadupthemountainisasuccessionofladdersonthefaceofprecipices,bamboobridgesovergulliesandchasms,andslipperypathsoverrocksandtree-trunksandhugebouldersasbigashouses。Acoolspringunderanoverhangingrockjustbelowthecottagefurnisheduswithrefreshingbathsanddeliciousdrinkingwater,andtheDyaksbroughtusdailyheaped-upbasketsofMangosteensandLansats,twoofthemostdeliciousofthesubacidtropicalfruits。WereturnedtoSarawakforChristmas(thesecondIhadspentwithSirJamesBrooke),whenalltheEuropeansbothinthetownandfromtheout-stationsenjoyedthehospitalityoftheRajah,whopossessedinapre-eminentdegreetheartofmakingeveryonearoundhimcomfortableandhappy。
AfewdaysafterwardsIreturnedtothemountainwithCharlesandaMalayboynamedAliandstayedtherethreeweeksforthepurposeofmakingacollectionofland-shells,butterfliesandmoths,fernsandorchids。Onthehillitselffernsweretolerablyplentiful,andImadeacollectionofaboutfortyspecies。ButwhatoccupiedmemostwasthegreatabundanceofmothswhichoncertainoccasionsIwasabletocapture。Asduringthewholeofmyeightyears'wanderingsintheEastIneverfoundanotherspotwheretheseinsectswereatallplentiful,itwillbeinterestingtostatetheexactconditionsunderwhichIhereobtainedthem。
Ononesideofthecottagetherewasaverandah,lookingdownthewholesideofthemountainandtoitssummitontheright,alldenselyclothedwithforest。Theboardedsidesofthecottagewerewhitewashed,andtheroofoftheverandahwaslow,andalsoboardedandwhitewashed。AssoonasitgotdarkIplacedmylamponatableagainstthewall,andwithpins,insect-forceps,net,andcollecting-boxesbymyside,satdownwithabook。Sometimesduringthewholeeveningonlyonesolitarymothwouldvisitme,whileonothernightstheywouldpourin,inacontinualstream,keepingmehardatworkcatchingandpinningtillpastmidnight。
Theycameliterallybythethousands。Thesegoodnightswereveryfew。DuringthefourweeksthatIspentaltogetheronthehillI
onlyhadfourreallygoodnights,andthesewerealwaysrainy,andthebestofthemsoakingwet。Butwetnightswerenotalwaysgood,forarainymoonlightnightproducednexttonothing。Allthechieftribesofmothswererepresented,andthebeautyandvarietyofthespecieswasverygreat。OngoodnightsIwasabletocapturefromahundredtotwohundredandfiftymoths,andthesecomprisedoneachoccasionfromhalftotwo-thirdsthatnumberofdistinctspecies。Someofthemwouldsettleonthewall,someonthetable,whilemanywouldflyuptotheroofandgivemeachaseallovertheverandahbeforeIcouldsecurethem。Inordertoshowthecuriousconnectionbetweenthestateofweatherandthedegreeinwhichmothswereattractedtolight,Iaddalistofmycaptureseachnightofmystayonthehill。
Date(1855)No。ofMothsRemarksDec。13th1Fine;starlight。
14th75Drizzlyandfog。
15th41Showery;cloudy。
16th158(120species。)Steadyrain。
17th82Wet;rathermoonlight。
18th9Fine;moonlight。
19th2Fine;clearmoonlight。
31st200(130species。)Darkandwindy;
heavyrain。
Date(1856)
Jan。1st185Verywet。
2d68Cloudyandshowers。
3d50Cloudy。
4th12Fine。
5th10Fine。
6th8Veryfine。
7th8Veryfine。
8th10Fine。
9th36Showery。
10th30Showery。
11th260Heavyrainallnight,anddark。
12th56Showery。
13th44Showery;somemoonlight。
14th4Fine;moonlight。
15th24Rain;moonlight。
16th6Showers;moonlight。
17th6Showers;moonlight。
18th1Showers;moonlight。
Total1,386
Itthusappearsthatontwenty-sixnightsIcollected1,386
moths,butthatmorethan800ofthemwerecollectedonfourverywetanddarknights。Mysuccesshereledmetohopethat,bysimilararrangements,Imightoneveryislandbeabletoobtainanabundanceoftheseinsects;but,strangetosay,duringthesixsucceedingyears,IwasneveronceabletomakeanycollectionsatallapproachingthoseatSarawak。ThereasonforthisIcanprettywellunderstandtobeowingtotheabsenceofsomeoneorotheressentialconditionthatwerehereallcombined。Sometimesthedryseasonwasthehindrance;morefrequentlyresidenceinatownorvillagenotclosetovirginforest,andsurroundedbyotherhouseswhoselightswereacounter-attraction;stillmorefrequentlyresidenceinadarkpalm-thatchedhouse,withaloftyroof,inwhoserecesseseverymothwaslosttheinstantitentered。Thislastwasthegreatestdrawback,andtherealreasonwhyIneveragainwasabletomakeacollectionofmoths;forI
neverafterwardslivedinasolitaryjungle-housewithalowboardedandwhitewashedverandah,soconstructedastopreventinsectsatonceescapingintotheupperpartofthehouse,quiteoutofreach。
Aftermylongexperience,mynumerousfailures,andmyonesuccess,Ifeelsurethatifanypartyofnaturalistsevermakeayacht-voyagetoexploretheMalayanArchipelago,oranyothertropicalregion,makingentomologyoneoftheirchiefpursuits,itwouldwellrepaythemtocarryasmallframedverandah,oraverandah-shapedtentofwhitecanvas,tosetupineveryfavourablesituation,asameansofmakingacollectionofnocturnalLepidoptera,andalsoofobtainingrarespecimensofColeopteraandotherinsects。Imakethesuggestionhere,becausenoonewouldsuspecttheenormousdifferenceinresultsthatsuchanapparatuswouldproduce;andbecauseIconsideritoneofthecuriositiesofacollector'sexperience,tohavefoundoutthatsomesuchapparatusisrequired。
WhenIreturnedtoSingaporeItookwithmetheMalayladnamedAli,whosubsequentlyaccompaniedmeallovertheArchipelago。
CharlesAllenpreferredstayingattheMission-house,andafterwardsobtainedemploymentinSarawakandinSingapore,untilheagainjoinedmefouryearslateratAmboynaintheMoluccas。
CHAPTERVI。
BORNEO——THEDYAKS。
THEmannersandcustomsoftheaboriginesofBorneohavebeendescribedingreatdetail,andwithmuchfullerinformationthanI
possess,inthewritingsofSirJamesBrooke,Messrs。Low,St。John,JohnsonBrooke,andmanyothers。Idonotproposetogooverthegroundagain,butshallconfinemyselftoasketch,frompersonalobservation,ofthegeneralcharacteroftheDyaks,andofsuchphysical,moral,andsocialcharacteristicsashavebeenlessfrequentlynoticed。
TheDyakiscloselyalliedtotheMalay,andmoreremotelytotheSiamese,Chinese,andotherMongolraces。Allthesearecharacterisedbyareddish-brownoryellowish-brownskinofvariousshades,byjet-
blackstraighthair,bythescantyordeficientbeard,bytherathersmallandbroadnose,andhighcheekbones;butnoneoftheMalayanraceshavetheobliqueeyeswhicharecharacteristicofthemoretypicalMongols。TheaveragestatureoftheDyaksisrathermorethanthatoftheMalays,whileitisconsiderablyunderthatofmostEuropeans。Theirformsarewellproportioned,theirfeetandhandssmall,andtheyrarelyorneverattainthebulkofbodysooftenseeninMalaysandChinese。
IaminclinedtoranktheDyaksabovetheMalaysinmentalcapacity,whileinmoralcharactertheyareundoubtedlysuperiortothem。Theyaresimpleandhonest,andbecomethepreyoftheMalayandChinesetrailers,whocheatandplunderthemcontinually。Theyaremorelively,moretalkative,lesssecretive,andlesssuspiciousthantheMalay,andarethereforepleasantercompanions。TheMalayboyshavelittleinclinationforactivesportsandgames,whichformquiteafeatureinthelifeoftheDyakyouths,who,besidesoutdoorgamesofskillandstrength,possessavarietyofindooramusements。Onewetday,inaDyakhouse,whenanumberofboysandyoungmenwereaboutme,Ithoughttoamusethemwithsomethingnew,andshowedthemhowtomake"cat'scradle"withapieceofstring。Greatlytomysurprise,theyknewallaboutit,andmorethanIdid;for,afterCharlesandIhadgonethroughallthechangeswecouldmake,oneoftheboystookitoffmyhand,andmadeseveralnewfigureswhichquitepuzzledme。Theythenshowedmeanumberofothertrickswithpiecesofstring,whichseemedafavouriteamusementwiththem。
EventheseapparentlytriflingmattersmayassistustoformatruerestimateoftheDyaks'characterandsocialcondition。Welearnthereby,thatthesepeoplehavepassedbeyondthatfirststageofsavagelifeinwhichthestruggleforexistenceabsorbsallofthefaculties,andinwhicheverythoughtandideaisconnectedwithwarorhunting,ortheprovisionfortheirimmediatenecessities。Theseamusementsindicateacapabilityofcivilization,anaptitudetoenjoyotherthanmeresensualpleasures,whichnightbetakenadvantageoftoelevatetheirwholeintellectualandsociallife。
ThemoralcharacteroftheDyaksisundoubtedlyhigh——astatementwhichwillseemstrangetothosewhohaveheardofthemonlyashead-huntersandpirates。TheHillDyaksofwhomIamspeaking,however,haveneverbeenpirates,sincetheynevergonearthesea;
andhead-huntingisacustomoriginatinginthepettywarsofvillagewithvillage,andtribewithtribe,whichnomoreimpliesabadmoralcharacterthandidthecustomoftheslave-tradeahundredyearsagoimplywantofgeneralmoralityinallwhoparticipatedinit。Againstthisonestainontheircharacter(whichinthecaseoftheSarawakDyaksnolongerexists)wehavetosetmanygoodpoints。Theyaretruthfulandhonesttoaremarkabledegree。Fromthiscauseitisveryoftenimpossibletogetfromthemanydefiniteinformation,orevenanopinion。Theysay,"IfIweretotellyonwhatIdon'tknow,Imighttellalie;"andwhenevertheyvoluntarilyrelateanymatteroffact,youmaybesuretheyarespeakingthetruth。InaDyakvillagethefruittreeshaveeachtheirowner,andithasoftenhappenedtome,onaskinganinhabitanttogathermesomefruit,tobeanswered,"Ican'tdothat,fortheownerofthetreeisnothere;"neverseemingtocontemplatethepossibilityofactingotherwise。NeitherwilltheytakethesmallestthingbelongingtoanEuropean。WhenlivingatSimunjon,theycontinuallycametomyhouse,andwouldpickupscrapsoftornnewspaperorcrookedpinsthatIhadthrownaway,andaskasagreatfavourwhethertheymighthavethem。
Crimesofviolence(otherthanhead-hunting)arealmostunknown;forintwelveyears,underSirJamesBrooke'srule,therehadbeenonlyonecaseofmurderinaDyaktribe,andthatonewascommittedbyastrangerwhohadbeenadoptedintothetribe。Inseveralothermattersofmoralitytheyrankabovemostuncivilized,andevenabovemanycivilizednations。Theyaretemperateinfoodanddrink,andthegrosssensualityoftheChineseandMalaysisunknownamongthem。
Theyhavetheusualfaultofallpeopleinahalf-savagestate——
apathyanddilatoriness,but,howeverannoyingthismaybetoEuropeanswhocomeincontactwiththem,itcannotbeconsideredaverygraveoffence,orbeheldtooutweightheirmanyexcellentqualities。
DuringmyresidenceamongtheHillDyaks,Iwasmuchstruckbytheapparentabsenceofthosecauseswhicharegenerallysupposedtochecktheincreaseofpopulation,althoughtherewereplainindicationsofstationaryorbutslowlyincreasingnumbers。Theconditionsmostfavourabletoarapidincreaseofpopulationare:anabundanceoffood,ahealthyclimate,andearlymarriages。Heretheseconditionsallexist。Thepeopleproducefarmorefoodthantheyconsume,andexchangethesurplusforgongsandbrasscannon,ancientjars,andgoldandsilverornaments,whichconstitutetheirwealth。
Onthewhole,theyappearveryfreefromdisease,marriagestakeplaceearly(butnottooearly),andoldbachelorsandoldmaidsarealikeunknown。Why,then,wemustinquire,hasnotagreaterpopulationbeenproduced?WhyaretheDyakvillagessosmallandsowidelyscattered,whilenine-tenthsofthecountryisstillcoveredwithforest?
OfallthecheckstopopulationamongsavagenationsmentionedbyMalthus——starvation,disease,war,infanticide,immorality,andinfertilityofthewomen——thelastisthatwhichheseemstothinkleastimportant,andofdoubtfulefficacy;andyetitistheonlyonethatseemstomecapableofaccountingforthestateofthepopulationamongtheSarawakDyaks。ThepopulationofGreatBritainincreasessoastodoubleitselfinaboutfiftyyears。Todothisitisevidentthateachmarriedcouplemustaveragethreechildrenwholivetobemarriedattheageofabouttwenty-five。Addtothesethosewhodieininfancy,thosewhonevermarry,orthosewhomarrylateinlifeandhavenooffspring,thenumberofchildrenborntoeachmarriagemustaveragefourorfive,andweknowthatfamiliesofsevenoreightareverycommon,andoftenandtwelvebynomeansrare。ButfrominquiriesatalmosteveryDyaktribeIvisited,I
ascertainedthatthewomenrarelyhadmorethanthreeorfourchildren,andanoldchiefassuredmethathehadneverknownawomantohavemorethanseven。
Inavillageconsistingofahundredandfiftyfamilies,onlyoneconsistedofsixchildrenliving,andonlysixoffivechildren,themajorityoffamiliesappearingtobetwo,three,orfour。
ComparingthiswiththeknownproportionsinEuropeancountries,itisevidentthatthenumberofchildrentoeachmarriagecanhardlyaveragemorethanthreeorfour;andasevenincivilizedcountrieshalfthepopulationdiebeforetheageoftwenty-five,weshouldhaveonlytwolefttoreplacetheirparents;andsolongasthisstateofthingscontinued,thepopulationmustremainstationary。Ofcoursethisisamereillustration;butthefactsIhavestatedseemtoindicatethatsomethingofthekindreallytakesplace;andifso,thereisnodifficultyinunderstandingthesmallnessandalmoststationarypopulationoftheDyaktribes。
Wehavenexttoinquirewhatisthecauseofthesmallnumberofbirthsandoflivingchildreninafamily。Climateandracemayhavesomethingtodowiththis,butamorerealandefficientcauseseemstometobethehardlabourofthewomen,andtheheavyweightstheyconstantlycarry。ADyakwomangenerallyspendsthewholedayinthefield,andcarrieshomeeverynightaheavyloadofvegetablesandfirewood,oftenforseveralmiles,overroughandhillypaths;andnotunfrequentlyhastoclimbuparockymountainbyladders,andoverslipperysteppingstones,toanelevationofathousandfeet。
Besidesthis,shehasanhour'sworkeveryeveningtopoundthericewithaheavywoodenstamper,whichviolentlystrainseverypartofthebody。Shebeginsthiskindoflabourwhennineortenyearsold,anditneverceasesbutwiththeextremedecrepitudeofage。Surelyweneednotwonderatthelimitednumberofherprogeny,butratherbesurprisedatthesuccessfuleffortsofnaturetopreventtheexterminationoftherace。
Oneofthesurestandmostbeneficialeffectsofadvancingcivilization,willbetheameliorationoftheconditionofthesewomen。ThepreceptandexampleofhigherraceswillmaketheDyakashamedofhiscomparativelyidlelife,whilehisweakerpartnerlabourslikeabeastofburthen。Ashiswantsbecomeincreasedandhistastesrefined,thewomenwillhavemorehouseholddutiestoattendto,andwillthenceasetolabourinthefield——achangewhichhasalreadytoagreatextenttakenplaceinthealliedMalay,Javanese,andBugistribes。Populationwillthencertainlyincreasemorerapidly,improvedsystemsofagricultureandsomedivisionoflabourwillbecomenecessaryinordertoprovidethemeansofexistence,andamorecomplicatedsocialstatewilltaketheplaceofthesimpleconditionsofsocietywhichnowoccuramongthem。But,withthesharperstruggleforexistencethatwillthenarise,willthehappinessofthepeopleasawholebeincreasedordiminished?
Willnotevilpassionsbearousedbythespiritofcompetition,andcrimesandvices,nowunknownordormant,becalledintoactiveexistence?Theseareproblemsthattimealonecansolve;butitistobehopedthateducationandahigh-classEuropeanexamplemayobviatemuchoftheevilthattoooftenarisesinanalogouscases,andthatwemayatlengthbeabletopointtooneinstanceofanuncivilizedpeoplewhohavenotbecomedemoralized,andfinallyexterminated,bycontactwithEuropeancivilization。
Afewwordsinconclusion,aboutthegovernmentofSarawak。SirJamesBrookefoundtheDyaksoppressedandgrounddownbythemostcrueltyranny。TheywerecheatedbytheMalaytradersandrobbedbytheMalaychiefs。Theirwivesandchildrenwereoftencapturedandsoldintoslavery,andhostiletribespurchasedpermissionfromtheircruelrulerstoplunder,enslave,andmurderthem。Anythinglikejusticeorredressfortheseinjurieswasutterlyunattainable。FromthetimeSirJamesobtainedpossessionofthecountry,allthiswasstopped。EqualjusticewasawardedtoMalay,Chinaman,andDyak。Theremorselesspiratesfromtheriversfarthereastwerepunished,andfinallyshutupwithintheirownterritories,andtheDyak,forthefirsttime,couldsleepinpeace。Hiswifeandchildrenwerenowsafefromslavery;hishousewasnolongerburnedoverhishead;hiscropsandhisfruitswerenowhisowntosellorconsumeashepleased。Andtheunknownstrangerwhohaddoneallthisforthem,andaskedfornothinginreturn,whatcouldhebe?Howwasitpossibleforthemtorealizehismotives?Wasitnotnaturalthattheyshouldrefusetobelievehewasaman?Forofpurebenevolencecombinedwithgreatpower,theyhadhadnoexperienceamongmen。Theynaturallyconcludedthathewasasuperiorbeing,comedownuponearthtoconferblessingsontheafflicted。Inmanyvillageswherehehadnotbeenseen,Iwasaskedstrangequestionsabouthim。Washenotasoldasthemountains?Couldhenotbringthedeadtolife?Andtheyfirmlybelievethathecangivethemgoodharvests,andmaketheirfruit-treesbearanabundantcrop。
InformingaproperestimateofSirJamesBrooke'sgovernmentitmusteverberememberedthatheheldSarawaksolelybythegoodwillofthenativeinhabitant。Hehadtodealwithtworaces,oneofwhom,theMahometanMalays,lookedupontheotherrace,theDyaks,assavagesandslaves,onlyfittoberobbedandplundered。HehaseffectuallyprotectedtheDyaks,andhasinvariablytreatedthemas,inhissight,equaltotheMalays;andyethehassecuredtheaffectionandgoodwillofboth。Notwithstandingthereligiousprejudice,ofMahometans,hehasinducedthemtomodifymanyoftheirworstlawsandcustoms,andtoassimilatetheircriminalcodetothatofthecivilizedworld。Thathisgovernmentstillcontinues,aftertwenty-
sevenyears——notwithstandinghisfrequentabsencesfromill-health,notwithstandingconspiraciesofMalaychiefs,andinsurrectionsofChinesegold-diggers,allofwhichhavebeenovercomebythesupportofthenativepopulation,andnotwithstandingfinancial,political,anddomestictroublesisdue,Ibelieve,solelytothemanyadmirablequalitieswhichSirJamesBrookepossessed,andespeciallytohishavingconvincedthenativepopulation,byeveryactionofhislife,thatheruledthem,notforhisownadvantage,butfortheirgood。
Sincetheselineswerewritten,hisnoblespirithaspassedaway。
Butthough,bythosewhoknewhimnot,hemaybesneeredatasanenthusiasticadventurer,abusedasahard-hearteddespot,theuniversaltestimonyofeveryonewhocameincontactwithhiminhisadoptedcountry,whetherEuropean,Malay,orDyak,willbe,thatRajahBrookewasagreat,awise,andagoodruler;atrueandfaithfulfriend——
amantobeadmiredforhistalents,respectedforhishonestyandcourage,andlovedforhisgenuinehospitality,hiskindnessofdisposition,andhistendernessofheart。
CHAPTERVII。
JAVA
ISPENTthreemonthsandahalfinJava,fromJuly18thtoOctober31st,1861,andshallbrieflydescribemyownmovements,andmyobservationsofthepeopleandthenaturalhistoryofthecountry。ToallthosewhowishtounderstandhowtheDutchnowgovernJava,andhowitisthattheyareenabledtoderivealargeannualrevenuefromit,whilethepopulationincreases,andtheinhabitantsarecontented,IrecommendthestudyofMr。
Money'sexcellentandinterestingwork,"HowtoManageaColony。"
ThemainfactsandconclusionsofthatworkImostheartilyconcurin,andIbelievethattheDutchsystemistheverybestthatcanbeadopted,whenaEuropeannationconquersorotherwiseacquirespossessionofacountryinhabitedbyanindustriousbutsemi-barbarouspeople。InmyaccountofNorthernCelebes,IshallshowhowsuccessfullythesamesystemhasbeenappliedtoapeopleinaverydifferentstateofcivilizationfromtheJavanese;andinthemeanwhilewillstateinthefewestwordspossiblewhatthatsystemis。
ThemodeofgovernmentnowadoptedinJavaistoretainthewholeseriesofnativerulers,fromthevillagechiefuptoprinces,who,underthenameofRegents,aretheheadsofdistrictsaboutthesizeofasmallEnglishcounty。WitheachRegentisplacedaDutchResident,orAssistantResident,whoisconsideredtobehis"elderbrother,"andwhose"orders"taketheformof"recommendations,"whichare,however,implicitlyobeyed。AlongwitheachAssistantResidentisaController,akindofinspectorofallthelowernativerulers,whoperiodicallyvisitseveryvillageinthedistrict,examinestheproceedingsofthenativecourts,hearscomplaintsagainstthehead-menorothernativechiefs,andsuperintendstheGovernmentplantations。Thisbringsustothe"culturesystem,"whichisthesourceofallthewealththeDutchderivefromJava,andisthesubjectofmuchabuseinthiscountrybecauseitisthereverseof"freetrade。"Tounderstanditsusesandbeneficialeffects,itisnecessaryfirsttosketchthecommonresultsoffreeEuropeantradewithuncivilizedpeoples。
Nativesoftropicalclimateshavefewwants,and,whenthesearesupplied,aredisinclinedtoworkforsuperfluitieswithoutsomestrongincitement。Withsuchapeopletheintroductionofanyneworsystematiccultivationisalmostimpossible,exceptbythedespoticordersofchiefswhomtheyhavebeenaccustomedtoobey,aschildrenobeytheirparents。ThefreecompetitionofEuropeantraders,howeverintroducestwopowerfulinducementstoexertion。
Spiritsoropiumisatemptationtoostrongformostsavagestoresist,andtoobtainthesehewillsellwhateverhehas,andwillworktogetmore。Anothertemptationhecannotresist,isgoodsoncredit。Thetraderoffershimbaycloths,knives,gongs,guns,andgunpowder,tobepaidforbysomecropperhapsnotyetplanted,orsomeproductyetintheforest。Hehasnotsufficientforethoughttotakeonlyamoderatequantity,andnotenoughenergytoworkearlyandlateinordertogetoutofdebt;andtheconsequenceisthatheaccumulatesdebtupondebt,andoftenremainsforyears,orforlife,adebtorandalmostaslave。Thisisastateofthingswhichoccursverylargelyineverypartoftheworldinwhichmenofasuperiorracefreelytradewithmenofalowerrace。Itextendstradenodoubtforatime,butitdemoralizesthenative,checkstruecivilization——anddoesnotleadtoanypermanentincreaseinthewealthofthecountry;sothattheEuropeangovernmentofsuchacountrymustbecarriedonataloss。
ThesystemintroducedbytheDutchwastoinducethepeople,throughtheirchiefs,togiveaportionoftheirtill,tothecultivationofcoffee,sugar,andothervaluableproducts。A
fixedrateofwages——lowindeed,but,aboutequaltothatofallplaceswhereEuropeancompetitionhasnotartificiallyraisedit——
waspaidtothelabourersengagedinclearingthegroundandformingtheplantationsunderGovernmentsuperintendence。TheproduceissoldtotheGovernmentatalow,fixedprice。Outofthenetprofitapercentagegoestothechiefs,andtheremainderisdividedamongtheworkmen。Thissurplusingoodyearsissomethingconsiderable。Onthewhole,thepeoplearewellfedanddecentlyclothed,andhaveacquiredhabitsofsteadyindustryandtheartofscientificcultivation,whichmustbeofservicetotheminthefuture。Itmustberemembered,thattheGovernmentexpendedcapitalforyearsbeforeanyreturnwasobtained;andiftheynowderivealargerevenue,itisinawaywhichisfarlessburthensome,andfarmorebeneficialtothepeople,thananytaxthatcouldbelevied。
Butalthoughthesystemmaybeagoodone,andaswelladaptedtothedevelopmentofartsandindustryinahalfcivilizedpeopleasitistothematerialadvantageofthegoverningcountry,itisnotpretendedthatinpracticeitisperfectlycarriedout。
Theoppressiveandservilerelationsbetweenchiefsandpeople,whichhavecontinuedforperhapsathousandyears,cannotbeatonceabolished;andsomeevilmustresultfromthoserelations,untilthespreadofeducationandthegradualinfusionofEuropeanbloodcausesitnaturallyandinsensiblytodisappear。
ItissaidthattheResidents,desirousofshowingalargeincreaseintheproductsoftheirdistricts,havesometimespressedthepeopletosuchcontinuedlabourontheplantationsthattheirricecropshavebeenmateriallydiminished,andfaminehasbeentheresult。Ifthishashappened,itiscertainlynotacommonthing,andistobesetdowntotheabuseofthesystem,bythewantofjudgment,orwantofhumanityintheResident。
AtalehaslatelybeenwritteninHolland,andtranslatedintoEnglish,entitled"MaxHavelaar;or,the"CoffeeAuctionsoftheDutchTradingCompany,"andwithourusualone-sidednessinallrelatingtotheDutchColonialSystem,thisworkhasbeenexcessivelypraised,bothforitsownmerits,andforitssupposedcrushingexposureoftheiniquitiesoftheDutchgovernmentofJava。Greatlytomysurprise,Ifounditaverytediousandlong-windedstory,fulloframblingdigressions;andwhoseonlypointistoshowthattheDutchResidentsandAssistantResidentswinkattheextortionsofthenativeprinces;
andthatinsomedistrictsthenativeshavetodoworkwithoutpayment,andhavetheirgoodstakenawayfromthemwithoutcompensation。Everystatementofthiskindisthicklyinterspersedwithitalicsandcapitalletters;butasthenamesareallfictitious,andneitherdates,figures,nordetailsareevergiven,itisimpossibletoverifyoranswerthem。Evenifnotexaggerated,thefactsstatedarenotnearlysobadasthoseoftheoppressionbyfree-tradeindigo-planters,andtorturingbynativetax-gatherersunderBritishruleinIndia,withwhichthereadersofEnglishnewspaperswerefamiliarafewyearsago。Suchoppression,however,isnotfairlytobeimputedineithercasetotheparticularformofgovernment,butisratherduetotheinfirmityofhumannature,andtotheimpossibilityofatoncedestroyingalltraceofagesofdespotismontheoneside,andofslavishobediencetotheirchiefsontheother。
Itmustberemembered,thatthecompleteestablishmentoftheDutchpowerinJavaismuchmorerecentthanthatofourruleinIndia,andthattherehavebeenseveralchangesofgovernment,andinthemodeofraisingrevenue。Theinhabitantshavebeensorecentlyundertheruleoftheirnativeprinces,thatitisnoteasyatoncetodestroytheexcessivereverencetheyfeelfortheiroldmasters,ortodiminishtheoppressiveexactionswhichthelatterhavealwaysbeenaccustomedtomake。Thereis,however,onegrandtestoftheprosperity,andevenofthehappiness,ofacommunity,whichwecanapplyhere——therateofincreaseofthepopulation。
Itisuniversallyadmittedthatwhenacountryincreasesrapidlyinpopulation,thepeoplecannotbeverygreatlyoppressedorverybadlygoverned。Thepresentsystemofraisingarevenuebythecultivationofcoffeeandsugar,soldtoGovernmentatafixedprice,beganin1832。Justbeforethis,in1826,thepopulationbycensuswas5,500,000,whileatthebeginningofthecenturyitwasestimatedat3,500,000。In1850,whenthecultivationsystemhadbeeninoperationeighteenyears,thepopulationbycensuswasover9,500,000,oranincreaseof73percentintwenty-fouryears。Atthelastcensus,in1865,itamountedto14,168,416,anincreaseofverynearly50percentinfifteenyears——aratewhichwoulddoublethepopulationinabouttwenty-sixyears。AsJava(withMadura)containsabout38,500
geographicalsquaremiles,thiswillgiveanaverageof368
personstothesquaremile,justdoublethatofthepopulousandfertileBengalPresidencyasgiveninThornton'sGazetteerofIndia,andfullyone-thirdmorethanthatofGreatBritainandIrelandatthelastCensus。If,asIbelieve,thisvastpopulationisonthewholecontentedandhappy,theDutchGovernmentshouldconsiderwellbeforeabruptlychangingasystemwhichhasledtosuchgreatresults。
Takingitasawhole,andsurveyingitfronteverypointofview,Javaisprobablytheveryfinestandmostinterestingtropicalislandintheworld。Itisnotfirstinsize,butitismorethan600mileslong,andfrom60to120mileswide,andinareaisnearlyequaltoEngland;anditisundoubtedlythemostfertile,themostproductive,andthemostpopulousislandwithinthetropics。Itswholesurfaceismagnificentlyvariedwithmountainandforestscenery。Itpossessesthirty-eightvolcanicmountains,severalofwhichrisetotenortwelvethousandfeethigh。Someoftheseareinconstantactivity,andoneorotherofthemdisplaysalmosteveryphenomenonproducedbytheactionofsubterraneanfires,exceptregularlavastreams,whichneveroccurinJava。Theabundantmoistureandtropicalheatoftheclimatecausesthesemountainstobeclothedwithluxuriantvegetation,oftentotheirverysummits,whileforestsandplantationscovertheirlowerslopes。Theanimalproductions,especiallythebirdsandinsects,arebeautifulandvaried,andpresentmanypeculiarformsfoundnowhereelseupontheglobe。
Thesoilthroughouttheislandisexceedinglyfertile,andalltheproductionsofthetropics,togetherwithmanyofthetemperatezones,canbeeasilycultivated。Javatoopossessesacivilization,ahistoryandantiquitiesofitsown,ofgreatinterest。TheBrahminicalreligionflourishedinitfromanepochofunknownantiquityuntilabouttheyear1478,whenthatofMahometsupersededit。Theformerreligionwasaccompaniedbyacivilizationwhichhasnotbeenequalledbytheconquerors;for,scatteredthroughthecountry,especiallyintheeasternpartofit,arefoundburiedinloftyforests,temples,tombs,andstatuesofgreatbeautyandgrandeur;andtheremainsofextensivecities,wherethetiger,therhinoceros,andthewildbullnowroamundisturbed。Amoderncivilizationofanothertypeisnowspreadingovertheland。Goodroadsrunthroughthecountryfromendtoend;Europeanandnativerulersworkharmoniouslytogether;andlifeandpropertyareaswellsecuredasinthebestgovernedstatesofEurope。Ibelieve,therefore,thatJavamayfairlyclaimtobethefinesttropicalislandintheworld,andequallyinterestingtothetouristseekingafternewandbeautifulscenes;tothenaturalistwhodesirestoexaminethevarietyandbeautyoftropicalnature;ortothemoralistandthepoliticianwhowanttosolvetheproblemofhowmanmaybebestgovernedundernewandvariedconditions。
TheDutchmailsteamerbroughtmefromTernatetoSourabaya,thechieftownandportintheeasternpartofJava,andafterafortnightspentinpackingupandsendingoffmylastcollections,Istartedonashortjourneyintotheinterior。
TravellinginJavaisveryluxuriousbutveryexpensive,theonlywaybeingtohireorborrowacarriage,andthenpayhalfacrownamileforpost-horses,whicharechangedatregularpostseverysixmiles,andwillcarryyouattherateoftenmilesanhourfromoneendoftheislandtotheother。Bullockcartsorcooliesarerequiredtocarryallextrabaggage。Asthiskindoftravellingworldnotsuitmymeans,IdeterminedonmakingonlyashortjourneytothedistrictatthefootofMountArjuna,whereIwastoldtherewereextensiveforests,andwhereIhopedtobeabletomakesomegoodcollections。ThecountryformanymilesbehindSourabayaisperfectlyflatandeverywherecultivated;
beingadeltaoralluvialplain,wateredbymanybranchingstreams。Immediatelyaroundthetowntheevidentsignsofwealthandofanindustriouspopulationwereverypleasing;butaswewenton,theconstantsuccessionofopenfieldsskirtedbyrowsofbamboos,withhereandtherethewhitebuildingsandatallchimneyofasugar-mill,becamemonotonous。Theroadsruninstraightlinesforseveralmilesatastretch,andareborderedbyrowsofdustytamarind-trees。Ateachmiletherearelittleguardhouses,whereapolicemanisstationed;andthereisawoodengong,whichbymeansofconcertedsignalsmaybemadetoconveyinformationoverthecountrywithgreatrapidity。Abouteverysixorsevenmilesisthepost-house,wherethehorsesarechangedasquicklyaswerethoseofthemailintheoldcoachingdaysinEngland。
IstoppedatModjokerto,asmalltownaboutfortymilessouthofSourabaya,andthenearestpointonthehighroadtothedistrictIwishedtovisit。IhadaletterofintroductiontoMr。Ball,anEnglishman,longresidentinJavaandmarriedtoaDutchlady;
andhekindlyinvitedmetostaywithhimuntilIcouldfixonaplacetosuitme。ADutchAssistantResidentaswellasaRegentornativeJavaneseprincelivedhere。Thetownwasneat,andhadaniceopengrassyspacelikeavillagegreen,onwhichstoodamagnificentfig-tree(alliedtotheBanyanofIndia,butmorelofty),underwhoseshadeakindofmarketiscontinuallyheld,andwheretheinhabitantsmeettogethertoloungeandchat。Thedayaftermyarrival,Mr。BalldrovemeovertothevillageofModjo-agong,wherehewasbuildingahouseandpremisesforthetobaccotrade,whichiscarriedonherebyasystemofnativecultivationandadvancepurchase,somewhatsimilartotheindigotradeinBritishIndia。OnourwaywestayedtolookatafragmentoftheruinsoftheancientcityofModjo-pahit,consistingoftwoloftybrickmasses,apparentlythesidesofagateway。Theextremeperfectionandbeautyofthebrickworkastonishedme。Thebricksareexceedinglyfineandhard,withsharpanglesandtruesurfaces。Theyarelaidwithgreatexactness,withoutvisiblemortarorcement,yetsomehowfastenedtogethersothatthejointsarehardlyperceptible,andsometimesthetwosurfacescoalesceinamostincomprehensiblemanner。
SuchadmirablebrickworkIhaveneverseenbeforeorsince。Therewasnosculpturehere,butanabundanceofboldprojectionsandfinely-workedmouldings。Tracesofbuildingsexistformanymilesineverydirection,andalmosteveryroadandpathwayshowsafoundationofbrickworkbeneathit——thepavedroadsoftheoldcity。InthehouseoftheWaidonoordistrictchiefatModjo-
agong,Isawabeautifulfigurecarvedinhighreliefoutofablockoflava,andwhichhadbeenfoundburiedinthegroundnearthevillage。Onmyexpressingawishtoobtainsomesuchspecimen,Mr。B。askedthechiefforit,andmuchtomysurpriseheimmediatelygaveitme。ItrepresentedtheHindugoddessDurga,calledinJava,LoraJonggrang(theexaltedvirgin)。Shehaseightarms,andstandsonthebackofakneelingbull。Herlowerrighthandholdsthetailofthebull,whilethecorrespondinglefthandgraspsthehairofacaptive,DewthMahikusor,thepersonificationofvice,whohasattemptedtoslayherbull。Hehasacordroundhiswaist,andcrouchesatherfeetinanattitudeofsupplication。Theotherhandsofthegoddesshold,onherrightside,adoublehookorsmallanchor,abroadstraightsword,andanooseofthickcord;onherleft,agirdleorarmletoflargebeadsorshells,anunstrungbow,andastandardorwarflag。ThisdeitywasaspecialfavouriteamongtheoldJavanese,andherimageisoftenfoundintheruinedtempleswhichaboundintheeasternpartoftheisland。
ThespecimenIhadobtainedwasasmallone,abouttwofeethigh,weighingperhapsahundredweight;andthenextdaywehaditconveyedtoModjo-KertotoawaitmyreturntoSourabaya。HavingdecidedtostaysometimeatWonosalem,onthelowerslopesoftheArjunaMountain,whereIwasinformedIshouldfindforestandplentyofgame,IhadfirsttoobtainarecommendationfromtheAssistantResidenttotheRegent,andthenanorderfromtheRegenttotheWaidono;andwhenafteraweek'sdelayIarrivedwithmybaggageandmenatModjo-agong,Ifoundthemallinthemidstofafivedays'feast,tocelebratethecircumcisionoftheWaidono'syoungerbrotherandcousin,andhadasmallroominanonouthousegivenmetostayin。Thecourtyardandthegreatopenreception-shedwerefullofnativescomingandgoingandmakingpreparationsforafeastwhichwastotakeplaceatmidnight,towhichIwasinvited,butpreferredgoingtobed。Anativeband,orGamelang,wasplayingalmostalltheevening,andIhadagoodopportunityofseeingtheinstrumentsandmusicians。Theformerarechieflygongsofvarioussizes,arrangedinsetsoffromeighttotwelve,onlowwoodenframes。Eachsetisplayedbyoneperformerwithoneortwodrumsticks。Therearealsosomeverylargegongs,playedsinglyorinpairs,andtakingtheplaceofourdrumsandkettledrums。Otherinstrumentsareformedbybroadmetallicbars,supportedonstringsstretchedacrossframes;andothersagainofstripsofbamboosimilarlyplacedandproducingthehighestnotes。Besidesthesetherewereafluteandacurioustwo-stringedviolin,requiringinalltwenty-fourperformers。
Therewasaconductor,wholedoffandregulatedthetime,andeachperformertookhispart,cominginoccasionallywithafewbarssoastoformaharmoniouscombination。Thepiecesplayedwerelongandcomplicated,andsomeoftheplayersweremereboys,whotooktheirpartswithgreatprecision。Thegeneraleffectwasverypleasing,but,owingtothesimilarityofmostoftheinstruments,morelikeagiganticmusicalboxthanoneofourbands;andinordertoenjoyitthoroughlyitisnecessarytowatchthelargenumberofperformerswhoareengagedinit。Thenextmorning,whileIwaswaitingforthemenandhorseswhoweretotakemeandmybaggagetomydestination,thetwolads,whowereaboutfourteenyearsold,werebroughtout,clothedinasarongfromthewaistdownwards,andhavingthewholebodycoveredwithyellowpowder,andprofuselydeckedwithwhiteblossominwreaths,necklaces,andarmlets,lookingatfirstsightverylikesavagebrides。Theywereconductedbytwoprieststoabenchplacedinfrontofthehouseintheopenair,andtheceremonyofcircumcisionwasthenperformedbeforetheassembledcrowd。
TheroadtoWonosalemledthroughamagnificentforestinthedepthsofwhichwepassedafineruinofwhatappearedtohavebeenaroyaltombormausoleum。Itisformedentirelyofstone,andelaboratelycarved。Nearthebaseisacourseofboldlyprojectingblocks,sculpturedinhighrelief,withaseriesofsceneswhichareprobablyincidentsinthelifeofthedefunct。
Theseareallbeautifullyexecuted,someofthefiguresofanimalsinparticular,beingeasilyrecognisableandveryaccurate。Thegeneraldesign,asfarastheruinedstateoftheupperpartwillpermitofitsbeingseen,isverygood,effectbeinggivenbyanimmensenumberandvarietyofprojectingorretreatingcoursesofsquaredstonesinplaceofmouldings。Thesizeofthisstructureisaboutthirtyfeetsquarebytwentyhigh,andasthetravellercomessuddenlyuponitonasmallelevationbytheroadside,overshadowedbygigantictrees,overrunwithplantsandcreepers,andcloselybackedbythegloomyforest,heisstruckbythesolemnityandpicturesquebeautyofthescene,andisledtoponderonthestrangelawofprogress,whichlookssolikeretrogression,andwhichinsomanydistantpartsoftheworldhasexterminatedordrivenoutahighlyartisticandconstructiverace,tomakeroomforonewhich,asfaraswecanjudge,isveryfaritsinferior。
FewEnglishmenareawareofthenumberandbeautyofthearchitecturalremainsinJava。Theyhaveneverbeenpopularlyillustratedordescribed,anditwillthereforetakemostpersonsbysurprisetolearnthattheyfarsurpassthoseofCentralAmerica,perhapseventhoseofIndia。Togivesomeideaoftheseruins,andperchancetoexcitewealthyamateurstoexplorethemthoroughlyandobtainbyphotographyanaccuraterecordoftheirbeautifulsculpturesbeforeitistoolate,Iwillenumeratethemostimportant,asbrieflydescribedinSirStamfordRaffles'
"HistoryofJava。"